Many of our members know the great benefits of gardening with plants that are native to our region:
Native Illinois prairie plants can help prevent flooding because they have deeper root systems than turf and most non-native annuals, meaning better absorption of rain into the ground.
Deeper roots also means healthier soil and better stabilization.
Native plants can require less long-term maintenance once established because they are more tolerant to Illinois conditions.
Native landscapes cost less money to maintain than turf.
Native landscapes have winter interest and are attractive all year long.
Native plants can be just as beautiful as the exotic plants more commonly found at big-box stores.
Native plants attract birds and butterflies that add interest to a garden.
Native landscapes contribute to a healthy natural ecosystem by offering critical benefits to endangered bees and butterflies that other non-native plants cannot.
For the sixth year in a row, we've compiled a list of where you can buy quality native plants around Chicago. This year, we've expanded the list to cover further South, West, and North suburbs!
Below is a map of the plant sales and nurseries. (Click here if you can't see the map.) There are also plant delivery options at the bottom of this list.
2022 Chicagoland Plant Sales
In order by pickup or in-person event date
South
26th Annual Friends of Indiana Dunes’ Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 9
Pickup April 22, 4pm - 6pm or April 23, 8am - 12pm
Plants for sale without preorder on April 23, 9am - 1pm
Where: Friends of Indiana Dunes' Office
1000 W Oak Hil Rd
Porter, IN 46304
More info: www.dunefriends.org
Gibson Woods Wild Ones Native Plant Sale
When: May 7, 9am - 3pm
Where: Oak Ridge Prairie County Park
201 S Colfax St
Griffith, IN 46317
More info: www.gw-wildones.org
McDonald Farm Annual Plant Sale
When: Preorder April 12 - 26
Pickup May 13 -14
Where: McDonald Farm
10S404 Knoch Knolls Rd
Naperville, IL 60565
More info: www.theconservationfoundation.org
Iron Oaks Online Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder by May 1
Pickup May 14, 9am - 12pm
Where: Iron Oaks 20000 Western Ave
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
More info: www.ironsoaks.com
Forest Preserve District of Will County Bringing Nature Home Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder April 1 - May 8
Pickup May 21, 9am - 2pm or May 22, 9am - 12pm
Where: Isle a la Cache
501 E 135th St (Romeo Rd)
Romeoville, IL 60446
More info: www.reconnectwithnature.org
Sag Moraine Native Plant Community Spring Native Plant Sale
When: June 4, 9am - 2pm
Where: Parking Lot D3 at Moraine Valley Community College
9000 College Pkwy
Palos Hills, IL 60465
More info: www.sagmoraine.org
West
Wheaton Park District Native Illinois Plant Sale
When: April 23, 8:30am - 11am
Where: City of Wheaton Public Works Yard
821 W Liberty Dr
Wheaton, IL 60187
More info: www.wheatonparkdistrict.com
Kane County Forest Preserve Foundation Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 15
Pickup April 30, 8am - 11am
Where: LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve Creek Bend Nature Center 37W700 Dean St
St. Charles, IL 60175
More info: www.kaneforest.com
DuPage Forest Preserves Native Plant Sale
When: May 13, 10am - 7pm
May 14, 9am - 2pm
Ticketed pre-sale May 12, 4pm - 7pm
Where: Mayslake Peabody Estate
717 W 31st St
Oak Brook, IL 60523
More info: www.dupageforest.org
Kane-Dupage Soil and Water Conservation District Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 29
Pickup May 27, 8am - 4:30pm
Where: Kane-DuPage SWCD Office
2315 Dean St, Suite 100
St. Charles, IL 60175
More info: www.kanedupageswcd.org
West Cook Wild Ones Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder starting March 15
Pickup June 9 - 11 Where: Forest Preserves of Cook County Central Warehouse
2199 S 1st Ave
Maywood, IL 60153
or
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
12545 111th St
Lemont, IL 60439
More info: www.westcook.wildones.org
North
Skokie Park District Earth Day Celebration & Native Plant Sale
When: April 24, 12pm - 4pm
Where: Emily Oaks Nature Center
4650 Brummel St
Skokie, IL 60076
More info: www.skokieparks.org
Citizens for Conservation's 26th Annual Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 17
Pickup May 6 - 7
Public Sale May 8th and 9th, 9am - 3pm
Where: Citizens for Conservation Headquarters 459 IL-22
Lake Barrington, IL 60010
More info: www.springsale.citizensforconservation.org
Go Green Wilmette 8th Annual Native Plant Sale
When: May 7, 9am - 11am
Where: TBD, Wilmette, IL 60091
More info: www.gogreenwilmette.org
Wicker Park Plant Sale Fundraiser
When: May 7, 10am - 6pm
(Rain date May 8)
Where: Wicker Park
1425 N Damen Ave Chicago, IL 60622
More info: www.wickerpark.org
Lake County Forest Preserves Native Plant Sale
When: May 7, 9am - 3pm
May 8, 10am - 2pm
Where: North Bay Pavilion at Independence Grove Forest Preserve
16400 Buckley Rd
Libertyville, IL 60048
More info: www.lcfpd.org
Dr. Bessie Rhodes School 3rd Annual Native Plant Sale
When: May 15, 9am - 2pm
Where: Dr. Bessie Rhodes School of Global Studies
3701 Davis St
Skokie, IL 60076
Lake Forest Open Lands Go Native! Plant Sale
When: Preorder starting April 1
Pickup May 21, 8am - 1pm
Where: Mellody Farm Nature Preserve
350 N Waukegan Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
More info: www.lfola.org
Chicago Audubon Society Native Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 15
Pickup May 22
Where: North Park Village Nature Center
5801 N Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60646
More info: www.chicagoaudubon.org
Schaumburg Community Garden Club On-Line Plant Sale
When: Preorder by April 29
Where: Spring Valley Nature Center
1111 E Schaumburg Rd
Schaumburg, IL 60193
More info: www.schaumburggardenclub.org
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Plants for Pollinators Garden Sale
When: Preorder by May 8
Pickup June 4, 10am - 4pm
Where: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N Cannon Dr
Chicago, IL 60614
More info: www.naturemuseumstore.org
Nurseries & Garden Centers
South
Alsip Home & Nursery
Location: 20601 S LaGrange Rd
Frankfort, IL 60423
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 7pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 6pm
Call: 815.469.1044
Website: www.alsipnursery.com
Fasel & Sons Garden Center
Location: 10841 S Cicero Ave
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5:30pm
Call: 708.422.5335
Website: www.faselandsons.com
Melka Landscaping & Garden Center
Location: 11606 179th St Mokena, IL 60448
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Call: 708.349.6989 ext. 3
Website: www.jimmelkalandscaping.com
Ted's Greenhouse, Inc.
