Rust Belt Natives

05/14/2026

I hear the comment often that people would like to plant Paw Paw trees in their yard, but are afraid to put them near their porch and seating areas because of their stinky flowers! Although it’s true that Paw Paw trees are pollinated by flies. I’ve never noticed the odor of their blossoms in a stand of spring blooming PawPaw trees. Their scent is similar to the smell of fermenting fruit and yeast, but I can only detect it by picking a flower and holding it to my nose. For a flower it is a weird scent for sure, but not terribly unpleasant, and meant to attract spring’s earliest pollinators - flies and beetles. So don’t be afraid to plant one! (Or two to get fruit 😉). Just look at these gorgeous blooms you and all of the neighborhood flies could be enjoying! 🪰🪲🌺

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all of those out there who love & care for all that needs love & care. 💗 Pictured is the mother I’m honored to currently share my potting up station with. 🐦 We hope your day is filled with lots of kindness and appreciation. 🙏

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05/07/2026

Last Saturday’s East End Pop Up was super! It was fun seeing familiar faces and meeting lots of new plant folks too! And y’all came out and stood in the hail to plant shop! 🌧️ That’s some native plant dedication! 😆 As a small nursery, big events like this typically wipe out a good bit of inventory - many have called, messaged & emailed asking for the new availability list and I’m potting up in top speed to be ready to post one. Stay tuned! 🌱❤️

05/02/2026

If you see this craziness cruising at tortoise pace down Negley hill super early tomorrow morning, give me a wave! See you at our East End Pop Up! 🐢

04/29/2026

It’s almost here - our first East End Pop Up of the Season! 😆 Join us this Saturday rain or shine at our amazing host Minette’s native plant garden from 10am-1pm. Shop this season’s first batch of straight species native trees, shrubs & perennials grown with love at my little backyard nursery. All selections are first come, first served. Sorry no early birds! 🐤🦅🦆Ample street parking available. Event is wheelchair accessible. Please bring a box for your plant purchases OR grab a sturdy 100% cotton RBN logo tote at the sale and share your love for milkweed every time you shop! Cards, cash, PayPal, Venmo & Tap to Pay accepted. Please note, there is construction in the area on Penn Ave. We’ll be located off of Penn, so you can reach us via the side streets easily - look for our “Native Plant Sale Today” directional arrow signs as you approach us and we’ll lead the way. ➡️ See you soon!
Corner of North Pacific & Gem Way, Pittsburgh PA 15224

04/27/2026

Happy Monday all! Our pick up calendar is closed this week as we prep for our first East End Pop Up of the season! Join us this Saturday from 10am-1pm to shop our selection of native trees, shrubs & perennials! Pick ups here at the nursery will resume shortly after the event once we update inventory lists. Stay tuned for a sneak preview of what’s coming to this Saturday’s Pop Up!

04/25/2026

So many great things are blooming right now at the nursery! I’m loving the combo of Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata) with Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea) was super excited to catch the wacky looking Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) bloom. I’ve managed to grow these in my relatively sunny yard space by hiding them on the eastern side of some large tree trunks. The Dwarf Crested Irises (Iris cristata) have spread like crazy and their wild pops of color are a welcome sign on the edges of a garden of greenery filled with mostly summer bloomers. Most people think of summer as the time for flowers and color, but with the right plants, spring can be equally fun!

04/24/2026

May 2nd is our first Garfield Pop Up Native Plant Sale of the season! Shop for straight species native perennials, trees & shrubs in a gorgeous Audubon Certified Backyard Habitat & see examples of mature plantings. Ample street parking available. Sale is located at the corner of North Pacific & Gem Way, just off of Penn Ave. (near ALDI). Rain or shine 10am-1pm. No early birds please (unless you’re a real bird! 🐦) Cards, cash, Venmo & PayPal accepted. Please bring your own box or tote for purchases. Visit https://www.rustbeltnatives.com/events for more details. See you there!

Come shop our seasonal native plant selections at fun events in the Greater Pittsburgh Area

04/18/2026

Who doesn’t love spring ephemerals??? 😍🌱❤️ The wet weather this winter was not kind to my Trout Lily bulbs here in the nursery. The soil got pretty stodgy which was hard to fix amid all of the deep snow and ice and I ended up losing the crop. 🥺 That’s nursery life sometimes. I did snag some pics of a mother patch doing totally amazing this year! I’m such a sucker for the weird electric blue of Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). The good news - my Bluebell crop is amazing this year and we’ll have them ready soon! Also pictured, an awesome patch of Spring Beauties I spotted near the edge of Pymatuning Lake this past Sunday and a Wood Poppy blooming in my yard. Happy Ephemeral Hunting to all of you! Feel free to share pics from your hunt in the comments below - be sure to name the species for all of us still learning!

04/16/2026

Lots more plant babies are awake now including our Paw Paws (Asimina triloba) and Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa)! The Turk’s Cap Lilies (Lilium superbum) are up several inches out of their pots and anxious to go into the ground. I only get a handful of these to grow each year so grab them while you can. Overwintered Green Headed Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) gallons are getting quite large too - these are the perfect native plant to compete with the dreaded knotweed! Their super roots grow into a thick, deeply rooted tangle very quickly which also make them perfect for stabilizing those steep Pittsburgh hillsides - you know, the one you’d love to plant once and never have to climb onto again! (Yeah, I’ve got that here too!)🙋‍♀️🤪
AND - we have a new Pick Up scheduler right on our website! No more waiting for Crystal to not be covered in nursery dirt and check her messages - my full availability for the next few weeks is viewable online, just click to choose your spot! Find it on www.rustbeltnatives.com.

04/13/2026

Does your space develop a vernal pool in spring? Or maybe even just small low spots in the grass where spring rains tend to collect? Mine actually doesn’t anywhere but we still managed to find a salamander last year in a leaf pile! You never know exactly who your will find a home in your native plants! Read on to learn about the universe that exists under the surface of the fleeting springtime vernal pools.