PA Native Plant Society
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The Pennsylvania Native Plant Society advocates the conservation of native plants and their habitats and promotes the increased use of native plants in the landscape.

We are an all volunteer, member-based, non-profit organization. You can support us by becoming a member, making a donation, and/or volunteering.

Learn More about PNPS

PNPS Annual Meeting

Mark your calendars - details to follow.
Saturday, October 18th (8:30 am to 2:00 pm)
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center |  Petersburg, PA

No Mow May, or Maybe Not


The “No Mow May” initiative started in the UK with the goal of supporting pollinators. During this virtual panel presentation, we explored "No Mow May" in the context of Central Pennsylvania, discussed other issues that go hand-in-hand with pollinator conservation, and learned about additional strategies we can use to support pollinators year round. Watch the recording here.

Our speakers included: Kristy Gallo, Xerces Society Ambassador; Cathryn Pugh, PNPS President and Penn State Extension; and Michael Skvarla, Penn State Department of Entomology. 

The Dirty Dozen vs the Birdy Dozen

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As you work on your landscaping, please remember the Dirty Dozen, a list of twelve invasive plants frequently found at nurseries and landscape retailers that should be avoided. The Dirty Dozen

Better yet, considering adding some of the Birdy Dozen to your gardens to attract birds.
 The Birdy Dozen

Check more information on Invasive Plants and recommendations for alternatives on our Plant Information and Landscaping page.

In Bloom:

WILD about Geranium
 Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a cheery wildflower that lights up woodland openings. This clump forming native makes a beautiful groundcover in a naturalized garden setting. A large colony is a lovely sight to behold. The palmately lobed leaves are topped by rose-pink to lavender flowers (rarely dark purple or white). If you take a closer look, you’ll see darker colored fine lines. These “nectar guides” lead bumblebees, various solitary native bees, flies, and butterflies to the nectar and pollen. A mining bee, Andrena distans, is a specialist pollinator of wild geranium.
 
Wild geranium blooms for about a month (sometimes longer in cooler weather) in late spring to early summer. The foliage may stay green all summer if the soil is kept moist. This plant is one of the easier native flowers to grow. It prefers rich soil in partial sun or light shade, but will tolerate poor or clay soil and full sun with moist soil. In other words, it’s hard to go wrong with wild geranium. It’s easily propagated by seed or by dividing the roots in early spring or fall. If seeds are sown outdoors in the fall, they won’t require artificial stratification. BUT you need to time it just right in order to harvest the ripe seeds before they catapult themselves far and wide! Wild geranium has few pests, just watch for aphids and slugs. Rust and leaf spot may occur if conditions are too damp or crowded.
 
 Another common name for wild geranium is cranesbill geranium. The word Geranium is derived from geranos which is the Greek word for crane. This refers to the shape of fruit capsule, which looks like a long beak.

Photo and article courtesy of Karen Smith. 

Upcoming Events - Mark your calendars

PNPS Annual Meeting - Saturday, October 18 - (8:30 am to 2:00 pm)
Mark your calendars - details to follow.
Shaver's Creek Environmental Center |  Petersburg, PA
Check our Complete Calendar for all upcoming events.  If your event isn't listed,  let us know and we can add them to our Calendar - email [email protected]. 

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. 

Read more...

Get Involved!

Membership Dues and Donations

PNPS is committed to supporting programs and events advocating for the use of native plants. Money obtained from memberships and donations go to the following:
  • Grants: PNPS provides support to community projects with donations of plants or grants to purchase plants.
  • Outreach: PNPS representatives travel across the state to various community events and set up an information table to distribute educational and other outreach materials. 
  • Newsletter: PNPS publishes a semi-annual newsletter to our members.
  • Annual Meeting: PNPS sponsors an annual meeting with speakers discussing a variety of topics relating to the use of native plants. This is also open to the general public at either no or low cost.

We accept donations and membership payments online and by check. Thank you for your support!
Membership dues online - please click the Become a Member button  to pay through Paypal or with a credit card.
Become A Member
Membership by check - Click here for instructions

Donations online - please click the Donate button to pay through Paypal or credit card.   For other options, click here.

PNPS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  If you would like to learn more please email  [email protected]  

Contact Us:

For general inquires, email us at  [email protected]        Our mailing address is  P.O. Box 807,  Boalsburg PA 16827

Volunteer - Your help is needed!

There are always opportunities to help, regardless of your level of expertise.   Click the button to see what volunteer opportunities area available.  
Volunteer

Social Media

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Facebook
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Join us on Instagram

Facebook Page: Find information on events and interesting articles on our Facebook page.
Facebook Forum:   Join our Facebook forum to share photos, events and opportunities related to natives plants and our mission. Our group is closed and you must submit a request to join. We do this to help us keep out spam and maintain this group as a respectful forum for people interested in native plants.  You must submit a request and answer 2 simple questions to join, even if you are added by a current member.

We are over 14,000 members strong and growing!


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