Location: 16930 84th Ave
Tinley Park, IL 60487
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: 9am - 3pm
Call: 708.532.3575
Website: www.tedsgreenhouse.com
Woldhuis Farms Sunrise Greenhouse, Inc.
Location: 10300 E 9000 N Rd
Grant Park, IL 60940
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 8am - 4pm
Call: 815.465.6310
Website: www.woldhuisfarms.com
West
Christy Webber Farm & Garden
Location: 2833 W Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60612
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm
Call: 312.829.8200
Website: www.cwfng.com
City Escape Garden Center & Design Studio
Location: 3022 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60612
Hours: Everyday: 9am - 6pm
Call: 773.638.2000
Website: cityescape.biz
Good Earth Greenhouse
Location: 7900 W Madison
River Forest, IL 60305
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9am - 5pm
Call: 708.366.9500
Website: www.goodearthgreenhouse.com
The Growing Place
Locations: 25w471 Plank Rd
Naperville, IL 60563
and
2000 Montgomery Rd
Aurora, IL 60504
Hours: Opening April 1
Call: 630.355.4000 (Naperville) | 630.820.8088 (Aurora)
Website: www.thegrowingplace.com
Hinsdale Nurseries
Location: 7200 S Madison St
Willowbrook, IL 60527
Hours: Monday - Friday: 7am - 3:30pm
Call: 630.323.1411
Website: hinsdalenurseries.com
McAdam Nursery & Garden Center
Location: 2001 Des Plaines Ave
Forest Park, IL 60130
Hours: Opening soon (hours of operation are weather dependent)
Call: 708.771.2299
Website: www.mcadamgardencenter.com
Pioneer Garden & Feed
Location: 118 S Villa Ave
Villa Park, IL 60181
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
Call: 630.832.0815
Website: www.pioneergardenandfeed.com
Sprout Home
Location: 745 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Hours: Everyday: 11am - 6pm
Call: 312.226.5950
Website: www.sprouthome.com
Wasco Nursery & Garden Center
Locations: 41 W781 IL-64
St. Charles, IL 60175
Hours: Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm
Sunday: 10am - 3pm
Call: 630.584.4424
Website: www.wasconursery.com
North
Chalet Landscaping & Garden
Location: 3132 Lake Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 6pm
Sunday: 10am - 5pm
Call: 847.256.0561
Website: www.chaletnursery.com
Farmer’s Market Garden Center
Location: 4110 N Elston Ave Chicago, IL 60618
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm
Sunday: 9am - 5pm
Call: 773.539.1200
Website: www.gardenchicago.com
Ferraro Garden Spot
Location: 826 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9am-3pm
Saturday: 9am - 2pm
Call: 847.272.1840
Website: www.ferrarogardenspot.com
Fertile Ltd.
Location: 1646 W Diversey Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60614
Hours: Hours vary by season, check website for details
Call: 773.472.8733
Website: www.fertileondiversey.com
Natives Haven Nursery
Location: 13809 Durkee Rd Harvard, IL 60033
Hours: Opening May 26
Call: 815.344.6623
Website: www.nativeshaven.com
Reds Garden Center
Location: 3460 Dundee Rd Northbrook, IL 60062
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Call: 847.272.1209
Website: www.redsgardencenter.com
Plant Delivery
Agrecol LLC
Based in Evansville, WI
Website: www.Agrecol.com
Heritage Flower Farm
Based in Mukwonago WI
Website: www.heritageflowerfarm.com
Native Wildflowers & Seeds from Ion Exchange, Inc.
Based in Harper’s Ferry, IA
Website: www.ionxchange.com
Natural Communities Native Plants
Based in Batavia, IL
Website: www.naturalcommunities.net
North Branch Natives
Based in Chicago, IL
Website: www.northbranchnatives.com
Pollinator Prairie Patch
Based in Chicago, IL
Website: www.pollinatorprairiepatch.com
Possibility Place Nursery
Based in Monee, IL
Website: www.possibilityplace.com
Prairie Moon Nursery
Based in Winona, MN
Website: www.prairiemoon.com
Prairie Nursery
Based in Westfield, WI
Website: www.prairienursery.com
Rebecca's Natives, Ltd.
Based in Winnetka, IL
Website: www.rebeccasnatives.com
(Option for local pickup)
Landscapers
Want to hire someone else to source the plants and do the work? Check our directory of trusted landscapers, who have each been used and recommended by at least 3 of our members.
Let us know of any native plant sources that we missed.
Share this list with your neighbors and friends to help support local businesses and spread the word about native plants. Happy gardening!