Dig in for Birds this Native Plants Week

GARNER, NC—Kick off the fall planting season by celebrating North Carolina Native Plants Week from October 19-25. The week highlights the importance of native plants for birds, pollinators, and people, as well as the recent policy wins that have re-enforced their value across North Carolina. 

Native plants are those that evolved over thousands of years alongside the birds, insects, and other wildlife that call our state home. This means species like Carolina Wren and Brown-headed Nuthatch have adapted to depend on the resources and benefits provided by North Carolina’s trees, shrubs, flowers, and more. 

Birds rely on the caterpillars and other protein-rich insects hosted by native oaks and birches to feed growing chicks each year. Fall berries provide fuel for migrating thrushes, catbirds, and more, while trees offer much-needed places to rest. 

In fact, North Carolina is home to more than 3,900 native plant species, from backyard favorites like spice bush and beautyberry to the state flower (Flowering Dogwood) and state tree (Longleaf Pine) that yield innumerable benefits for birds and wildlife. 

But it is important to think about what, where, and how you are planting trees to maximize their benefits for birds and people. To make it easy, we developed a tree care guide.

All these reasons and more are why we’re seeing momentum for native plants building across the state.  

• 2023: North Carolina adopted new policies requiring native plants at state parks, historic sites, and roadways. 
• 2024: Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Chatham County passed local ordinances and land-use rules supporting native plant use, thanks to advocacy from Audubon chapters and partners.  
• 2025: The NC General Assembly expanded protections through Senate Bill 391, which prohibited mowing on NC DOT rights-of-way during the month of May and required the use of native plants for replanting when vegetation is removed for outdoor advertising. 
• 2026: A provision in House Bill 1094 prohibited the planting of invasive species in state parks and rights-of-ways. 

This year, Native Plants Week also coincides with the launch of our partnership with Trees for the Triangle and We Plant it Forward to plant 24,000 trees in the City of Raleigh by 2032. Celebrate Native Plants Week by planting a native tree in your yard or community. 

Find native plants for your area (and places to get them) by using Audubon’s native plants database, searchable by zip code. Learn more at nc.audubon.org, and use this social media toolkit to help us spread the word. 

Media Contact: Brittany Salmons, brittany.salmons@audubon.org   

About Audubon North Carolina    

Audubon North Carolina, a state program of the National Audubon Society, has offices in Durham, Boone, Corolla, and Wilmington. Learn more at nc.audubon.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.