Don't Miss This Event!!

One Yard at at time - You can Make a Difference!
Transitioning Residential Landscapes for a More Sustainable Future
PNPS 2016 Annual Meeting 

Saturday, September 24,  2016 -9:00 am - 12:30 pm.
Come join us to get answers to questions and simple inexpensive steps you can take to create an aesthetically appealing and biologically diverse landscape. Be the model for your neighborhood.
Free and open to the public.
  Click here for details.

Click here for a complete listing of all Events.

Get Involved!

Becoming a member of PNPS helps to support our mission of advocating conservation of native plants and their habitats and promote the increased use of native plants in the landscape
Your help is needed!!
You've probably noticed that exotic shrubs are increasing in abundance in deciduous forests and tend to have a different leaf phenology than native shrubs. We're starting a citizen science data collection effort called Shady Invaders through the National Phenology Network to track these differences regionally.  For more information, or to participate, contact:

Erynn Maynard, PhD Candidate,
Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
eem212@psu.edu

Volunteer Opportunity

The Penn State Arboretum at University Park is seeking volunteer stewards to help with the development of their Hartley Wood Wildflower Trail -http://arboretum.psu.edu/programs/conservation/

All Interested should contact:
Vasiliy Lakoba vtl106@psu.edu
Shari Edelson ske13@psu.edu

Why Natives?

Because native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live, they are often easier to grow, and less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants.  Many Non-native plants are also invasive, and threaten out our native plant species.

Read More....

What is a Native?

A native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. We consider the flora present at the time Europeans arrived in North America as the species native to the eastern United States. Native plants include all kinds of plants from mosses and ferns to wildflowers, shrubs, and trees. 

Because native plants are adapted to the growing conditions where you live, they are often easier to grow, require less maintenance such as watering, and are less susceptible to challenging conditions than non-native plants.  Many Non-native plants are also invasive, and threaten to crowd out our native plant species.  Incorporating native plants in your home landscape will encourage birds, pollinators, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. 
Read more.

In Bloom:

Cotton candy flowers?  Sounds like Queen of the Prairie - Filipendula rubra.  Beautiful spray-like clusters of fuzzy, pink, fragrant flowers on 4-5’ tall stems in June – August make this plant a stand out in any garden.  Even the maple-shaped leaves are attractive.  In the wild, it grows mainly in wetland areas, but it is very adaptable to the home garden.  It's best grown in full sun (although they can take some shade), and prefers moist to wet soils, however it can be has been successfully grown in a conventional garden . The roots are rhizomatous and will spread, which makes it a great plant for naturalizing in moist meadows.  It spreads less in a conventional moisture situation.  Filipendula rubra is easily divided and reset if needed. 

A showy species, this coarse-leaved perennial flourishes in wildflower gardens.


If you have a favorite plant or photo, send it to webmaster@panativeplantsociety.org for a future publication.

Photo courtesy of Diane Albright

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We are over 1,000 members strong and growing!
We accept financial donations by check. Please send to our mailing address:
PO Box 807, Boalsburg, PA 16827.

PNPS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.