2026 Quotes from National and Regional Organizations, State Native Plant Societies, Botanical Gardens, and Arboretums

“We recognize that our birds coevolved with our native plants for millennia, and the introduction of non-native plants has transformed landscapes and resulted in the decline of many native birds, particularly in grasslands.  Among other significant benefits, landscape restoration with native plants will support efforts to recover populations of declining birds.” - Lois Woodward, Chair, Alabama Audubon Board of Directors, Alabama Audubon Society

"Native plants are an integral part of regional ecosystems that do not follow political boundaries. Conserving and promoting these plants promotes healthy communities of all types and at every level.” - Mike Monterusso, Executive Director, Alaska Botanical Garden

“Recognizing National Native Plant Month each year helps highlight the vital role native plants play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting traditional ways of life, and strengthening local economies. In Alaska, native plants are essential for biodiversity, soil health, and habitat resilience, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our landscapes and communities.” Any Tippery - President, Alaska Native Plant Society

“The Arizona Native Plant Society enthusiastically supports  the resolution by Senators Hyde-Smith and Hirono to designate April as National Native Plant Month. Since our founding in 1977 our society has educated the public about the beauty and functions of our native plants and the necessity of native plant conservation. We continue to expand our educational work to include teaching people to keep landscapes beautiful without the use of Bermuda grass lawns and other exotic invasive plants. We also promote awareness of the role of native plants in creating a “sense of place,” and emphasize the concept of planting native “corridors” through urban areas to retain healthy populations of our native birds, reptiles, and pollinators. The designation of April as Native Plant Month will most certainly raise public awareness of the priceless benefits of conserving  our nation’s native plants.” - Douglas Ripley, President, Arizona Native Plant Society

“Arte Sana (art heals) is a national nonprofit based in Texas that creates bilingual tools to promote native plant conservation. Our Plants & People initiative connects communities to ecological stewardship through projects like the annual PlantArte native plant art contest and online exhibit that launches in April. We appreciate all efforts to recognize April as National Native Plant Month, and look forward to amplifying initiatives to restore native landscapes by bridging art, community, and ancestral roots.” - Laura Zárate, Founding Director, Arte Sana

“Arte Sana es una organización nacional que crea herramientas bilingües para promover la conservación de plantas nativas. Nuestra iniciativa Plantas y Gente conecta a las comunidades con la gestión ecológica a través de proyectos como el concurso anual de arte con plantas nativas PlantArte y la exposición en línea que se lanza en abril. Agradecemos todos los esfuerzos para reconocer abril como el Mes Nacional de las Plantas Nativas y esperamos amplificar las iniciativas para restaurar los paisajes nativos conectando el arte, la comunidad y las raíces ancestrales.” - Laura Zárate, Directora Fundadora, Arte Sana

"Over millennia, native plants have adapted to California’s seasons, soil, and climate. They nurture life and support a variety of insects and animals—including humans. They are, in short, indispensable. From the giant sequoia to the California poppy, native plants symbolize the very essence of California.” - Amina Sharma, CNPS Communications Manager, California Native Plant Society

"Native plants are the living foundation of our ecosystems and this resolution is a timely reminder that conservation is not just appreciation, it’s action. When we conserve native plant diversity, we protect clean water, stable soils, wildlife habitat, and the resilience our communities depend on. National Native Plant Month helps elevate what’s at stake, and what we can still save." - Wesley Knapp, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Center for Plant Conservation

“The Chicago Botanic Garden is happy to sign on to the senate resolution in support of national native plant month!” - Becky Barak, Chicago Botanic Garden

“Denver Botanic Gardens supports the resolutions to designate April as National Native Plant Month. Native plants are those best suited to our local climates and support native insects and wildlife. We connect people with plants, native plants in particular, through our horticultural displays, educational programming and scientific studies. We should all celebrate our native plants and the unique beauty they bring to our local landscapes.” - Jennifer Neale, Director of Research & Conservation, Denver Botanic Gardens

“Native plants are essential to healthy ecosystems, supporting pollinators and wildlife while helping to protect our soils and waterways. In Florida, our native wildflowers are also an important part of the state’s natural identity and a gateway for people to connect with nature. National Native Plant Month provides an important opportunity to raise awareness and inspire more communities to protect and plant the native species that sustain life around us.” - Stacey Matrazzo, Executive Director, Florida Wildflower Foundation

"Without the foundation of native plants, natural ecosystems, agriculture and our economy are at risk. Georgia Native Plant Society is proud to join the coalition of organizations promoting the critical nature of native plants and their use across the United States." – Nikki Belmonte, Executive Director, Georgia Native Plant Society

