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TRAFFIC DISRUPTION MARCH 24: the Around the Bay Race route will result in closed lanes along Plains Road W. and York Boulevard. Expect traffic delays and plan accordingly. Details at bayrace.com

Plant Faire

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This page contains details for a 2019 event. Check back for updated information for future events.

Start off the gardening season right with RBG’s annual Plant Faire! Shop local vendors, hear from gardening experts, and more!

RBG is proud to present its third annual Plant Faire, a great way to get a head start on the gardening season, find unique plants for your home garden, and speak to passionate gardening professionals.

Free Admission – donations welcome!

  • Lotsa Hostas Vendror At Plant Faire
  • Looking At Royal Select Roses At Plant Faire
  • Atrium Full Of Plant Societies At Plant Faire
  • Bonsai Presentation At Plant Faire
  • Plant Vendor At Plant Faire

About Plant Faire

  • Vendors featuring unique seeds, specialty plants and native plants
  • RBG ROYALSELECT™ plants
  • Educational presentations on the hour and half-hour
  • Displays by plant societies and horticultural groups
  • Expert information about gardening and plants
  • Food and drink

Free Admission – donations welcome

While Supplies Last! Though we encourage vendors to bring as much product as they like, supplies are limited, so arrive early for the best selection!

Vendors

We are proud to host local growers who will be selling a selection of native species and cultivated favourites.

Check back for 2022 vendor list!

Societies and Community Groups

Hamilton and Burlington have a thriving gardening and horticultural culture! Once again, we will be hosting a number of local socieites to help you learn about future events and opportunities to help your community grow!

Check back for 2022 participants.

ROYALSELECT™

Take home the plants you can see in our gardens!

Excellent plants currently in the RBG collection having a number of desirable characteristics such as quality of bloom, long season of interest and ease of maintenance. Many of these outstanding plants are underused in the home garden. While Supplies Last!

Purple Ornamental Onion Bloom

Allium ‘Millenium’ (Ornamental Onion)

Perennial Plant of the Year 2018 – Visitors to Hendrie Park were enthusiastic about this unusual very showy ornamental onion.The small compact clumping plant, topped with numerous large rosy purple balls of colour just above the rich green foliage. Blooms July to August in full sun or part shade and tolerates a wide range of soils, drought, rabbits, and deer. Attracts butterflies. Ht. and W. 30-45 cm.

Fern Fronds

Dryopteris affinis ‘Cristata’ aka The King (Golden-Scaled Male Fern)

A truly regal fern from the Victorian era known as King of the Male Ferns. Suitable for moist shady areas, the fronds of this attention grabbing Dryopteris have divided leaflet edges and are crested or even frilly in appearance. The classic upright, arching fern form produces a showy specimen. Semi evergreen, damaged fronds should be cut back in spring. Deer resistant. Part to full shade preferred. Ht.75-100 cm.,W. 75-90 cm.

Purple Geranium Blooms

Geranium ‘Blogold’ Blue Sunrise®

Noted for the beautiful burnt orange foliage in spring that turns yellow green and for large clusters of saucer shaped blue flowers. Blooms in early summer and continues for months in full sun or part shade. Low maintenance but in the heat of summer plants can be cut back to rejuvenate and encourage new bloom. Average well drained soil. Tolerates rabbits and deer. Attracts butterflies. Ht.30-45 cm., W.30-60 cm.

Striped Ginkgo Leaf

Ginkgo biloba ‘California Sunset’

Ginkgo trees are noted for unusual fan shaped leaves. The outstanding foliage on this rare cultivar has beautifully variegated leaves, creamy yellow in spring, maturing to dark green with streaks of cream/gold in summer. Ginkgo are extremely hardy and this sought after cultivar is a slow growing small tree or large shrub with no disease or insect problems. Full sun to part shade, in a sheltered location, moist to average well drained soil. A choice specimen plant. Ht. 3-4 metres, W. 2.5 metres after 20 yrs.

Coral Bells In Bloom With Pink And Purple Colours

Heuchera ‘Glitter’ (Coral Bells)

RHS Award of Garden Merit. Stunning silver foliage with black veins and violet undercarriage is topped with masses of fuchsia-pink bells on dark stems. The result is gorgeous and can be enjoyed from late spring through summer. Prefers well drained soil in full sun or part to full shade. Ht.25 cm. to 40 cm. with flowers.,W.30-35 cm. Attracts hummingbirds. Recommended by the Horticulturist at Laking Garden.

Hydrangea Fire and Ice 300

Hydrangea paniculata ‘Wim’s Red’ Fire and Ice®

Large conical creamy white flowers changing to pink in summer and wine red in the fall are the stars of this cultivar. A lovely upright vase shaped Hydrangea that blooms on new wood and could be pruned in late winter or early spring. Prefers part shade with rich, moist, well drained soil. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Ht. 90-180 cm.,W 90-120 cm.

Copper Coloured Peony Blooms

Paeonia (Itoh) ‘Kopper Kettle’ (Itoh Peony)

Unusual, rare and highly collectable, Itoh peonies are hybrids between herbaceous and tree peonies. This cultivar produces large, extraordinary semi-double to double tri-colour flowers of red, yellow and orange, giving the blooms a copper hued effect from afar. Finely cut dark green foliage is supported by a sturdy, well shaped plant. Prefers full sun and fertile, well drained soil. Deer and rabbit resistant. Ht. 70-80 cm. and W. 55-90 cm.

