April was the first official West Virginia Native Plant Month, thanks to efforts by the West Virginia Native Plant Society (WVNPS) and the Kanawha Garden Club.
The proclamation was signed by Gov. Jim Justice on Feb. 20, following a national effort to encourage awareness about native plant species and the vital role they play in local ecosystems.
The national initiative began in 2021 with Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio), co-sponsors of a bipartisan resolution to declare April 2021 and April 2022 as National Native Plant Month. The 2023 resolution, headed by Hirono and Sen. Mike Braun (R-Indiana), is currently awaiting Senate approval.
Efforts to designate April as West Virginia Native Plant Month began last year when West Virginia Native Plant Society (WVNPS) president and Kanawha Garden Club member Luanne McGovern met an organizer of the National Native Plant Month Initiative at a garden show. McGovern brought the idea to the WVNPS board, drafted the proclamation and submitted it for the governor’s approval. A couple of months later, West Virginia joined 41 other states with Native Plant Month proclamations and proposals.
This move comes after four decades of native plant research, preservation and outreach by the WVNPS. In conjunction with WVU’s Herbarium, WVNPS members and volunteers catalog the distribution of native plant species throughout the state. Educational and recreational opportunities are also a vital aspect of the group’s efforts.
Education is the first step to progress, said McGovern.
“It’s really an educational issue,” she said. It’s about understanding what plants are in your yard, what you purchase at department stores and farmers’ markets, and whether these species will support or hurt native wildlife. This can be difficult, however many times, even seed mixes labeled as “pollinator friendly” actually contain non-native, ornamental flowers.
Non-native, invasive plant species are one of the largest obstacles of native plants. Many invasive species spread quickly, smother surrounding vegetation and compete with native species for sunlight, nutrients and space. As a result, wildlife face declining food sources and habitat loss.
The Appalachian mountain range is especially critical in this fight against invasive species, said McGovern.
“Because we’re so heavily forested, the Appalachians are a corridor for species migration. The Appalachians are going to be critical as species migrate north from climate change,” she said. “Maintaining the ecosystem here is really critical for birds, insects, just so many different species.”
To support native species, the first step is understanding the species native to your area. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s online “West Virginia Planting Tool” can provide a detailed list and description of native species based on your county. Identifying and removing invasive species can also provide space for native plants to grow.
To join WVNPS’s efforts, consider donating or volunteering at wvnps.org.
“West Virginia is such a wonderful place, you can go out anywhere and just be amazed,” said McGovern. “So get out there and enjoy the beautiful, beautiful West Virginia.”
