Save your shopping list by February 25 or it will be deleted! And now is not a good time to start a new shopping list. We're upgrading our website in March. Get the details here.
The plants for 2023 will be updated by March 22.
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Looking for plant sale gift certificates? You can purchase them on the Friends School of Minnesota website.
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Friends School Plant Sale is probably 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.
“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
Friday, May 12, 9 am – 8 pm
Saturday, May 13, 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday, May 14, 10 am – 2 pm
Water Plants
The Minnesota Water Garden Society was back at the 2022 Garden Fair.
They sold plants that like wet feet, including a large selection of Lotus, waterlilies, bog plants, rain garden plants, just about anything that likes moist soil. Plus a large selection of koi, shubunkin and goldfish, and carnivorous pitcher plants.
They were open just before and during Friends School Plant Sale. A wristband is not needed to enter the MWGS sale.
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)