Madame Julia Correvon 300

Clematis ‘Madame Julia Correvon’

A small flowered climbing vine featuring rich red flowers (5- 7.5 cm.) with yellow stamens that blooms profusely June to September. Flowering on new wood, this Clematis will grow 3 to 4 metres and should be cut down to just above the first healthy buds every spring. Full sun to part shade, medium moist well drained soil, the roots should be shaded to keep cool. Deer resistant.

Shrub With Dark Foliage And Tiny Pink Blooms

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’ Little Devil™ (Ninebark)

A ninebark for small gardens with a compact rounded form, easy to grow and maintain. Attractive deep burgundy foliage is offset by clusters of button like white flowers in June. Another interesting feature is the peeling papery bark, making this a shrub for all seasons. Any pruning should be done after flowering. Easily grown in sun to part shade, moist, well drained soil. Ht and W. 90-120 cm.

White Pine Needles

Pinus strobus ‘Blue Shag’ (Eastern White Pine)

An extremely attractive evergreen with short blue/green needles, very soft to the touch. A dwarf, dense globe form that attracted very positive comments from visitors to Rock Garden. Does not produce cones in the early years. Slow growing, but to maintain desired size the candles can be pinched back in spring. Full sun, part shade. Well drained soil. Tolerates rabbits and deer. Ht. and W 60 – 120 cm.

Rodgersia Pinnata Pink Blooms On Long Stems

Rodgersia pinnata ‘Fireworks’

Rarely seen in gardens, this large exotic looking plant produces unique, deeply divided green foliage with bronze edges. In summer deep reddish plumes appear on tall stems, creating a very dramatic effect. Ideal for woodland or bog gardens as a bold accent plant, it prefers moist to wet soil in full to part shade. Blooms July to August, flowering best with a couple of hours of indirect sun. Rabbit and deer resistant. Ht.60 cm., W.60-80 cm.

Light Purple Garden Rose In Bloom

Rosa ‘KORfriedhar’ Poseidon™ (Floribunda Rose)

Highly rated because of the fragrant, large, very full lavender lilac flowers blooming in clusters. This very healthy Floribunda is disease and blackspot resistant and an excellent repeat bloomer. Poseidon™ received high praise from Rose Garden visitors last summer. Prefers well drained rich loam in full sun. Ht. 80-100 cm. W. 60-80 cm.

Lilac Just Starting To Bloom

Syringa ‘Bailbelle’ Tinkerbelle™ (Lilac)

Best known for its compact shape and wine coloured buds that open to clouds of fragrant pale pink flowers in mid to late spring. This delightful small lilac is easily grown in average medium moist, well drained soil in full sun. Prune as needed immediately after flowering. Removal of faded flower panicles before seed set increases bloom in the following year. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, tolerates deer. Ht and W. 120-180 cm.

Purple Speedwell Blooms

Veronica longifolia ‘Very Van Gogh’ (Speedwell)

Very impressive and long blooming, Van Gogh produces masses of eye catching orchid-purple flower spikes rising above forest green foliage. Blooming from mid to late summer, it prefers dry to average well drained soil and full sun to part shade. Deer resistant, but will attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. Ht.45-50 cm.,W.50 cm.

Speakers and Activities

The art of gardening is always changing and growing; we welcome a number of experts to speak on a variety of horticultural topics to help you start your gardening season right! Join us for 30 minutes sessions, and Discovery Activities all day!

More information coming soon

RBG Centre at Royal Botanical Gardens

Find this event indoors at RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road W. Burlington.

Plant Faire FAQ

Have a question about Plant Faire? Click the topics below for more information. If you have a question that is not answered, give us a call at 905-527-1158 or send us a message.

Location

Plant Faire will be held indoors at RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road W. Burlington. Vendors, plant societies, and speaker sessions will be placed throughout the building. Upon arrival visitors will be given a map of the building indicating where each aspect of the event is located.

Parking

Parking is available at RBG Centre (680 Plains Road W.). There will be no charge for parking in this lot on the day of the event. Accessible parking spaces and some electric charging stations are available.

Cost of Entry

This event is free to the public; donations to Royal Botanical Gardens are welcome. This includes access to RBG Centre and Hendrie Park. Anyone arriving after 2 p.m. or wishing to visit the other garden areas (including access to Rock Garden) will be required to pay admission or show their RBG Membership card. Find more information on admission at rbg.ca/visitus

Carts and Plant Holding Area

RBG will provide some plant carts for use by visitors on the day of the event. You are welcome to bring your own compact cart for carying plants during the event.

Do you want to stick around for a garden tour, speaker session, or lunch after purchasing a plant from our vendors? You can leave your plant with one of our volunteers in the plant holding area.

When you’re ready to leave, you can bring your vehicle around to Spicer Court to more easily load your plants. Follow the directional signage on the day!

Public Transit

RBG Centre is accessible by Burlington Transit bus route 1 on weekends, with a stop and bus shelter located at 680 Plains Road W. This route is accessible from Burlington GO, Hamilton GO, and Aldershot GO stations. Please see the full route map and schedule at burlingtontransit.ca

While Supplies Last

Though we encourage vendors to bring as much product as they like, supplies are limited, so arrive early for the best selection! Doors open at 9 a.m.

Payment Options

Payment options will vary by vendor. Purchases for RoyalSelect Plants will accept debit, credit and cash, but these options may not be available for all vendors. ATM is located on site.

Pets / Service Animals

With the exception of service animals, no personal dogs/cats/animals are permitted in RBG Centre. If you are looking for somewhere to take your pet on a stroll, check out our 27km of trails!