FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Native plants are better adapted to the southwest Alabama environment and typically take less water and artificial nutrients such as chemical fertilizer, according to Fred Nation.

The field botanist is one of the organizers of the 16th Annual Weeks Bay Native Plant Sale, scheduled to be held Friday through Sunday (Oct. 9-11), from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., at Safe Harbor at Weeks Bay, across U.S. Highway 98 from the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

“The purpose is to get native plants and information about native plants into the hands of homeowners,” Nation said. “Some of the finest landscape plants in the world are native to this area.”

The plant sale is a fundraiser for the Weeks Bay Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the reserve’s many efforts. Nation said the money raised will help with reserve education, research and construction projects, many of which are accomplished using volunteer labor.

He pointed out that among the countless foundation-funded projects was an arboretum of dried plants at the reserve, which has been put to good use by researchers.

The reserve has helped educate students from primary and secondary schools, all the way through those involved in postgraduate studies.

Shrubs, perennials, butterfly plants, trees, hummingbird plants, wetland plants and dune plants will be available for purchase at the upcoming sale, Nation said, and experts, including Tom Dodd III and several of the Baldwin County Master Gardeners, will be on hand dispensing information and good old-fashioned wisdom.

“There will be an extensive selection of native plants and shrubs that will be of interest to collectors,” he said. “Fall is the best time of the year to plant woody plants like trees and shrubs. They can adapt without dealing with the heat.”

Several varieties of azaleas will be for sale, along with oakleaf hydrangea (the Alabama state wildflower) and blueberry bushes. Also available will be pitcher plants, beach rosemary, sea oats, ferns, mountain laurel (one of the great Baldwin County landscape plants for 200 years) and the Florida anise (American naturalist William Bartram’s favorite plant).

Nation said it’s important to remove exotic species and replace them with native plants. Kudzu, Japanese climbing fern and the Chinese privet are some of the invasives currently robbing native plants of much needed habitat.

Another invasive commonly seen in the area is the popcorn tree. Nation said they were introduced in the late 18th century as ornamentals, and they also produced oil, seed and wax.

He added, “They are one of the most destructive exotics in the area. They shade out and compete with native plants and take over.”

Native plants are much easier in general, according to Nation. He said, “You don’t have to wonder where to plant them, and whether they will grow here. They’ve been dealing with these conditions for thousands of years. They require minimal care.”

Last year, hundreds turned out to take advantage of the Weeks Bay Native Plant Sale, and Nation expects this year will be no different. Folks often bring along trucks or trailers and big plans to enhance their yards.

“We believe the more people know about native plants, the more they’ll care about seeing them survive,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun hanging out at the plant sale and meeting kindred spirits.”

For more information about the event, call the Weeks Bay Foundation at (251) 990-5004, or the Weeks Bay Reserve at (251) 928-9792.