How to Make a Difference for Native Plants in North Carolina

The North Carolina Native Plant Society (NCNPS) frames the answer around five actions: garden with native plants, identify native and non-native species, apply for grants and scholarships, and advocate for native plants. You can start with whichever fits your time, space, or budget — a backyard planting and a legislative email both count.

Garden with native plants

Native plants are described by NCNPS as "the cornerstone for North Carolina's biological diversity" and the best way to provide food and shelter for native animals and insects. The site's Garden with Native Plants section points to several concrete resources:

• Recommended plants and trees — a starting list so you don't have to guess what belongs in your region.
• Landscaping tips — practical guidance for putting plants in the ground.
• Printable handouts — useful for sharing with neighbors, HOAs, or a garden club.
• Habitat certification — a way to have your planted space recognized as habitat.
• How to collect wild seeds — for expanding plantings or contributing seed.
• Find a nursery — to locate sources for native stock.
• Additional resources and a video on native plants in the garden and in the wild.

If you are new to this, the lowest-effort entry point is picking a few recommended species, checking the nursery list, and planting them. Habitat certification is the natural next step once something is growing.

Identify native and non-native plants

NCNPS treats identification as "the first step to moving in the right direction." The site offers:

• A native plant and tree gallery with detailed photos and search tools.
• A searchable gallery for filtering by plant.
• An invasive, non-native species list.
• Books about native plants.
• A list of species without pictures (a gap you could help fill if you photograph plants).

Knowing what you already have matters before you remove or add anything — a plant you assumed was a weed may be a regional native, and a familiar ornamental may be on the invasive list.

Apply for grants and scholarships

NCNPS states it offers four funding sources supporting projects that advance its mission to preserve and protect native plants in North Carolina. Named sources in the page material include:

The page directs readers to a "Learn about grants & scholarships" page for full details. If you have a project — a restoration plot, a school garden, a research question — check eligibility and deadlines there rather than assuming the categories.

Advocate for native plants

Advocacy is one of the four pillars in the society's stated mission (education, protection, cultivation, and advocacy), and the homepage lists "Advocate for Native Plants" as a top-level action. The 75th anniversary material also shows advocacy in practice: a panel including NCDOT representatives alongside society figures, indicating that transportation and land-management policy is part of the conversation. Practical routes include commenting on public planting decisions, asking local governments about native species in landscaping ordinances, and supporting the society's positions.

Join, attend, or donate

Beyond the four action areas, participation itself is a route:

• Join the society — membership supports the mission directly.
• Attend chapter events — the site lists chapters including Land of the Sky and Southern Piedmont, and the 75th anniversary celebration included chapter tables and chapter celebrations.
• Donate — the anniversary event thanks donors for a silent auction and celebration; donations fund the grants and scholarships above.
• Volunteer skills — the "species without pictures" list suggests photography or plant documentation as a concrete contribution.

A realistic starting sequence

1. Identify what is already growing on your land using the gallery and invasive list.
2. Plant a few recommended natives, sourced from a listed nursery.
3. Certify the habitat once established.
4. If you have a project or are studying, look at the grants and scholarships.
5. If you want broader impact, join a chapter or weigh in on local planting policy.

Each step is independent — you don't need to do all five to make a difference.