"Native plants remind us of the ancestral roots and shared ecoregions that connect us all. GreenLatinos proudly supports this resolution which recognizes the irreplaceable benefits of native plants to thriving communities." - Olivia Juarez, Public Land Program Director, GreenLatinos

“The Idaho Native Plant Society is a statewide, all-volunteer, non-profit organization with over 600 members. We are dedicated to promoting interest in and appreciation of Idaho's native plant species, collecting and sharing information about the state's native flora, and working to preserve this rich botanical heritage for future generation. The Idaho Native Plant Society is proud to support the Senate Resolution to make the month of April, National Native Plant Month.” - Michael Mancuso, President, Idaho Native Plant Society

“Native plants play a vital role in maintaining the health and resilience of our environment. They provide critical habitat for wildlife, promote soil health, and stabilize our ecosystems. The League commends Congressman Case for his leadership in bringing greater recognition to the ecological significance of native flora and the importance of conserving and restoring native plant communities.” - Jared Mott, Interim Executive Director, Izaak Walton League of America

“Our country’s indigenous plants are the core of so many unique and important ecosystems found here and nowhere else on earth, and they support vast food webs of pollinators, birds and other wildlife. This kind of national recognition shines an important light on our native plants and can inspire citizens to conserve them in native habitats as well as plant them in their home gardens to create vibrant landscapes across the country.” - Lee H. Clippard, Executive Director, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

"The Mississippi Plant Society would like to support the Senate Resolution to make April 2026 National Native Plant Month. This resolution offers such positive support for Mississippi's ecological future. The Mississippi Native Plant Society was formed in 1980 to provide a forum for learning about our state's ecosystems and the plants that exist within them. Our goal is to provide educational opportunities and to encourage the conservation and utilization of native plants. We are plant professionals including biologists, horticulturists and conservationists.  We are also the typical home gardener, or anyone interested in learning more about our native plants. We all share a passion for nature and the plants native to our state." - Nadine Phillips, President, Mississippi Native Plant Month

“With a mission to discover and share knowledge about plants and their environment to preserve and enrich life, the 167-year-old Missouri Botanical Garden is pleased to support designating April National Native Plant Month. As we share with global visitors and area students, native plants and native gardens can be both aesthetically beautiful and ecologically beneficial. Benefits range from providing nectar, pollen, forage, and shelter for wildlife to helping prevent erosion, increasing soil infiltration of groundwater, and reducing stormwater runoff.” - Missouri Botanical Garden

“Native plants are the foundation of pollinator conservation. The Monarch Joint Venture supports efforts like National Native Plant Month that amplify the importance of native plants and inspire communities to restore the habitats pollinators depend on.” - Wendy Caldwell, Executive Director,  Monarch Joint Venture

“Montana’s native plants are the living foundation of our natural heritage. By advancing education, conservation, and research centered on native flora, the Montana Native Plant Society is helping ensure these landscapes continue to thrive for future generations. We proudly support the Senate Resolution recognizing April as National Native Plant Month.” - Robert Pal, President, Montana Native Plant Society

“Native plants are foundational to thriving bird populations and resilient ecosystems. They sustain wildlife, promote biodiversity, conserve water, and enhance the beauty of the places where we live, work and explore,” said Marlene Pantin with the National Audubon Society’s Plants for Birds campaign. “As spring nears and birds begin returning from their wintering habitats, recognizing April as National Native Plant Month is especially meaningful. Native plants provide the essential food, shelter, and nesting habitat migratory birds need. We’re grateful to Sens. Hyde-Smith and Hirono, for their leadership in advancing this important resolution.” - Jesse Walls, Senior Director, Govt. Affairs, National Audubon Society.

“To save our planet we must protect the health of our water, air, and soil. To save wildlife we need to provide them with ample food and healthy habitats. Native wildlife has slowly evolved over time alongside native plants.  Because of this, native bees, butterflies, caterpillars, birds, and other wildlife, depend on these long-known plants for their food, and they usually cannot eat the strange, exotic plants we bring home from distant lands.  This resolution provides an annual platform to educate the public about the importance of native plants, and encourages all landowners to plant many more native plants to feed wildlife.” – Nancy Linz, Founder, National Native Plant Month

"At the National Tropical Botanical Garden, we are committed to the perpetuation of Hawaiʻi’s irreplaceable native plants and native biodiversity across the tropics. Hawaiian native plants are at the very foundation of our island ecosystems, the livelihoods of our communities, and the essence of Hawaiian culture. Dedicating a month to native plants across the country is a great way to foster appreciation and inspire action for these increasingly imperiled species that are critical to life on our island home—from the ʻāina of Hawaiʻi to the entire planet." - Janet Mayfield, President and CEO, National Tropical Botanical Garden

