CNPS Celebrates California Native Plant Month 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Liv O’Keeffe
Senior Director of Public Affairs
lokeeffe@cnps.org
Take part in a month of activities to celebrate and protect our state’s iconic flora
March 17, 2025, Sacramento, CA – California Native Plant Month begins on Tuesday, April 1, and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) wants you to stop and smell the monardella.
From fragrant coyote mint to giant chain ferns, California is filled with over 6,700 types of plants, more than any other state in the U.S. During California Native Plant Month, CNPS will highlight a plant a day as part of small sampling of the state’s remarkable flora. In tandem, the conservation organization—now celebrating its 60-year anniversary—will suggest one action per week to help protect California’s unique native plants and habitats.
Each of us can make a difference, starting by getting to know and appreciate the native plants and habitats around us.”
The state’s extraordinarily rich variety of plants and habitats is a globally important example of what scientists call “biodiversity,” one word to capture the web of life on the planet—and today that web is in jeopardy. California is in one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots, areas that have exceptional concentrations of endemic species that are found nowhere else, as well as elevated risks of extinction. Habitat loss from development, climate change, and invasive species threaten biodiversity as never before, and endemic species are especially at risk. Approximately 66% of endemic species are projected to experience an 80% decrease in the size of their ranges in the next 100 years.
“Living in one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots means that our local actions here in California have global impacts,” said CNPS Executive Director Dr. Jun Bando. “Each of us can make a difference, starting by getting to know and appreciate the native plants and habitats around us.”
Throughout April, local CNPS chapters and partner organizations are offering dozens of opportunities to enjoy and learn about native plants in communities statewide, including plant sales, field trips, garden tours, and educational talks. “Native plants are for everyone,” said Liv O’Keeffe, senior director of public affairs at CNPS. “You can take action by learning what you are seeing on a nature trail, advocating for native plants and places to your leaders, or replacing your lawn with a native plant garden.”
Established by the state legislature in 2023, California Native Plant Month is observed in April in recognition of the state’s globally significant native plants. The recent month-long celebration is an expansion of California Native Plant Week, which was established in 2010.
Go to cnps.org/celebrate to learn more.