VENTURA : Sale of Native Plants Planned by Society

Once wild-and-weedy native plants are making a place for themselves in home gardens, according to the California Native Plant Society, whose members are sponsoring a plant sale in Ventura today.

In the past few years, many native plant species have been developed into tidier, more compact varieties, said Patt Wilson McDaniel, president of the Ventura County chapter of the nonprofit group.

While society members have long found indigenous species desirable, popularity has swelled because of the new varieties and their water-saving habits, so CNPS plans to offer twice as many plants as in last year’s sale, McDaniel said.

Members will be on hand to share their expertise on cultivating the plants and will have literature available on local planting conditions.

The one-day sale will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ventura High School stadium parking lot off Poli Street west of Seaward Avenue.