Friends School Plant Sale — with more than 2,450 plant varieties — may be the largest plant sale in the U.S. It’s a fund-raising event sponsored by the Friends School of Minnesota, a small Quaker K – 8 school in the Hamline-Midway area in Saint Paul.
Friday, May 9: 9 am - 8 pm
Saturday, May 10: 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday, May 11: 10 am - 2 pm
“Doing” the Sale
Shopping at the Friends School Plant Sale, in the Minnesota State Fair grandstand, is the great get-together for gardeners. The experience and amount of waiting changes through the day.
What’s most important to you when you shop?
Minimize crowds
ARRIVE: Friday after 3 pm, Saturday after 3 pm, Sunday after noon. OR volunteer and shop Thursday evening.
Get the plants I want
ARRIVE: Friday by 7 am or earlier, Saturday by 9 am, Sunday by 9:30. OR volunteer and shop Thursday evening.
Get the best deal
On Sunday, all remaining plants are 1/3 off. We're open from 10 am to 2 pm.
Find out more: Map and floorplan | What's new | Getting in (wristbands) | Checking out
Also find out about: Shopping tips | Garden Fair | Saturday workshops
ANNIVERSARY SWAG
To celebrate the Friends School Plant Sale’s 30th anniversary, we’re offering a commemorative T-shirt with an original four-color design by local artist and Friends School of Minnesota alum Ruby Thompson. Or choose a tote bag, hat, and other item with the plant sale logo.
These items will not be available for purchase at the sale! They’re through online order only.
Details and how to order here.
2019 New Plants
Photo courtesy of PAC Elsner/Westhoff - www.pac-elsner / www.westflowers.de
Water Plants
We are once again partnering with the Minnesota Water Garden Society.
They will be selling a wide range of water plants (plus bog plants and fish) outside, between the curbside plant pickup area and the sale exit. Come talk to their knowledgeable volunteers about all things beautiful, damp, and growing
See their full list of plants here.
Photo of the native waterlily (Nelumbo luteo) by liz west from the Wikimedia Commons.
Important News
No to neonic pesticides
The plant sale's planners have worked hard to make sure our plants have not been treated with neonicotinoids, common pesticides that are now suspected of killing bees and other pollinators.
- Read our full statement on this important issue.
- See our 2016 update on our neonic policy.
- Check out this statement about how our edible plants are grown.
- Watch a video made by our middle school students called "A Plea for Pollinators" about the neonic problem.
(Image: Bee on Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia. Photo by Michelle Mero Riedel)
