Join the Iowa Arboretum for a beautiful scenic 5K or 1 mi. Family Walk/Run on our trails. What could be a better spring location to enjoy the outdoors and celebrate Arbor Day? A fun variety of Arbor Day activities will follow the race! Click here to register.
Please note: We strive to preserve the natural elements of our woodlands; therefore, trails may be muddy due to weather. Please dress accordingly.
The celebration of trees starts at 9 am and is free to the public. Tree climbing for children will be the highlight of the morning. Children will grab a harness and helmet and be guided by Iowa Arborist Association members as they climb arboretum trees. A tree planting dedication along with other activities are planned for the morning. There will be a special appearance by Smokey the Bear. Everyone receives a free tree. Join us for a fun morning at the Arboretum.
Sunday, April 28 · 1:00-3:00 PM
Join us for our spring Woof Walk – a fun afternoon for canines and the people who love them. Bring your dog for a little socializing with others as you walk a trail of seasonal riddles, all Floppy approved and sure to make you chuckle. The official start time is 1 PM from the Hughes Education Center porch. Latecomers can join in any time until 3. Well behaved dogs on leashes are always welcome. No dog, no problem. You will still get exercise, meet new people, and smile.
Free event.
It is time to attend the gardening social event of the year. The event theme and plant sale theme is “Big and Small Plants for All.” Whether it is to connect with friends, enjoy delicious food or sip wine, the Arboretum’s Garden Social has it all! As many of you know, event ticket holders have the first chance at purchasing the best plants at the spring plant sale (Saturday for the general public). Leah Worth, Horticulture Project Manager for the Arboretum, will have a wonderful selection of plants.
You will be treated to an evening featuring live music along with a delicious dinner. The live auction follows with hundreds of unique plants, garden-related items, and gifts to bid on. Auctioneers J&J Auction Company will set the stage for an entertaining and engaging evening. We also added a wine swap to further support this important fundraising event.
Come early to buy plants and stay late to enjoy the festivities.
Plant Sale – 4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Dinner – 5:30 PM
Live auction – 6:30 PM
Arboretum Garden Social & Auction Sponsorship and Donation Information
For those of you looking to Donate or become a Sponsor for this years 2019 Iowa Arboretum Garden Social you have found the right place. Use the links below to either purchase a Sponsorship or Fill out a form in order to donate garden decor, artwork, tickets to events/restaurants or other unique gifts.
Thinking small often produces some big ideas. This year’s spring plant sale features some of the best plants for small spaces, and yet, ones that can be planted in mass groupings for a big effect. You will be sure to find a plant that fits your yard, garden, or planter. For best selection and VIP shopping, please purchase a ticket to our Garden Social and Auction event the night before!
Scroll down for a complete plant sale list!
| Scientific Name & Cultivar | Common Name | Light Requirements | Bloom Time | Bloom color | Hardiness Zone | Pot Size |
| Achillea ptarmica ‘Peter Cottontail’ | Sneezewort | Full Sun/Part Sun | Early Summer to Early Fall | Ivory white | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Achillea ‘Sassy Summer Taffy’ | Yarrow (Sassy Summer Collection) | Full Sun | Early to Late Summer | Dark salmon pink | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Allium ‘Millenium’ | Ornamental Onion | Full Sun | Mid to Late Summer | Rosy purple | 4-8 | 4″ |
| Amsonia tabernaemontana ‘Storm Cloud’ | Blue Star | Full Sun/Part Sun | Late Spring to Early Summer | Perwinkle blue | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Anemone ‘Sweetly’ | Fall in Love Wind Flower | Full Sun/Part Shade | Late Summer to Early Fall | Semi-double, rose pink | 4-8 | 1 gallon |
| Arabis blepharophylla ‘Spring Charm’ | Rock Cress | Part Sun | Spring | Reddish-rose | 3-7 | 4″ |
| Arabis caucasica ‘Snowfix’ | Rock Cress | Part Sun | Spring | Small white | 3-7 | 4″ |
| Artemsia schmidtiana ‘Silver Mound’ | Silver Mound Artemsia | Full Sun/Part Sun | Grown for foliage | NA | 3-7 | 4″ |
| Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly Weed | Full Sun | Early to Late Summer | Tangerine-orange | 3-9 | 4″ |
| Aster ‘Kickin’ Purple’ | Aster (Kickin’ Series) | Full Sun | Summer | Deep violet | 5-9 | 4″ |
| Aster novi-belgii ‘Winston Churchill’ | Aster (Kickin’ Series) | Full Sun | Summer | Bright raspberry-red | 3-9 | 4″ |
