Editor's Note
By Andrea Thunem reporting for Native Plant News Summer 2025
Shop for NC native plants and you could find specially designated NC Native Plant tags, a banner, and yard sign at many nurseries and farmers markets thanks to the NC Department of Agriculture’s new promotion effort for native plants. Tony Haywood, a spokesman from the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, noted the act specifies that “the NC Nursery Industry will assist the public in identifying and making available North Carolina native plants.”
The Department of Ag. consulted with the NCNPS about the kit’s cover design and asked for the Society’s help in distributing them to “growers supporting NC native plants.” These point of sale kits contain a four-foot banner, a yard sign with support, and 50 North Carolina Native Plant plastic plant labels with logo and area for plant name.
We are delighted that the Dept. of Ag. is a partner in advocating for native plants, for their sale, their identification by nurseries, and for their use on state-owned land. For close to 75 years, native plants have been the NC Native Plant Society’s mission. Today our advocacy has more impact, thanks to years of our grassroots advocacy and the leadership of key government officials. NCNPS plans to stick with its founding vision to promote and conserve the approximately 2,900 North Carolina native plants (N.B. This figure does not include subspecies and varieties) – They are essential components of resilient ecosystems.
I expect that in a year or so, or even now, you will see in-the-ground results of the legislative NC Native Plants Act because it promotes using native North Carolina plants and seeds on state-funded landscaping and habitat work on parks, property, highways, and local projects. The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) announced the policy directing and encouraging the use of native plants at departmental locations and at local government sites receiving grants from the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund. The policy, effective July 1, 2023, will help DNCR meet its mission of protecting the state’s natural heritage.
Join us and help make more happen. You’ll find plenty of action with native plants. We have statewide events and chapter events, many of which are publicly available: lectures and meetings, guided walks, removal of invasive non-natives, grants and scholarships, garden and habitat certification, plant rescues, brochures and newsletters, plant swaps and sales, new and old friends.
We welcome you. Here’s a peek at how you can help.
Statewide Activities you can help with:
- Grants and scholarships
- Native Habitat Certification
- Spring trip
- Quarterly newsletters
- Annual Meeting and Picnic
- A list of plant nurseries
- A speakers bureau
- An invasive plants list
- Recommended native plants
- Resources for native plants
Chapter Activities you can help with:
- Hold meetings
- Conduct native plant exchanges and sales
- Plan garden tours and guided hikes
- Volunteer for plant workdays
- Have a booth at local events
- Plan and go on plant rescues
- Give lectures, seminars, or talks
- Remove invasive non-native plants
Our thanks to you for being a native plants advocate. And thanks to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Andrea Thunem is managing editor of the North Carolina Native Plant Society’s Native Plant News and a member of the NCNPS Southern Piedmont Chapter. A retired journalist and landscape designer with a passion for native plants and environmental sustainability, she loves working with people to present their stories about the holistic nature of plants, people, earth, and connections. Email her at newsletter@ncwildflower.org.