FloraKansas

FloraKansas: The Great Plains Plant Bazaar

It's time someone began to cultivate our wild flowers, as soon some of them, like the Indian and buffalo, will be gone forever. Once the school children brought armfuls of curious elkhorns, as they called them, or orchids (Leucophea) - now they are seldom seen; once the gentian, like a blue tulip, defied the late frosts, and bravely held up its cluster in the brown grass - now one may not see them in years. And so with others.

This plea to save our natural heritage, written more than 100 years ago by a concerned Kansan, foretells the decline of many prairie plants, including one of Kansas' rarest, the western prairie fringed orchid.

We believe that for you - a gardener, a prairie enthusiast, nature lover, friend of the environment - to become acquainted with the plants that once grew in abundance on the Great Plains, you need to touch them, plant them, observe their habits and beauty, and learn to call them by name. That's why we initiated FloraKansas - The Great Plains Plant Bazaar in 1998. By planting our native species, you can re-establish a piece of our vanishing native ecosystem and the rich biodiversity it represented.

Each year, we sell an increasing number of native plants to individuals who live in town as well as on country acreages. From traditional gardens to large prairie restorations, native plants are an increasingly popular choice in the Midwest.

Our customers find plants at affordable prices and enjoy supporting the mission of the arboretum. Our repeat customers tell us how pleased they are by the quality of our plants - and how well these plants are adapted to Kansas' challenging climate. Those who live with hard Kansas clay, wet in the spring and dry in the summer, tell us these plants not only survive - they thrive!