| Astilbe ‘Amber Moon’ | Astilbe | Full Shade/Part Shade | Midsummer | Rose pink plumes | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Astilbe chinensis ‘Vision in Red’ | Chinese Astilbe | Sun to Shade | Midsummer | Deep red to pink red plumes | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Athyrium ‘Godzilla’ | Giant Japanese Painted Fern | Full Shade/Part Shade | Grown for foliage | NA | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Baptisia ‘Pink Lemonade’ | False Indigo | Full Sun/Part Sun | Late Spring to Early Summer | Yellow aging to raspberry-purple | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Bergenia cordifolia ‘Winter Glow’ | Hearleaf Bergenia | Full Sun/Part Shade | Early Spring to Late Spring | Bright pinkish-red | 3-8 | 4″ |
| Brunnera macrophylla ‘Sterling Silver’ | Heartleaf Brunnera | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early to Mid Spring | Light blue | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Carex oshimensis ‘Everillo’ | Japanese Sedge | Part Shade | Grown for foliage | NA | 5-9 | 1 gallon |
| Chelone lyonii ‘Hot Lips’ | Turtlehead | Part Sun | Summer to Fall | Hot pink | 3-8 | 4″ |
| Cimicifuga ramosa ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ | Black Snakeroot | Full Shade/Part Shade | Late Summer to Mid-Fall | White brush pale pink | 4-8 | 6″ |
| Clematis ‘Bees’ Jubilee’ | Clematis | Full Sun/Part Sun | Late Spring and Late Summer | Varied shades of pink | 4-8 | 4″ |
| Clematis ‘Sweet Autumn’ | Clematis | Full Sun/Part Sun | Late Summer to Fall | White | 5-10 | 4″ |
| Coreopsis ‘Show Stopper’ | Perennial Tickseed | Full Sun | Early to Late Summer | Bright rose-pink | 5-10 | 1 gallon |
| Delosperma ‘Granita Raspberry’ | Ice Plant | Full Sun | Spring to Summer | Iridescent raspberry | 6-10 | 4″ |
| Delosperma ‘Topaz’ | Ice Plant | Full Sun | Summer | Orange and white | 5-10 | 4″ |
| Delphinium cultorum ‘Dark Blue White Bee’ | Perennial Larkspur (Magic Fountain Series) | Full Sun | Early to Late Summer | Purple with white accents | 3-8 | 4″ |
| Delphinium elatum ‘Rose White Bee’ | Dwarf Larkspur | Fun Sun | Early to Late Summer | Rose with white accents | 3-9 | 4″ |
| Dianthus ‘Appleblossom Burst’ | Pinks | Full Sun | Early Summer, Early Fall | Semi-double pink blush | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Dianthus barbatus ‘Scarlet Fever’ | Perennial Sweet William | Full Sun | Late Spring to Early Summer | Bright red-orange | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Dianthus interspecific ‘Supra Pink’ | Garden Pinks (Supra Series) | Full Sun/Part Sun | Summer | Fringed pink | 4-9 | 4″ |
| Dicentra spectabilis ‘White Gold’ | Golden Bleeding Heart | Full Shade/Part Shade | Mid to Late Spring | White | 4-8 | 1 gallon |
| Echinacea ‘Balsomemyim’ | Lemon Yellow Improved Coneflower | Full Sun | Early to Late Summer | Rich yellow | 4-9 | 6″ |
| Echinacea ‘Colorburst Orange’ | Coneflower (Colorburst™Series) | Full Sun | Summer to Fall | Double orange | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Twister’ | Purple Coneflower | Full Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer to Early Fall | Outer yellow-green bleed to pale-pink center | 4-9 | 4″ |
| Echinacea x hybrida ‘Baja Burgundy’ | Coneflower (Sombrero® Series) | Full Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer to Early Fall | Watermelon pink | 4-9 | 6″ |
| Epimedium ‘Amber Queen’ | Barrenwort | Full Shade/Part Shade | Mid to Late Spring | Bright yellow with orange centers | 5-8 | 1 gallon |
| Fescue glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ | Blue Fescue | Full Sun/Part Sun | Early Summer to Midsummer | NA | 4-8 | 4″ |
| Geum ‘Sunkissed Lime’ | Sunkissed Lime Avens | Full Sun/Part Shade | Mid to Late Spring | Brilliant orange | 5-8 | 1 gallon |
| Geum ‘Tim’s Tangerine’ | Totally Tangerine Avens | Full Sun/Part Shade | Late Spring to Midsummer | Apricot-orange | 4-7 | 1 gallon |
| Geum triflorum | Prairie Smoke/Old Mans Whiskers | Full Sun | Late Spring to Early Summer | Pink | 3-6 | 4″ |
| Helleborus ‘Black Tie Affair’ | Lenten Rose (Wedding Party™ Series) | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early to Mid Spring | Near black shades | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Helleborus ‘Shotgun Wedding’ | Lenten Rose (Wedding Party™ Series) | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early to Mid Spring | Double white with burgundy speckles | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Helleborus ‘Tropical Sunset’ | Lenten Rose (Honeymoon™ Series) | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early to Mid Spring | Creamy yellow with burgundy streaks | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Helleborus ‘Wedding Crasher’ | Lenten Rose (Wedding Party™ Series) | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early to Mid Spring | Pink with dark pink spots | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Heuchera ‘Appletini’ | Coral Bells (Dolce® Series) | Part Shade | Midsummer | Rich ruby-red | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Heuchera ‘Lemon Love’ | Coral Bells (Dolce® Series) | Full Shade/Part Shade | Early Summer | Cream | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Heuchera ‘Timeless Treasure’ | Coral Bells (Timeless Collection) | Part Shade | Early to Late Summer | Rosy pink | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Heucherella ‘Gold Zebra’ | Foamy Bells | Full Shade/Part Shade | Late Spring to Early Summer | White | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Hibiscus ‘Cherry Choco Latte’ | Rose Mallow | Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer through Early Fall | White with deep pink veining | 4-9 | 3 gallon |
