The Virginia Department of Forestry says discounted native plants are now available at more retail nursery locations across Virginia. Following a successful pilot program last spring, the Forestry Department is expanding the Throwing Shade Virginia program to partner with more nurseries this year.
From now through May 1, retail customers can receive $25 discounts on select native trees and shrubs (valued at $50 or more) from participating nurseries. Throwing Shade VA incentivizes Virginians to plant native species of trees and shrubs, which provide water quality benefits and offer an important source of food and habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Not only can native species meet any landscaping objective, since they are already adapted to Virginia’s climate and environment, they require less maintenance and little to no fertilizer.
Receiving the discount is easy. Visit a participating location, choose native trees and shrubs with the Throwing Shade VA tag, scan the QR code and complete a short survey (only once, regardless of how many eligible plants you purchase), show the completed survey at checkout, and receive your discount.
“Last year’s pilot of Throwing Shade VA was a resounding success, with more than 1,550 native plants sold through the program at three nurseries,” said Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator Molly O’Liddy. “After receiving positive feedback from both customers and nursery partners, we’re excited to expand Throwing Shade to 10 nurseries across the state this year, from Blacksburg to Burke to Chesapeake, with a total of 13 participating locations.”
Support for this program comes from state water quality improvement funds, which the Forestry Department is using to reimburse nurseries for the discounts. All trees planted through this program are reported as part of the state’s Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan. Customer surveys help DOF track progress towards the Commonwealth’s water quality improvement goals. This also helps inform DOF funding decisions for additional planting projects. Collected information is confidential and will not be displayed or given to outside parties. (For those who prefer, paper forms will be available at the point of purchase.)
Discounts are available through May 1 (while supplies last). To learn more about Throwing Shade VA and the importance of native species, visit the Forestry Department website:
https://dof.virginia.gov/urban-community-forestry/urban-forestry-community-assistance/throwing-shade-va-program/.
Visit a participating Throwing Shade VA nursery location:
Burke Nursery & Garden Centre
9401 Burke Road
Burke, Virginia 22015
(703) 323-1188
burkenursery.com
Cross Creek Nurseries and Landscaping (Two Locations)
501 Courthouse Road
Richmond, Virginia 23236
(804) 378-0700
15503 Ashland Road
Rockville, Virginia 23146
(804) 620-2002
crosscreeknursery.com
Crow’s Nest Greenhouses
1811 Brooksfield Road
Blacksburg, Virginia 24060
(540) 552-5550
crowsnestgreenhouses.com
Ed’s Landscaping and Garden Center
4032 Mechanicsville Turnpike
Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111
(804) 781-0500
edslandscape.com
Meadow Farms Nurseries and Landscaping (Three participating locations)
5043 Plank Road
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407
(540) 307-2339
8424 Patriot Highway
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407
(540) 710-8999
597 Garrisonville Road
Stafford, Virginia 22554
(540) 779-7072
meadowsfarms.com
Seven Bends Nursery
Strasburg and Winchester, Virginia
Location details: sevenbends.org
540-416-2662
Southern Branch Nursery
1412 Benefit Road
Chesapeake, Virginia 23322
(757) 373-7763
southernbranchnursery.com
Watermark Woods
16764 Hamilton Station Road
Hamilton, Virginia 20158
(540) 441-7443
watermarkwoods.com
Waynesboro Landscape and Garden Center
2032 West Main Street
Waynesboro, Virginia 22980
(540) 942-4646
waynesborogardens.com
Woodstock Gardens
1175 South Hisey Avenue
Woodstock, Virginia 22664
(540) 459-5151
woodstockgardens.com
