Native Plant Sale FAQs
Q. When can I pre-order my plants?
2025 Pre-order sales will be accepted Thursday, January 2, 2025 through February 28, 2025. You can pre-order plants in two ways:
ONLINE: Go to our website: www.ucdwa.org/shop. Fill a “shopping cart” and pay with your credit or debit card. This is the quickest and easiest way to go!
BY PHONE: Call us at 509-493-1936, option 7. We will enter your order online and process your payment.
Q. When Do I pick up my plants? what if i am not available?
All orders will be available for pick up on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the UCD office in White Salmon, WA.
Please plan ahead and ask a friend or family member to pick up your order if you are not able to come on pick up day.
Any orders not picked up will be donated to local restoration efforts. Sorry, we are unable to offer refunds for unclaimed orders. We do our very best to honor our advertised pick-up date and time; however, the date is subject to change due to weather or other unavoidable circumstances. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 509-493-1936, option 7, or email us at james@ucdwa.org.
Q. what if i need to cancel my order?
We understand that plans change from time to time. We are able to offer full refunds on your order at any time during the duration of the online sale (i.e., until the last day of February). After online sales are complete, no refunds will be offered. Thank you for your understanding. To request a refund prior to March 1, please email james@ucdwa.org or call 509-493-1936, option 7.
Q. how big of a vehicle do i need to transport my order?
Your plants are sold in compact bundles of bareroot plants; most orders are packed into one or two sleeping-bag sized (or smaller) packages. For very large orders (500+ trees), you may find a pickup truck bed or similar is easier.
Q. do you sell single plants? can i mix and match to create my own bundles?
Yes! UCD's annual TreeFest event is held in conjunction with our pre-order pickups each March and features a walk-up sale for single stems with the ability to mix-and-match to create a customized mix of species tailored to your site. Prices vary and plants are sold individually.
Q. how big are the individual plants? what do they look like?
Bareroot seedlings are just that -- seedlings that have no soil around the roots. Most of our shrubs and trees are 12-18" tall, with a similar amount of root. Often they don’t look like much at first, but despite their stick-like appearance, they sprout new growth shortly after planting. Our seedlings are restoration-grade, meaning that they are chosen for their hardiness and not necessarily their ornamental value.
Q. what do the age classifications mean (p-1, 1-1…)?
Each digit represents where and for how long the tree spent its growing time. The sum of all the digits is the total age of the plant.
• 1-0 The plant is 1 year old and has never been transplanted.
• Plug The plant is 1 year old and was grown in a greenhouse tray.
• P-1 2 years old: 1 year in a green house and 1 in a transplant bed.
• 2-1 3 years old: 2 years in a seed bed and 1 year in a transplant bed.
• 1-1 2 years old: 1 year in a seed bed and 1 year in a transplant bed.
Q. how do i plant a bareroot seedling?
Proper planting of your bareroot seedlings is essential!
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of your planting effort:
Planting Forest Seedlings -- Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Q. how soon should i plant? what if i can’t plant right away?
Your seedlings have the best chances for survival if you plant them as soon after purchase as possible - preferably the same day you pick them up. Store newly purchased seedlings in a cool, dark location until they can be planted.
If you are unable to plant right away, and your seedlings are stored for more than a few days, open the bag and dampen the roots periodically. Don't soak or leave the roots submerged in water while the trees are in storage.
If it is going to be several weeks or more before you can plant, you can heel the trees in.
Q. Is the pick up date subject to change?
Unfortunately, yes. We will do our very best to honor the set date for pickup. However, severe winter weather can sometimes delay our own receipt of the plants from the nurseries. If we have to change the pickup day, we will notify you by email as soon as possible.
Q. where else can i find native plants?
Here are some additional sources for native plants in our area:
Other area conservation districts’ annual plant sales
Hood River SWCD - https://hoodriverswcd.org/plant-sale/
Wasco County SWCD - https://www.wascoswcd.org/2024-native-tree-shrub-sale
Central Klickitat CD - https://ckcd.org/services/annual-plant-sale/
Clark CD - https://www.clarkcd.org/native-plant-sale
Area nurseries
Humble Roots Nursery, Mosier, OR
503.449.3694, http://www.humblerootsnursery.com/
Native trees, herbaceous plants, in containers. Nursery available by appointment.
Lava Nursery, Parkdale, OR
541.352.7303
Wholesale sales of native conifer, bareroot seedlings.
French’s Farm, Lyle, WA
509.365.5222
Sweetwood Nursery, BZ Corner, WA
509.493.1907
Gator Creek Gardens, Carson, WA
509-427-0010, http://www.gatorcreekgardens.com/
Natives and ornamentals in containers.
Native seed sources
ProTime Lawn Seed, Portland, OR
503.239.7518, http://protimelawnseed.com/
A number of different grass mixes, specifically for low-maintenance and drought tolerance.
Plants of the Wild, Tekoa, WA
509.284.2848, http://www.plantsofthewild.com/
A variety of seed mixes for both grasses and flowers, custom mixes available. Also sells native plants.
BFI Native Seeds, Moses Lake, WA
509.765.6348, http://www.bfinativeseeds.com/index.aspx
A variety of seed for both grass and forbs, custom mixes available.