Celebrate Earth Day with us!
Join us as Kirsten Hoffman and Judy Fulton share the details of recent legislation that promotes native plants by creating the Maryland Native Plants Program and legislation that strengthened Maryland’s invasive plant laws. Both bills are currently being implemented, and they will provide updates on new resources that these laws have made available and discuss what work is still to be done. See our Events page to register.
Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay is proud to be one of the 155 organizations from 49 states supporting the Senate and House Resolutions designating April 2025 as National Native Plant Month. Read more about the importance of native plants on the National Native Plant Month website.
On April 5th, 2025, Senate Resolution 157 was unanimously approved by the full Senate designating April 2025 as National Native Plant Month!
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) is the lead sponsor of this important resolution, with cosponsors Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Senator Jon Husted (R-OH), Senator Thomas Bryant Cotton (R-AR), Senator Martin Heinrich (D-AZ), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).
The logo for National Native Plant Month features the silhouette of a grand oak (Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa).
Bur Oak is rare in Maryland. It grows in bottom lands, in rich, moist woods, and on floodplains. Source: Maryland Biodiversity Project
The acorns are the largest of any North American oak (thus the species name macrocarpa) and are important food for wildlife. Source: iNaturalist
The 2025 House Resolution 233 was introduced and sent to the Natural Resources Committee for review on March 21st. Congressman Case is the lead sponsor with Rep Joe Neguse (D-CO), Rep Darren Soto (D-FL), Rep David Joyce (R-OH), Rep James Moylan (R-Guam), and Rep Jill Tokuda (D-HI) as cosponsors.
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 233
Supporting the designation of April 2025 as ``National Native Plant
Month''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 21, 2025
Mr. Case (for himself, Mr. Neguse, Mr. Joyce of Ohio, Mr. Soto, Mr.
Moylan, and Ms. Tokuda) submitted the following resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting the designation of April 2025 as ``National Native Plant
Month''.
Whereas native plants are indigenous species that have evolved alongside native
wildlife and occur naturally in a particular geographic region,
ecosystem, and habitat;
Whereas there are more than 17,000 native plant species in the United States,
which include large shade trees, understory trees, shrubs, perennials,
vines, grasses, and wildflowers;
Whereas native plants are essential for healthy, diverse, and sustainable
ecosystems and are critical for cleaning air, filtering water, and
stabilizing soils;
Whereas native plants are well-adapted to specific soils, temperatures,
precipitation, and environmental conditions, making them the best option
for conserving and protecting our environment, and adapting to its
changes;
Whereas native plants provide shelter, as well as nectar, pollen, seeds, and
foliage that serve as food for native butterflies, caterpillars, birds,
bees, and other wildlife in ways that non-native plants cannot;
Whereas more than 200 of the native plant species in the United States are
estimated to have been lost since the early 19th century;
Whereas habitat loss and degradation, extreme weather events, and invasive
species have contributed to the decline of native plants in the United
States; and
Whereas native plants are essential components of resilient ecosystems and our
natural heritage: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of ``National Native Plant
Month''; and
(2) recognizes the benefits of native plants to the
environment and the economy of the United States.