| Hibiscus ‘Holy Grail’ | Rose Mallow (Summerific® Collection) | Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer through Early Fall | Deep red | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Hosta ‘Lakeside Paisley Print’ | Hosta | Full Shade/Part Shade | Midsummer | Light lavender | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Hosta ‘Neptune’ | Hosta | Full Shade/Part Shade | Late Summer to Early Fall | Lavender | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Liatris spicata ‘Kobold’ | Blazing Star | Full Sun | Early to Midsummer | Rosy lavender | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Monarda ‘Cherry Pops’ | Bee Balm (Sugar Buzz® Series) | Full Sun/Part Sun | Mid to Late Summer | Cherry red | 4-8 | 1 gallon |
| Monarda ‘Leading Lady Orchid’ | Bee Balm (Leading Lady Series) | Full Sun/Part Sun | Early to Midsummer | Orchid and light pink bicolor | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Nepeta hybrid ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ | Catmint | Full Sun | Late Spring to Early Fall | Indigo blue | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Penstemon hybrida ‘MissionBells Deep Rose’ | Hybrid Beard-tongue | Full Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer to Mid-Fall | Deep rose with white throats | 5-9 | 4″ |
| Penstemon ‘TNPENDB’ | Dakota Burgundy™ Penstemon | Fun Sun | Summer | Lavender to violet | 3-8 | 1 gallon |
| Phlox divaricata ‘Chattahoochee’ | Woodland Phlox | Full Sun/Part Shade | Mid-Spring to Early Summer | Deep blue/purple | 4-9 | 4″ |
| Phlox paniculata ‘Glamour Girl’ | Tall Garden Phlox | Full Sun | Midsummer to Late Summer | Hot coral pink | 4-8 | 4″ |
| Pulmonaria ‘Majeste’ | Lungwort | Shade | Late Spring | Blue-pink | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Pumlonaria ‘Pretty in Pink’ | Lungwort | Shade | Late Spring | Bright rose-pink | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Saliva nemorosa ‘Sensation Sky Blue’ | Sensation® Perennial Salvia | Full Sun | Late Summer to Mid-Fall | Two-toned purple and blue | 4-9 | 6″ |
| Salvia ‘Pretty in Pink’ | Perennial Salvia (Fashionista™ Collection) | Full Sun | Late Spring to Early Summer | Vibrant lavender pink | 3-8 | 6″ |
| Sedum ‘Mr. Goodbud’ | Stonecrop | Full Sun | Late Summer | Deep purple-pink | 3-9 | 1 gallon |
| Sedum rupestre ‘Lemon Ball’ | Lemon Ball Stonecrop | Full Sun | Spring | Yellow | 5-9 | 4″ |
| Sempervivum arachnoideum ‘Forest Frost’ | Hen and Chicks | Full Sun/Part Sun | Grown for foliage | Light pink | 2-9 | 4″ |
| Sporobolus heterolepis | Prairie Dropseed | Full Sun | Late Summer to Early Fall | NA | 3-9 | 4″ |
| Stachys monieri ‘Hummelo’ | Betony | Full Sun | Early to Midsummer | Vivid rose purple | 4-8 | 4″ |
| Veronica ‘Aztec Gold’ | Creeping Speedwell | Full Sun | Early to Midsummer | Perwinkle blue | 4-8 | 1 gallon |
| Veronica ‘Lavender Lightsaber’ | Spike Speedwell | Full Sun | Early to Midsummer | Soft lavender | 4-9 | 1 gallon |
| Veronica spicata ‘Giles Van Hees’ | Speedwell | Full Sun/Part Sun | Late Spring to Early Fall | Sunset pink | 3-8 | 4″ |
| Veronica spicata ‘Sunnyborder Blue’ | Speedwell | Full Sun/Part Sun | Midsummer to Late Fall | Pink buds open to blue | 3-8 | 4″ |
| x Sedoro ‘Blue Elf’ | Stonecrop | Full Sun | Late Summer | Pink | 4-9 | 4″ |
The arboretum will be participating in this years Boone River Valley Festival, held throughout Boone County, over Memorial Day weekend. Come and celebrate one of Boone County’s greatest features…The Des Moines River Valley. Join us on Friday, May 24th for programs for all ages. At 10 am, the arboretum’s director will read a children’s story about boats followed by a river boat and apple boat snacks building activity. Adults are invited to take a free tour of the grounds at 11 am with Horticulture Project Manager Leah Worth.
This is a Free event.
Car Registration (free): 11 a.m. to 12 noon
12 noon to 2 p.m. – Bring your car or your camera and enjoy an afternoon admiring some of Iowa’s best-loved cars. Classic tunes will help set the mood and lunch will be available for purchase. Free to the public.
Come and help us honor the great work our
volunteers do throughout the year! There
will be a barbeque picnic served.