The Union County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to invite residents to participate in a Plant Swap and Shop event on Thursday, June 12th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm in the Scout Camping Area of the Watchung Reservation at Trailside Nature & Science Center, located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside.
This special event gives Union County residents the opportunity to swap up to three distinct invasive plants from their own gardens in exchange for up to three native plants, free of charge. In addition to the swap, attendees can shop a wider variety of native plants offered by Toadshade Native Plant Nursery.
“We’ve seen continued success with our Plant Swap and Shop, and we’re excited to bring it back with new options for 2025,” said Union County Chairwoman Lourdes M. Leon. “It’s a fun, hands-on way to help residents remove invasive species from their gardens and encourage the growth of beneficial native plants that support our local ecosystems. Local events like these can have big environmental impact, and we’re proud to promote sustainability in our community.”
Invasive plants are non-native species that harm the environment by outcompeting native plants for space and resources. They reproduce quickly and thrive in a wide range of conditions. Invasive plants often lack natural predators or competitors, which allows them to spread unchecked. Over time, they can take over an area and crowd out all other species, creating a single-species environment that greatly reduces biodiversity.
Residents are invited to bring up to three invasive plants of different species and exchange them for up to three native plants, all at no cost. This year’s event will feature a new selection of native plants available for swapping, including Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis), Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Blue Lobelia /Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia siphilitica), Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Lanceleaf Loosestrife (Lysimachia lanceolata), Cliff Stonecrop (Sedum glaucophyllum), and Bucks County Magenta Violet (Viola sororia selection).
Pre-registration for the Plant Swap and Shop is required and limited to 100 participants. Those interested are encouraged to sign up early at www.ucnj.org/plant-swap to secure a spot.
In addition to the plant swap, participants will have the opportunity to shop for native plants at the event. Pre-ordering through the Toadshade website at www.toadshade.com is strongly recommended for the best selection.
For more information about native plants in Union County, please download our free guide: “Plant This, Not That.” Questions about the Plant Swap and Shop on June 12th should be directed to park.env.services@ucnj.org.