For more than thirty years, The Garden Club of Jackson has supported our community through hands-on projects, educational opportunities, and numerous fundraisers. We feel now more than ever that our community needs collaborative, impactful, and sustainable practices to promote healthy landscapes and water in our local private and public spaces. 

One way we can do this is to promote the GCJ’s Mississippi Native Plant Initiative. Because native plants are critical to the health of our local environment and essential components of vital habitats, we think the native plant initiative is a natural first step in conservation education.  

Through local community support during our recent fundraisers, the GCJ was able to fund native plant educational signage in Jackson's most visited public spaces and raise public awareness about the importance of native plants in our state. In 2023 we helped pass legislation designating the month of April as "Mississippi Native Plant Month." 

These activities are focused on promoting the benefits of native plants in our state. Although much more communication, education, and promotion are needed, we believe there is tremendous positive energy toward this campaign of promoting native plant usage in our state. 

Your partnership is vital as we work to create a healthier environment for all Mississippians. We are excited about this opportunity and hope that you will join us in our efforts.

WHY NATIVE PLANTS ARE IMPORTANT 

• A native plant is one that grows naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat without human introduction.

• Native plants are essential for healthy and diverse ecosystems and are critical for clean air, water, and soil stability.

• Native plants are well-adapted to Mississippi's soils, wetlands, temperatures, precipitation, and environmental conditions; and, consequently, are the best at conserving and protecting our environment and adapting to its changes.

• Native plants preserve our rich biological heritage and provide shelter, as well as nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds, and other wildlife in ways that non-native plants cannot provide. They provide diversity in form, texture, and color to fit any landscape style and are hardy and easy to grow once established.

• Non-native plants do thrive in our area; however, incorporating too many of them into our landscapes has caused a sharp decline in pollinators and wildlife species, as native plants provide unique food at specific times for native wildlife.

• Native plants are critical in preventing flooding and erosion through their deep root systems filtering groundwater.

• Mississippi is home to more than 2,700 native plant species, which include trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers, but it is difficult to buy many of these native plant species in our Mississippi nurseries.

• Hopefully, raising awareness of the importance of native plants will increase access to purchasing native plants from local nurseries, resulting in residents planting more native plants.

Therefore, it is essential to recognize the value of Mississippi's native plants and encourage public awareness of the many benefits they provide to Mississippi's economy and pollinators and the health of Mississippi's environment.

Support our Mississippi Native Plant Initiative here.