Native Plant & Rain Barrel Sale
Save the date! 2025 Native Plant and Rain Barrel Sale
Sunday, September 7, 2025 • 11am - 2pm
Thumb Coast Watershed Center
301 N. Ninth St, St. Clair, MI 48079
Our annual Native Plant and Rain Barrel Sale takes place every fall on the grounds of our Thumb Coast Watershed Center. Fall is the ideal time to put these garden champions in the ground. There are many of benefits to fall planting: (1) Cooler temperatures of fall put less strain on transplants, and (2) Most perennials planted in spring won’t yield nectar-filled blooms until next season. By planting just a few months earlier, you’ll see some plants in full glory a year sooner!
What's the big deal about using native plants in your flower beds? Native plants have historically been found in Michigan so they easily tolerate our climate, resist pests, and are an important food source for wildlife like butterflies, birds, and fireflies. Do you have a small space or a space you want to keep tidy? Are you worried about the "wild" look of native plants? We offer low growing plants that are HOA and blight ordinance-approved that work well in high visible areas. You’re in good hands shopping with us!
The native plants are grown and provided by East Michigan Native Plants. Available for sale are wildflowers, grasses, sedges, vines and shrubs for conditions that tolerate shade, full sun, wet-soil and dry-soils. There are also pre-assembled kits that take the guesswork out of choosing! Garden kits are available for Butterflies, Rain Gardens, Grasses, and Pollinators. Not sure which plants you need in your landscape? Shop with our experts to guide your browsing and shopping experience. Plants are conveniently organized by growing conditions, like full sun, part sun, shade, wet-tolerant, and more.
Proceeds from our annual Native Plant and Rain Barrel sale support our Thumb Coast Native Plant Network to help create pollinator-friendly community gardens around our watershed, and help maintain our native plant garden at the Thumb Coast Watershed Center. Thank you for supporting plants for pollinators!
What makes native plants so resilient and low maintenance? Their root system! When there's a drought or pests are out in full force, it's their deep roots that keep the plants thriving.
Save Water with Rain Barrels
Help prevent water pollution, save on your water bill, and reduce property flooding with a rain barrel (or two) with our annual rain barrel sale. We've partnered with Upcycle Products to raise awareness about stormwater and offer 55-gallon rain barrels for your home and gardens. Rain barrels must be pre-ordered and pre-paid for pick-up during our annual sale. If you're not able to pick it up on September 8, we'll hold it aside fo you to be picked up at a later date. Purchase your rain barrel here.
New to rain barrels? Check out our rain barrel starter kit! You will receive one 55-gallon rain barrel in the color of your choice, an automatic water diverter, and a wooden stand for your barrel; it has everything you need to get started collecting rainwater. Purchase your Rain Barrel Starter Kit here.
Why are we are selling rain barrels? Rain barrels help make a watershed healthy! Every gallon of water that goes into your barrel is a gallon that doesn't become stormwater runoff, which picks up pollutants on its way to our rivers. Every gallon in your barrel is a gallon of water you don't have to pay for. Over time, you can save on water bills.
Got questions? Email our Program Assistant, Skyler Principe, at [email protected].
