Native plant sale in Columbia offers Missouri primrose, lectures, more

COLUMBIA — The bright sun and mid-50s temperatures helped draw a large crowd Saturday to the third annual native plant sale at the MU Bradford Research and Extension Center.

Four local vendors provided a wide array of native plants, such as the Missouri primrose, for customers to browse. The center also provided lectures by experts intended to teach people the best methods for planting, cultivating and maintaining native plants, as well as efficient farming tactics to help farmers maximize production. 

“That’s our main goal,” center director Tim Reinbott said, referring to native plant education. “It’s important for central Missouri farmers to learn about these plants and all their advantages.”