“Thank you, Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mazie Hirono, for uplifting Native Plant Month 2026. Since 1973, the National Wildlife Federation has promoted native planting where people live, work, play, learn and worship through our networks of members, state affiliates, and Community Wildlife Habitat partners. Efforts like Native Plant Month, tools like NWF's Native Plant Finder, and a 92% increase of Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens over the last decade, significantly expand the native plant footprint." - Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy, National Wildlife Federation

"New Mexico's high plant diversity brings enjoyment to many people. From supporting birds, wildlife, pollinators and specialist insects, to their many cultural uses, native plants deserve our special recognition and support." - Sylvan Kaufman, Conservation Chair, Native Plant Society of New Mexico

“The Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio, the founding chapter of the Ohio Native Plant Society, is proud to support Senators Hyde-Smith and Hirono for co-sponsoring a resolution to make April National Native Plant Month. The resolution follows along with our goals and mission: Promote conservation of Native Plants and Natural Communities through habitat protection and other means; Foster public knowledge and appreciation of native plants; Support natural landscaping; Raise awareness of the ethical issues regarding native plants; Encourage surveys and research into native species and the publication of findings; and Promote cooperation with other programs and organizations concerned with the conservation of natural resources.” - Judy Barnhart, President, Native Plant Society of Northeastern Ohio

"The Native Plant Society of Oregon strongly supports designating April as National Native Plant Month. Our native plants sustain ecosystems, support wildlife, and connect us to the cultural and ecological history of this place. By uplifting native plants, we invest in a more resilient, biodiverse, and beautiful Oregon for generations to come." – Steven Yeager, President, Native Plant Society of Oregon

"What do clean air and water, regenerative soils, abundant wildlife, healthy communities, robust outdoor recreation, and sustainable economies all have in common? They exist because of native plant communities. This April, celebrate National Native Plant Month by getting to know the native plants in your neighborhood, planting a native tree in your yard for future generations, or volunteering with your local land trust or conservation organization. Unsure where to get started? Native Plant Trust can help! Visit: NativePlantTrust.org/For-Your-Garden." - Tim Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Native Plant Trust

"Nevada is home to more than 2,800 native species of flowering plants, making it the 10th most botanically diverse state in the nation. Much of this diversity is found in relatively small islands" within the "oceans" of sagebrush, greasewood, or creosote bush that greet the eyes of most highway travelers. Such islands include more than 300 named mountain ranges in the state, the highest reaching over 13,000 feet above sea level; isolated springs and wetlands, some with very ancient roots; sand dunes large and small; and pockets of unusual soils weathered from the state's rich geologic heritage. About 300 native Nevada plants, including most of our endemics, are considered vulnerable enough to extinction to be of conservation concern." - Emma Wynn, President, Nevada Native Plant Society

“Native plants are critical to the diet and life cycles of many bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife. Not only do these plants beautify and diversify our landscape, but they also help clean our air and water, stabilize soils, feed imperiled wildlife, and so much more. Protection, support, and education regarding the importance and benefits of native plants is paramount to the future success of pollinator conservation in the United States. Pollinator Partnership supports Senators Hyde-Smith and Hirono in their resolutions to designate this April as National Native Plant Month and thanks them for their continued efforts to raise awareness about the critical role these species play in our landscaping, agriculture, and natural areas.” - Amber Barnes, Co-Director of Agricultural Programs, Pollinator Partnership

“Native plants are the foundation of healthy ecosystems — supporting pollinators, sustaining wildlife, and anchoring the landscapes that communities depend on. The Garden Club of America proudly commends Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith and Mazie Hirono for sponsoring the Senate Resolution to designate April as National Native Plant Month. This recognition affirms the vital role native plants play in ecological resilience and inspires gardeners and citizens across the country to make native plants a cornerstone of how we grow, tend, and restore the land around us." - Mary Harman, President, The Garden Club of America

“The members of The Herb Society of America, Inc. commend the efforts of Senator Braun and Congressman Neguse for introducing the legislation to designate the month of April as our National Native Plant Month.  Our Native plants appeared on this earth long before we humans, and they are valued for their usefulness such as providing flavor, essential oils, healing properties, natural dyes and plants for industry.  Native plants are everywhere sustaining both people and the planet-impacting health, environment and economy-demonstrating their essential role in daily living. A gentle reminder of our interdependence on a healthy environment serves all of us well. This resolution is a giant step forward in raising awareness of the importance of incorporating native plants into our own landscapes and how this one small step will reap huge benefits not only for the health of the environment but for future generations." - Besty Smith, President, The Herb Society of America

”At a time when our planet faces the crises of climate change and loss of plant and animal species, native plants’ role as linchpins of local ecosystems has never been more important. Congress must mark this recognition by advancing policies and investments that will preserve native species and the benefits they provide for both people and nature." - Tom Cors, Sr. Director, Legislative Affairs, The Nature Conservancy

