Native plants of NC – Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

By Melinda Heigel, with Lissa Lutz, Lisa Nadler, and Bev Tisci, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers of Durham County

Our annual Friends of Durham County Master Gardener plant sale is in the books! If you joined us on April 11th for the big event, we want to offer you a little behind the scenes intel about what it takes to bring you some of the gorgeous plants you purchased and revisit the day through the stunning images of our Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteer and photojournalist Allie Mullin. If you weren’t there, we want to whet your appetite for 2027!

A large group of diverse individuals smiling together in an indoor setting, wearing green aprons, standing in front of tables filled with various plants in pots.

Just a fraction of the Extension Master Gardener volunteers responsible for bringing you over 4,000 plants at our recent annual plant sale. Here, the group is smiling and excited to serve just minutes before the sale begins. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Plant Sale Success: It’s All in the Setup

Two women examining plant information while standing in front of a display of potted plants.

A woman carrying a tray of young plants in plastic pots, walking through a corridor with wooden doors and plant displays.

Volunteers transported, unloaded, set up, and labeled all the plants in just one day prior to the sale. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

It literally takes a community of Extension Master Gardener volunteers to put on a blockbuster plant sale. Over 75 volunteers and multiple teams with expertise in every imaginable area spent a year preparing for one Saturday-morning event! Plant sale Co-Chair Lissa Lutz credits the success of this year’s event to these volunteers. As a dedicated, long-time coordinator of the sale, she shared this year saw “a core group of seasoned veterans but also new ideas and tremendous depth of expertise offered by new team members. A few of their novel approaches and accomplishments for the 2026 sale included the following. (To be sure, there were tons more….)

The Vegetable Team offered more plants for sale than ever before and introduced new compact varieties to work in smaller-sized environments.
The Houseplants Team tweaked their plant curation and offered the most appropriate plants–all in unique pots.
The Native Plant Team had a dedicated group of seed starters who produced an astonishing selection of native plants, many from locally collected seeds.
The Propagation Team multiplied the bounty and contributed unique, well-tended plants to this year’s event.
The Plant Divisions Team potted up countless robust, consistent quality flats.
The Communications Teams got out the word in advance about our inventory so shoppers could make a wish list.
Both the Volunteer Management and Hospitality Teams made sure that our plant pros were fresh, available, and standing by to help you in any way.
The Checkout Team efficiently checked out shoppers with a new pricing system based on container size that hopefully simplified the customer experience.

Additional Innovations that Made the 2026 Plant Sale Sizzle

A person holding plant information sheets, showcasing various flowers with descriptions, indoor setting with a white brick wall and greenery in the background.

A woman wearing a green apron stands by a table with potted plants, engaging with two people in a gardening workshop setting.

(Left to right) This year we wanted you to have a better look at what you were buying. Clearer plant signs with photos and easy-to-read details enhanced the shoppers’ experience. Our plant sale Co-Chair Marcia Kirinus was dedicated solely to ensuring we were offering the best plants possible. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Enhanced Signage. We introduced new signage throughout the sale that gave our shoppers more consistent information on all plants and veggies complete with growing conditions, interesting plant facts, and photos of mature/blooming specimens. We even designated keystone plants, a sub-category of native plants that are essential to the local food web.
Quality Assurance Leader. Plant sale Co-Chair Marcia Kirinus filled a new role this year as our quality assurance “czar.” With her years of experience in professional and research greenhouses along with her Master Gardner volunteer bona fides, she shared her knowledge with all our our volunteer growers to produce the highest quality plants. This included setting up light carts for seed starting to the final trimming and pruning to make each plant look its best. She was instrumental in teaching all seed starters, new and experienced, how to grow the healthiest, hardiest plants.
Customer service enhancements. More volunteer runners helped shoppers to their cars with their plants. Another novel idea? The plant parking lot. We also introduced a new holding area where shoppers could “park” plants they intended to buy while they continued to browse and shop.

