Registration is now open for the 38th annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium! Join the National Arboretum on Saturday, March 29th for a day of engaging presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems.

This event is perfect for the home gardener. You will learn from seven expert speakers about:

• Supporting native pollinators
• Utilizing native plants in a historic estate garden
• Uses of preserved specimens from the Arboretum's Herbarium (demonstration included)
• Species versus cultivars in regional trial gardens
• Backyard stormwater management
• Local foraging

The suggested registration cost is $95 (or $76 for FONA members), but please pay what you can to attend starting at $50. We want this educational program to be accessible to as many people as possible. The base fee of $50 covers the Arboretum’s costs to pay for speakers and lunches for all attendees. Any amount you pay over $50 directly supports the Arboretum’s Fern Valley Native Plant Collection.

Register for the Lahr Native Plant Symposium >

The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum will be closed for garden renovations from Monday, February 3rd through Wednesday, February 5th. The Museum will reopen to the public at 10 AM on Thursday, February 6th. These renovations are weather-dependent and may be subject to change. We will share any updates on FONA's website.

Enjoy seasonal garden resources picked just for you and your school garden! Our quarterly School Garden Gateway email newsletter is created by our School Garden Support team. It features upcoming programs, events, and resources with a school garden focus offered by FONA and other local partners.

Sign Up to Receive School Garden Gateway >

Have you ever taken a moment to rest on one of the teak benches nestled beside a trail or under a tree at the Arboretum? These commemorative benches not only offer respite to visitors, they also honor loved ones or a special occasion. Each bench is tax deductible and has a custom engraved plaque. A single term is 15 years, though donors can choose to extend this.

While there are available bench locations all over the Arboretum, some new locations have recently opened in the National Herb Garden. These locations are centrally located and easily accessible.

Email Us to Learn More >

In the sea of yellow, orange, and red witch-hazels, ‘Amethyst’ is one of the few purple witch-hazel varieties. Hamamelis ‘Amethyst’ was selected by longtime witch-hazel nurseryman Tim Brotzman from open-pollinated seeds collected from his witch-hazels. It is likely a cross between Asian hybrids and the Ozark witch-hazel ‘Sandra.’ ‘Amethyst’ produces reddish-purple, spicy-scented flowers in January that are best seen with a dark background.



Witch-hazels are understory plants that grow best in full sun or part shade in a spot with moist soil. Most witch-hazels sold in nurseries are grafted onto native Hamamelis virginiana or Hamamelis vernalis roots because it’s very difficult to grow them from cuttings. A dedicated sleuth may be able to find some cultivars growing on their own roots. Grafted plants require a little more maintenance for gardeners, as they may produce root sprouts that can outcompete and eventually kill the desired plant. It's important to stay vigilant and remove any shoots growing from the base of the plant. Visit the Glenn Dale Hillside in the Azalea Collections or the Hamamelis Collection near the Asian and Dogwood Collections this winter to see witch-hazel ‘Amethyst’ for yourself.

Kamala Codrington-White, an Agricultural Science Research Technician at the National Arboretum, shares plants of note at the Arboretum in this recurring segment. Find these plants on your next trip to the Arboretum. Photo by the National Arboretum.

Spring into School Gardening

Saturday, March 22

Free resources for educators, in WYG

Save the date — more info coming soon

Flowering 5K

Sunday, March 23, 8:30 AM

Run or walk through collections in bloom

FONA members get 20% off registration

Register for the 5K >

Native Plant Sale

Saturday, March 29, 8 AM - 1 PM

Local native plant vendors, hosted by FONA

Learn More >

38th Annual Lahr Native Plant Symposium

Saturday, March 29, 9 AM - 4 PM

Learn from experts about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems, hosted by USNA

Register for the Symposium >