State Laws, Proclamations, and Resolutions

Native Plant Legislation by State

Before 2023, several states had laws, proclamations, or resolutions recognizing the importance of native plants for a day, week, or month, but very few. Since 2016, Colorado has celebrated Native Plants Week during the second week of June.

Ohio was the first state to pass a law in July of 2019 recognizing the importance of native plants for an entire month, making April, Ohio Native Plant Month (www.OhioNativePlantMonth.org).

In March of 2023, Mississippi became the second state to pass a law recognizing the month of April as Mississippi Native Plant Month. Also in March, California passed a recurring resolution (ACR 49) recognizing April as Native Plant Month. New Jersey passed a permanent joint resolution on April 14, 2023, making April, New Jersey Native Plant Month. Other states are currently working on similar state laws and permanent resolutions or proclamations to recognize the importance of native plants every year.

In the fall of 2022, The Garden Club of America launched an initiative to request proclamations from all 50 Governors to make April 2023 Native Plant Month in every state. The District of Columbia and 48 states issued proclamations in 2023! Below are the state proclamations from 2023 and 2024, and information about existing state laws, proclamations, or resolutions.

Alabama

April 2023 Native Plant Month Proclamation

Download 2023 Proclamation

Alaska

May 2023 Native Plant Month Proclamation

Organizations requesting this proclamation include the Alaska Native Plant Society, Alaska Botanical Gardens, Wildflower Garden Club of Alaska, Alaska Master Gardeners of Anchorage, and Anchorage Soil & Water Conservation District

Download 2023 Proclamation

Arizona

April 2024 Native Plant Month Proclamation

Download 2023 Proclamation

Download 2024 Proclamation

Arkansas

April 2023 Native Plant Month

History: 2021 Proclamation making May Native Plant Month. 2020 Proclamation making the 3rd week of April Native Plant Week.

Download 2023 Proclamation

California

A law was passed in 2010 making the 3rd week of April Native Plant Week. On April 27, 2023, California passed a law designating the entire month of April as Native Plant Month!

Download 2010 Proclamation

Download the 2023 Recurring Resolution!

Colorado

History: In 2016, a Permanent Proclamation was signed making June 10-16 Native Plants Week

Click Here to Download 2016 Proclamation

Connecticut

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Delaware

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Florida

June 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: In 2015, a Proclamation was issued making October Native Plant Month in Florida.

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Georgia

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: Since 2018, Georga has had a Proclamation making September "Georgia Grows Native for Birds Month."

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Hawai’i

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: Proclamation issued making April 2022 Native Plant Month in Hawai’i

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Idaho

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

The Idaho Native Plant Society helped to obtain this proclamation.

History: Proclamation issued in 2013 making April 28-May 4, Native Plant Week in Idaho.

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Illinois

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Indiana

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Iowa

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Kansas

The Kansas Native Plant Society has requested proclamations since 2007 to designate September as Native Plant Appreciation Month.

Click Here to Download 2021 Proclamation

Kentucky

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Louisiana

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Maine

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Maryland

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Massachusetts

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Michigan

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Minnesota

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download

Mississippi

In 2022, Mississippi issued a Proclamation making April Native Plant Month. In 2023, they passed a law! Click Here to Download the 2022 Proclamation. Click Here to Download the Law

Missouri

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Missouri is currently working on a law to make April Native Plant Month!

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Montana

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

The Montana Native Plant Society helped to obtain this proclamation.

Click Here to Download

Nebraska

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2022 making the 1st week of June, Nebraska Wildflower Week

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Nevada

A Proclamation was requested of Nevada Governor Lombardo to make April 2023 Native Plant Month, and the request was denied.

New Hampshire

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: In 1987, the NH legislature passed the Native Plant Protection Act (RSA 217-A), recognizing, "native plants throughout this state should be protected and conserved."

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

New Jersey

History: In 2022, the Governor signed a bill into law (S-83) to promote the sale of native plants at garden centers. In 2023, they are working on a law to designate April as Native Plant Month… only needs the Governor’s signature!

New Mexico

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: In 2022, a Proclamation was issued making August 20 New Mexico Native Plant Day

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

New York

April 2023 Native Plant Resolution

History: In 2020 a Proclamation was issued making June 22-28 Pollinator Week

Click Here to Download the 2023 Resolution

North Carolina

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: Since  2017 a Proclamation has been requested making October 18-24, Native Plants Week in North Carolina

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

North Dakota

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2021 making June 5 Prairie Day in North Dakota

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Ohio

Ohio passed a law in 2019 making the month of April, Ohio Native Plant Month. In 2023 a Special Proclamation was requested to reinforce Ohio’s commitment to native plants!

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Oklahoma

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

The Oklahoma Native Plant Society helped to obtain this proclamation, and it is currently working on a law to make April Native Plant Month in Oklahoma!

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamatoin

Oregon

A Proclamation was requested to make April 2023 Oregon Native Plant Month.

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2022 making April Native Plant Appreciation Month

Pennsylvania

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2022 making June 17 Native Species Day

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Rhode Island

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

South Carolina

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Permanent Resolution was issued in 2018 making the 3rd week of October Native Plant Week in South Carolina

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

South Dakota

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Organizations requesting this proclamation included: Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum, and the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Tennessee

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Texas

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Utah

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

The Utah Native Plant Society helped to obtain this proclamation

Click Here to download Proclamation

Vermont

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Virginia

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Washington

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2022 making April Native Plant Appreciation Month

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Washington D.C.

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

West Virginia

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

Click Here to Download Proclamation

Wisconsin

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

History: A Proclamation was issued in 2021 making June 21-27 Pollinator Week

Click Here to Download 2023 Proclamation

Wyoming

April 2023 Native Plant Proclamation

The Wyoming Native Plant Society helped to obtain this proclamation from Governor Gordon.

Click Here to Download Proclamation