Sale Day Excitement

If you know Carly Simon’s tune “Anticipation,” hum it to yourself when surveying the photos below. While the line for the sale lived up to its reputation (our first customer arrived at 8:30 am for the 10:00 am start), many Extension Master Gardener volunteers were on hand to check lists of plants for our customers, hand out free seeds, answer a host of gardening inquires, and keep the crowd pumped up.

There were all sorts of folks–those with a printed and highlighted list of plants they wanted to take home, new gardeners looking to build a landscape, veggie lovers searching for just the right tomato, and the simply the plant curious. Those in line enjoyed the beauty of our award-winning Demo Garden and wanted to find some of the garden specimens inside at the sale to take home. Without doubt, the mood was celebratory for the more than 320 community members who showed up to shop for plants and support our mission.

What those in line couldn’t see was the excitement of the volunteers huddling up for one last briefing before the sale began. Our plant sale volunteers, (Volunteer Management Team leader Lisa Nadler rocking her signature whirligig hat below) had efficiently staged over 4,000 plants in one day, and Nadler placed our plant experts strategically throughout the sale to assist you. And of course, all those plants lined up and ready to make their debut.

A long line of people wrapping around a garden. People are holding cardboard boxes. Two men sitting in an ornamental garden setting at an info table with a sign reading "Ask A Master Gardener." A smiling woman standing in a line. A group of diverse people wearing aprons being briefed by a woman in a propeller hat. A table with green table cloth full of lush green vegetable plants.

(Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Ready, Set, Shop!

A man surrounded by lush green plants at a plant sale holds a cardboard box. A smiling woman holding a tray of potted green plants. A group of people gathered around tables indoors shopping for potted plants. A woman in a hijab admiring plants with two women in the background looking on. Volunteer sit at a table, one giving a woman holding a box of plants a thumbs up sign. Two women in green aprons behind a table talking with a woman on the opposite side of table. Smiling woman in green apron talkings with another woman.

Full boxes and full hearts. Volunteers and community shoppers interact at the sale. (Lower right) Vegetable Team leader Bev Tisci shares her expertise and the joy of growing edibles. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

As the sale began, the atmosphere inside the building was electric with smiles all around. As you stepped inside, the fantastic scents of the veggie and herb room tickled your nose long before you reached its threshold. The vast abundance of plants, some of which were in full spring bloom, were a “masterpiece for the eyes” according to one native plant fan.

Bev Tisci, Leader of the Veggie Team and Seed Starters Group had a ball educating community members about growing edibles and introducing the new mini-vegetables. After consulting with one shopper who picked up a couple of plants and went on her way, Tisci recalled the woman later returned and jokingly yelled out to her, “I used to like you!” Puzzled, Tisci asked, “Oh, no! What did I do?” The laughing shopper showed her a box brimming with plants–far more than she’d ever intended to purchase. Like all plant lovers, she just couldn’t resist and left the sale excited about all the vegetables she be eating later this summer.

The Proof is in the Plants–and People

A woman wearing a light blue shirt is examining small potted plants on a table in a brightly lit room, while others are visible in the background.

Sign on the door of the Durham County Agriculture Building indicating that the plant sale is over, thanking visitors, and stating 'See you next year!'

(Left to right) Plant sale Co-Chair Lissa Lutz busy prepping for the sale. After a banner sell-out, we closed the 2026 sale with gratitude. (Image credit: Allie Mullin)

Thanks to both our community of Extension Master Gardener volunteers and the overwhelming support of Durham plant enthusiasts, this year’s event was the most successful yet. The proceeds of the sale will fund our work of providing research-based gardening education to the residents of Durham County and beyond. Reflecting on the event since the dust has settled, Co-Chair Lissa Lutz, put it this way:

“The plant sale really exemplifies the spirit of the Master Gardener community, with so many people coming together in so many different ways, each offering time and talents that together creates a whole that is bigger than the sum of its parts. It is for this reason that I continue to play a role in this crazy-amazing event!”

We can’t wait to see you at next spring’s sale. Keep an eye out on our website’s plant sale tab on our menu where we’ll be posting our 2027 date.

