These are our favorite sources of plants - all local, of course. Scroll down for native-plant specialty sources, plant sales and plant swaps.

Independent Garden Centers

UPDATE: Since the June 2019 closing of Behnke’s Nurseries, the nonprofit website Greenbelt Online has created an extensive list of “After Behnkes, where to Buy Plants“, with photos and details about what each sells. Its focus is primarily on locations in Maryland.

American Plant has two locations, both on River Road in Bethesda.

Burke Nursery in Burke, VA. Sells vegetables in 3 packs and 6 packs, which are more economical if you are planting a large garden. Pumpkin Playground.

Campbell & Ferrara Outdoor Living in Alexandria, VA. Nice variety, wonderful roses, good landscaping. Playground. Free seminars.

DeBaggio’s Herb Farm and Nursery in Chantilly, VA. Huge variety of herbs and vegetables. 24 varieties of basil, 10 of oregano, over 100 of tomatoes, etc. See their catalog online. Only open in the spring.

DePauls Urban Farm in Vienna is small but has a great selection and the world’s friendliest staff.

Frager’s Hardware on Capitol Hill has a good selection of plants as well as gardening tools and supplies.

Ginkgo Gardens is located on Capitol Hill.

Green Spring Gardens Plant Shop is open during the growing season. Spring Garden Day Plant Sale will be on Saturday May 20th

Greenstreet Gardens has locations in Alexandria, VA and Lothian, MD.

H St. Farms is a rooftop garden center specializing in exotic fruits and vertical farming.

Heather Hill in Fairfax Station, VA. Hard-to-find and unusual perennials and annuals. Grow some of their own on site. Knowledgeable staff that have time to talk. Display gardens: ask them about their vole cages! Carries over 50 kinds of hostas and 50 kinds of herbs. The owner tries to avoid sources that use insecticides and can tell you which ones are definitely insecticide-free.

Holly, Woods and Vines in Alexandria, VA. Good selection.

Homestead Gardens in Davidsonville, MD.

Johnson’s Flower and Garden Center, in business since 1933, is located in Washington, D.C.; Kensington, MD and Olney, MD.

Lake Ridge Nursery & Garden Center in Woodbridge, VA.

Lilypons Water Gardens in Adamstown, MD. The nearest nursery dedicated to pond plants.

Meadow Farms has 23 retail locations, including these in the DC area: 7 Corners, Burtonsville, Chantilly, Germantown, Great Falls, Herndon, Leesburg, Manassas and Woodbridge.

Merrifield Garden Center has 3 locations: in Merrifield, Fair Oaks and Gainesville, VA.

Nalls Produce in Franconia, VA.

Patuxent Nursery in Bowie, Maryland.

Petals and Hedges in Paeonian Springs, VA. A recommended garden center; also does floral arrangements.

Silverbrook Nursery and Landscaping in Lorton, VA. Park-like grounds with playground, demonstration gardens. Particularly charming accessories for sale, such as decorated trellises and other ornaments.

Southern States in Manassas, VA. Relatively small nursery, but very good prices. Feed store, farm equipment. Giant bags of grass seed. Pet supplies, wild bird supplies.

Stadler Nurseries has locations in Gaithersburg, Manassas and Frederick.

White’s Nursery in Germantown specializes in azaleas and rhododendrons.

Wolf Trap Nursery in Vienna, VA. Big collection of bonsais and the tools needed for planting them; bonsai workshops.

Native Plant Specialty Sources

Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, MD

American Native Plants in Perry Hall, MD

Chesapeake Natives in Upper Marlboro, MD

Ecoasis Garden Center in Bowie, MD

Environmental Concern in St. Michaels’s, MD

Herring Run Natives in Baltimore, MD

Izel Native Plants is local but online only.

Nature by Design in Alexandria, VA.

Landscape Design Associates in Great Falls, VA. Specializes in container gardening and native plants.

Plant Sales

The Beltsville Garden Club holds two plant sales every year, in April and May.

Friends of the National Arboretum holds a huge plant sale in April.

Green Spring Gardens has a huge plant sale every May. Click here for this year’s details.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy holds two plant sales each year - in April and September.

Silver Spring Garden Club’s big annual GardenMart at Brookside Gardens is held on the Saturday before Mother’s Day.

Plant “Swaps”

Many garden clubs and community groups hold plant “swaps,” where gardeners give away their extra plants. They’re a great way to try out new plants in your garden.