Wilbur D. May Arboretum Plant Sale — May 8–9

Reno’s spring plant sale circuit gets very practical this weekend. The May Arboretum Society is bringing back its big annual Spring Plant Sale on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9, at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum inside Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. The draw is simple — a lot of plants, picked for a place where gardening can go sideways fast if you buy for looks instead of climate. More than 5,000 plants across 300 varieties are expected to be for sale. (mayarboretumsociety.org) ### What’s actually happening this weekend? The public sale runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 8 and 9, at the Wilbur D. May Arboretum, 1595 N. Sierra Street in Reno. There’s also a members-only preview on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., which gives supporters first crack at the inventory before the main crowds arrive. (mayarboret([mayarboretumsociety.org)inds of plants are they selling? The lineup is broad, but the useful categories are the point. Organizers are highlighting native plants, Plant Select varieties, and new additions for 2026. Plant Select is a program built around plants suited to cold, dry climates, which is exactly why that label matters here more than it would in a milder gardening market. (mayarboretumsociety.org) ### Why does “good for Reno” matter so much? Because Reno gardening is not forgiving. The arboretum describes the area as a high-desert environment with about a 120-day growing season, elevation around 4,600 feet, daily temperature swings that can exceed 40 degrees, and only 4 to 8 inches of annual precipitation. Basically, a plant that thrives somewhere else can still get wrecked here. (washoecounty.gov) ### Why is the arboretum a credible place to buy? The Wilbur D. May Arboretum isn’t just a pretty park bed with labels. It’s a living plant museum with more than 4,600 native and adaptive plant species on display, and its stated mission is to show how both introduced and native plants perform in this exact high-desert setting. That makes the sale feel less like a generic fundraiser and more like shopping from a trial garden. (washoecounty.gov) ### Where in the park do you go? The arboretum sits within Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, and visitors can enter from the Sierra Street side or through the May Museum parking area near Washington Street. The grounds mix paved and packed gravel paths, so access is pretty manageable, though gravel can get muddy if weather turns. (washoecounty.gov)g the sale? The event is put on by the May Arboretum Society, the nonprofit that supports the Wilbur D. May Arboretum’s long-term sustainability through events, education, and membership support. That matters because the plant sale is not just retail — it’s one of the society’s signature fundraising and community events. (mayarbor([washoecounty.gov)ct? Expect a big selection and some competition for the best stuff. A 5,000-plant sale with region-specific varieties tends to reward people who show up early, especially if they already know they want natives or water-wise plants. The members preview exists for a reason — the most in-demand plants do not usually wait around politely. (ma([mayarboretumsociety.org)e/)) ### Bottom line? This is really a high-desert gardening event disguised as a plant sale. If you want plants with a better shot at surviving Reno’s short season and dry swings, this is one of the more targeted places to shop this week. (washoecounty.gov)