Resources and Additional Information

Keystone Plants From Our 2026 Plant Sale

Mini or Compact Vegetables

3-Part Series: Starting Seeds Indoors with a Light Cart–Article 1, Article 2, Article 3

Edited by Melinda Heigel, NC State Extension Master Gardener ^SMvolunteer of Durham County

Article Short Link https://wp.me/p2nIr1-7ox

By Lisa Nadler and Martha Keehner Engelke, NC State Extension Master Gardener^SM volunteers of Durham County

Sometimes a plant becomes a rapid spreader working its way into places where you would rather it not go. Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is an example of this. It is a vigorous twining vine that is native to the eastern United States. It can grow 10-20 feet high in a season. It spreads aggressively. But, because it is native to our ecosystem, it doesn’t displace other native plants in the area. It is not invasive. In contrast, its “cousin” Japanese or Chinese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), a native of Asia, is capable of growing over plants and smothering them. It can displace native species by outcompeting them for light, space, water and nutrients.

“The term invasive applies only to non-native plants; invasive implies a negative effect on native plants and animals. On the other hand, native plants that establish quickly in your garden and spread readily are more appropriately termed “aggressive.” Aggressive native plants generally are species adapted to recently disturbed sites where they establish and spread quickly but give way to other native plants within a few years”.¹

So, how do you tell the difference?

Close-up of coral honeysuckle flowers, showcasing elongated yellow blooms surrounded by green foliage.

Close-up view of coral honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_) with green leaves and white-yellow tubular flowers growing on a tree.

Close-up of coral honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_) featuring white flowers and green leaves against a blurred green background.

Close-up of bright red and orange tubular flowers of Coral Honeysuckle (_Lonicera sempervirens_), surrounded by green leaves.

Two of the pictures above are Lonicera sempervirens (native) and two are Lonicera japonica (invasive). Can you tell the difference? Answers are at the end of the post. (Image credit: Top left: Debbie Roos; Top Right: Lucy Bradley, CC-BY 4.0; Bottom left: Hope Duckworth CC- BY 4.0; Bottom right: Chris Kreussing CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Lisa Nadler’s adventure to distinguish a native plant from an invasive plant is enlightening. It is an excellent illustration of how two plants that seem similar and are in the same family are vastly different in the impact they will have on your garden.

Plant Detective: Lisa Nadler

On a recent visit to Cocoa Cinnamon Container Garden², Lisa Nadler made a discovery. Invasive Chinese or Sericea Lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) was in one of the painted pots. Lespedeza is in the Fabaceae, or bean family.

A close-up of a painted flower pot containing various plants, including invasive Chinese Lespedeza, with two arrows pointing to the identified invasive species. Background features blue and red patio chairs.

A woman wearing a colorful tank top holds a plant with roots in one hand and gives a thumbs down gesture with the other, standing in a garden setting with outdoor tables and chairs.

The picture on the left shows Lespedeza cuneata growing in a pot at Cocoa Cinnamon. In the photo on the right Deb Pilkington holds the plant after it is removed illustrating its long tap root (Image credit: Lisa Nadler)

So, what is Lespedeza and how did they know it is bad? There are both native and invasive Lespedeza plants and they can look similar. So, you need to know what to look for to know which ones to yank and which ones to leave.

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a warm-season, perennial legume with many erect, leafy branches. It also goes by the name of Chinese Bush Clover. It was introduced from Asia in 1896 for erosion control, livestock forage and wildlife cover. But, it has no natural diseases or insects to manage it here and it is now listed as a Rank 1-Severe Threat in NC.

According to the NC Plant Toolbox, it may be allelopathic, producing substances that chemically inhibit the growth of other plants. It forms extensive monocultures and develops an extensive seed bank in the soil, ensuring its long residence at a site. Its high tannin content makes it unpalatable to livestock and most native wildlife. So, not a very good addition for wildlife feed. It can grow up to 6 feet tall and once you know what it looks like, you’ll start seeing it everywhere, especially on road sides.

But how can you tell it from the native Bush clover species, Lespedeza virginica and Lespedeza capitata? Here are some clues.

Bloom Color (which wasn’t helpful in this case because it wasn’t in bloom.)