"On behalf of The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), we applaud your efforts to again designate April as National Native Plant Month. We wholeheartedly endorse this effort, and commit to educating the public about native plants year-round, but especially in the month of April. Since our founding in 1891, NYBG has been an advocate for the plant kingdom. Native plants are featured throughout our 250 acres in the densely populated borough of the Bronx, and featured in our very own Native Plant Garden. This 3.5-acre garden celebrates the beauty of plants native to the American Northeast. Nearly 100,000 native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns, and grasses were planted in a carefully planned contemporary design that harmonizes with the natural landscape. Many of the plants in the Native Plant Garden provide shelter and sustenance for wildlife, making this garden a magnet for squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, and a colorful array of birds and butterflies. This garden also serves as a serene oasis for urban families wishing to learn more about sustainable practices and the benefits of native plant use in their own homes and communities. As we turn the corner into spring, NYBG applauds your efforts and will uphold your statement that “native plants are essential components of resilient ecosystems and our natural heritage” in our practice and public education.” - Aaron Bouska, Vice President for Government and Community Relations, The New York Botanical Garden

“The North Carolina Native Plant Society applauds the sponsoring Senators’ interest in environmental awareness, and supports your proposal to designate April 2025 as "National Native Plant Month”.   As a next step, our Society also encourages the development and/or support of legislation that would address the causes of native plant decline.” - Kenneth A. Bridle, President, North Carolina Native Plant Society

"The South Carolina Native Plant Society works to protect and restore native plants and educate communities across South Carolina. The passing of this resolution is a great step in gaining legislative support for our mission and native plant conservation across the state." - Tierney Rosenstock, President, South Carolina Native Plant Society

“Native plants are the most powerful tool in our conservation tool box; without increasing their use and protection, we will fail in our conservation efforts. National Native Plant Month will help spread this important message. We can restore biodiversity and ecosystem function one person at a time – please plant natives and get on the Homegrown National Park™ MAP www.homegrownnationalpark.org.” - Dr. Doug Tallamy, Homegrown National Park, University of Delaware

“The Utah Native Plant Society is in full support of the resolution sponsored by Senators Hirono and Hyde-Smith designating April as Native Plant Month and would like to see it become permanent.  The resolution recognizes the vital role of native plants in our ecosystems as well as the integral part they play in the magnificent beauty of the national parks of Utah. UNPS strives to protect, educate and conserve the native plants of Utah and appreciates the awareness and national support of such a resolution.” – Cathy King, Co-chair, Board of Directors, Utah Native Plant Society

"April is a magical time for wildflowers in Virginia. Delicate ephemerals rise from the forest floor, blooming before the tree canopy closes. It's my favorite time of year." - Nancy Vehrs, President, Virginia Native Plant Society

“April is the height of bloom of native plants around our state. It is an active time to connect the public with the beauty of native plants in our region and provide education on how plants support healthy ecosystems around the state. Washington State is diverse with nine ecoregions, with a high level of biodiversity and plant diversity. Washington Native Plant Society has been celebrating April as Native Plant Month since 2004, with events, field trips, education activities statewide to build a communities engaged with Washington’s natural heritage. Now in the 50th year, WNPS strives to provide resources aligned with our mission to promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington’s native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy. We look forward to aligning our annual Governor’s Proclamation with the National Native Plant Month again in 2026.” - Denise Mahnke, Executive Director, Washington Native Plant Society

"The West Virginia Native Plant Society has asked Governor Morrisey to proclaim April 2026 as WV Native Plant Month.  We love natives for how they mark the seasons--early spring through fall.  And we value them for keeping the ecosystem going--providing habitat and sustenance for pollinators, birds, and mammals.  We do support the 2026 resolution." - Judi White, President, West Virginia Native Plant Society

“Permanently preserving land means protecting native habitats that are necessary to support pollinators and other native wildlife. At Western Reserve Land Conservancy, our stewardship includes monitoring our properties to ensure they remain native and biodiverse. In addition, our annual symposium on landscaping with native plants covers the benefits of using native plants in home gardens, encouraging the general public to create a network of beneficial habitats across our region. We applaud Senators Hyde-Smith and Hirono as well as Congressmen Case and Neguse for their recognition of the importance of healthy, native ecosystems by reintroducing their resolution declaring April as National Native Plant Month.” - Rich Cochran, President, Western Reserve Land Conservancy

“Native plants are responsible for the healthy, diverse and sustainable ecosystems that we enjoy in Wyoming." - Bonnie Heidel, Conservation Committee, Wyoming Native Plant Society