On September 22nd we restocked the “Drop-in Shopping” shelves for the final time. We have lots of amazing, top quality, some might say wicked awesome plants that are looking for new homes. But when they leave, they will not be restocked this season - so get ‘em while you can!
And brave shoppers this first of Fall - Full Moon - Nor’Easter weekend will earn 20 bucks if Cactus Cash for every $100 they spend. Cactus Cash is good towards the purchase of any items on any of your future visits. 🙌
Drop in shopping for retail customers is every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from late April - mid October. Please find current hours HERE. Multiple deliveries of great new plants arrive every single week from April - September with peak native plant availability from mid-May through mid-September.
In addition to the Friday - Sunday drop in retail shopping opportunities, we work with landscape professionals, conservation groups, municipalities, schools, non-profit community groups, DIY homeowners and more to help them secure the plants they need to make their ecological gardening projects a success. Planning a project? Outreach to discuss the ways we can help you meet and exceed your planting project goals! Pick up for special orders can be accommodated most days and times during the week.
We accept cash, Venmo, PayPal, credit, and debit cards. Thanks in advance for your patronage and interest in adding beneficial plants to your yards and gardens.
We are a small, quirky, locally owned and operated horticultural wonderland offering more than 450 plant varieties, including rare finds and the area’s largest selection of Northeast Native Plants. While not exclusively focused on Massachusetts native plants, our carefully curated selection supports pollinator, bird, and wildlife-friendly gardens, as well as home permaculture and ecological landscaping goals.
We prioritize exceptional quality plants from small, family-owned Northeast growers. Our selection includes robust perennials, grasses, ferns, shrubs, and trees in 1-7 gallon sizes, with some smaller perennials available. Trays of single species landscape plugs and tublings can be ordered by special request; contact us for options.
We do not use any pesticides at our nursery and we source plants from environmentally responsible growers who utilize integrated pest management and make every effort to minimize chemical inputs. Our plants are not artificially forced to bloom; most perennials and shrubs are grown outdoors, adhering to natural cycles. Consequently, certain native plants might not be available first thing in the spring. By visiting regularly throughout the season, you can enjoy the best variety of plant options.
We only sell one kind of cactus here at Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch - our signature plant, the Native Opuntia humifusa - Prickly Pear Cactus. This variety thrives outside in hot, dry conditions, flowers beautifully in spring, forms fruits (called tunas), in the fall, and survives our winters like a champ!
We believe the Prickly Pear Cactus - the model of ruggedness and resilience - unexpected in both beauty and benefits - is the perfect mascot plant for our business. Prickly Pear Cacti are much more than just a pretty face in the plant world. Their ability to thrive in tough environments without supplemental watering, their ability to easily survive New England wild weather swings, their role in supporting wildlife, and their cultural significance make them truly remarkable plants!
We specialize in straight species native plants that are at the heart of habitat restoration, and proudly offer hundreds of varieties, including some that are rarely seen in the trade. Straight native plant species are plants that naturally occur in the wild and reproduce without intervention from people. Their diversity of genes gives them more adaptability (or survival insurance) in the face of disease, growing conditions, climate change, or other factors. Also, because insects and other invertebrates—as well as other animals—have co-evolved with native plants for thousands of years, the nutritional value of foliage, pollen, nectar, fruits, and seeds of straight native species is known. Many varieties that we offer are seed grown from Connecticut, Long Island and coastal New England sources making them particularly well adapted to growing here and especially valuable to local ecosystems.
We also carry a number of very popular straight species native varieties that are not categorized as indigenous to New England specifically, but are native to the Northeast Region east of the Mississippi and north of Virginia. These help expand the palette for ecological gardening projects, have strong pollinator value, and have been shown to thrive in our region. Some of these plants - things like Echinacea, Liatris, and Shrubby St. John's, have even been shown to have outsized value for at risk pollinators in our area. Understanding the native range of a plant can be an important variable in garden planning and shopping decisions. The site linked below is one good place to research a plants native range.
You can tell a plant is a cultivar if it has a name in parenthesis after its botanical name. It is important to distinguish cultivars from straight species native plants. While many cultivars of native plants (often called "nativars" are selections of naturally occurring native species, all cultivars are then selectively bred to have specific traits that vary from the straight species variety for example more compact size, varied bloom color, etc. Cultivars can be fantastic home and public garden accents when chosen and used wisely, but should be used cautiously or not at all in true ecological restoration projects.
Many native plants have a long history of interesting uses as food and medicine. We carry a wide array of native shrubs, trees, and herbaceous plants that align well with permaculture goals. In addition to our native plant selections we can sometimes source non-native (non-invasive!) fruiting trees and shrubs for customers by special order. Send us a message to let us know specifically what you are looking for.
While the majority of plants you will find are native to the eastern part of North America, we do carry some non-native varieties that have a proven place in ecological landscapes. These are often perennial herbs like Lavender, Catmint, Calamintha, Rosemary, Agastache, and more. We also carry some pollinator favorites like Crocosmia, Sedums, Salvias, and Flowering Oregano. These long-blooming plants add colorful accents and provide reliable sources of nectar between native plant bloom times. Our goal is to help people and communities create vibrant, thriving, landscapes where people, pollinators, and hosts of other beneficial creatures can thrive. Including long-blooming flowers can be an essential tool in creating visually appealing spaces that offer continuous nectar for pollinating visitors. Despite our focus on native plants, we offer some of these nonnative varieties to give local gardeners ready access to pesticide free plants to complement their ecological garden goals.
-- We are only open on the days and times posted. But, when feasible we are also happy to make appointments to meet you on a different day and time - just outreach to check availability.
-- We are an OUTDOOR ONLY establishment! Please plan and dress accordingly!
-- We love animals but for a variety of safety reasons, no dogs are allowed within the fenced in sales area, no exceptions (other than service animals). You are welcome to walk dogs in the parking area while here. If it is a very hot day or there is no one to stay with the dog in or near the car it may be safest to leave pups with someone or at home.
-- We are very child friendly and love gardeners of all ages! But the environment is definitely not child proofed - be advised! For their safety, children should be very closely attended while here.
Our preference is green (living) mulch and leaves! But for those wanting a mulched effect in native plant gardens and organic vegetable beds, buckwheat hull mulch is an ideal option. It is naturally toxin free ensuring it won't introduce harmful synthetic dyes or pesticides into your soil. Its lightweight,non mat forming texture allows delicate native plants to thrive while suppressing weeds and retaining moisture without altering the soil's pH. Furthermore, as the hulls slowly decompose, they act as a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner.
Community connections are at the root of all we do. That’s why this season we are excited to be offering Black Earth compost and (peat free) potting soil. Black Earth is the company partnering with East Bay communities to offer curbside compost pickup. Their products are economical, very high quality, and hyper-local.