Lespedeza cuneata has white blooms with a touch of purple. The native Lespedeza virginica has purple flowers. But… (isn’t there always a but…) the other common native, Lespedeza capitata, has white flowers but with a redder touch.

Close-up of white and purple flowers of Lespedeza cuneata, a perennial legume with leafy branches.

Close-up of a pink flowering plant with small clusters of flowers, surrounded by green foliage in a natural setting.

The picture on the left is Lespedeza cuneata which is invasive. In the middle is Lespedeza virginica, a native and on the right is Lespedeza capitata, another native. (Image credit: Anita 363 CC-BY-NC 2.0; CC-BY-SA-2.0; CC-BY-SA 2.0)

Leaves

Okay, so now look at the leaves. The Lespedeza cuneata (the bad guy) has leaves that are more rounded at the end with a single tooth. Also, the veins are straight and easily visible. The leaves of the Lespedeza virginica and Lespedeza capitata (the good guys) are pointier at the end, usually have a less prominent tooth and the veins are curvier (I’m sure there is a specific botanical name for that…).

Close-up of elongated green leaves with droplets of water, surrounded by a small green plant, potentially illustrating the invasive Lespedeza cuneata.

Left to right: Lespedeza cuneata; Lespedeza virginica; Lespedeza capitata (Image credit: Hamilton Native Outpost; Bonnie Semmling CC-BY-4.0; Missouri plants. com).

There are other plant families that include both native and invasive species so it is important to always be on the lookout. The Poaceae family includes invasive and native grasses. The aquatic common reed (Phragmites australis), is native to Europe but very invasive in NC. It spreads rapidly and forms dense stands. Within the Rosaceae family we find native plants but also the highly invasive Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora). Plants in the Oleaceae Family are popular ornamentals and there are some natives but invasive species like Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) and Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) should not be planted. Autumn olive was introduced for wildlife habitat and ornamental purposes but has become invasive. Finally, we have the Fabaceae family. While Wisteria frutescens is a native, Chinese Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis) and Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) are invasive vines in North Carolina.

So be on the lookout and be your own plant detective!

Answers to quiz: The picture on the upper left and lower right are native (Lonicera sempervirens) the other two are Invasive (Lonicera japonica).

Note 1: This article by Christoper Moorman and Dr. Lucy Bradley, summarizes the differences between aggressive and invasive plants. https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/how-to-create-wildlife-friendly-landscapes/why-landscapes-for-wildlife/invasive-species/

Note 2: Cocoa Cinnamon is a demonstration garden located at 420 West Geer Street, Durham, NC 2770. The Durham EMGs provide oversight and it has been an amazing source of information on best practices for growing plants in containers. Here are a few examples of previous posts inspired by the Cocoa Cinnamon project:

Winter pruning of “Little Miss Figgy”: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5Xr

“Little Miss Figgy in the City” https://wp.me/p2nIr1-50Z

Give a thought to the pot: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-4sZ

Pot Luck: Adventures in Urban Container Gardening: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-2jZ

Pot Luck: A Wildlife Ecosystem in the Middle of a City? : https://wp.me/p2nIr1-2tn

Another series on invasive plants and alternatives by Jeanne Arnts, was recently published on the blog:

From Beloved to Invasive: How does it happen? https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5l3

Replacing Invasive Plants: Suggestions for Beneficial Alternatives https://wp.me/p2nIr1-5CJ

Additional Reading and Resources

For more information on plant diversity check out this article from the NC Botanical Gardens. https://ncbg.unc.edu/2025/03/06/what-are-the-most-diverse-plant-families-and-why-part-one-the-asters

The NC Native Plant Society has good information on identifying native vs. invasive plants. https://ncwildflower.org/invasive-exotic-species-list/

How do invasive plants affect our forests? Here is the answer: ttps://content.ces.ncsu.edu/invasive-plants-and-your-forests

Article Short Link: https://wp.me/p2nIr1-68z

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Durham County

Category: Native plants of NC

Durham’s 2026 Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Sale: Community & Innovation Unite