Interest in using native plants as part of sustainable landscapes is on the rise across the country. In recent years, industry surveys have indicated an increase in consumer interest in native plants in part due to a desire to help the environment by promoting pollinator friendly habitat, implementing climate solutions, or consuming less water. A native plant is one that has evolved over thousands of years in a particular region or ecosystem and supports local food webs.
Extension professionals need resources to help educate landscapers, the nursery industry, and the public about integrating native plants into their landscapes.
The National Extension Native Plant Initiative aspires to provide a space for Extension professionals to connect, share existing resources, and identify new areas of development around native plants in the United States. Our audience is the Extension professional working with native plant stakeholders which include industries such as nurseries, landscapers, and farmers; land groups such as parks and recreation organizations, municipalities, and home-owner associations; natural resource professionals; and the public including landowners and homeowners.
As this group grows and continues to define our organization development, we aspire to the following broad goals:
Cathryn Pugh, Co- Chair
Michelle Bakacs, Co-Chair
Spring 2026 Webinar Series
The National Extension Native Plant Initiative will be hosting a weekly webinar every Tuesday in April 2026 to kick off the spring season. Topics will be geared toward natural resource extension professionals and those in related fields with an interest in native plants in the landscape, seed collection and processing, and the role of seed banks for local ecotypes.
Register for this FREE series. Recordings will be available on the ANREP website 1-2 weeks after the live session. These webinars are open to ANREP members and non-members.
Webinars
Native Plants: Teaching Tips and Tools for Adoption
Tuesday, April 7, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 PM, EST
Speaker: Cathryn Pugh, Penn State Extension
Designed as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals, this presentation will equip participants with techniques for understanding what motivates landscaping choices and how to start a conversation around native plants that supports conservation, aesthetic, and maintenance landscaping goals. Tools and resources that are applicable nationally will be shared to help guide species selection and connect to native plant sources at local levels.
Native Plants: Local Ecotypes and the Role of Seed Banks
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
12:00 – 1:00 PM, EST
Speaker: Ed Toth, Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank
This webinar is intended as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals to learn why local ecotype matters for native plants and seed collection. Topics will range from a broad perspective of the current availability of regional seed throughout the US to a case study of the successes and challenges of seed conservation from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed Bank.
Native Plants: Small Scale Seed Collection and Storage
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM, EST
Speaker: Mark Fiely, Ernst Conservation Seeds
Intended as a professional development opportunity for natural resource extension professionals, this presentation will focus on the best practices in collecting and storing native seed from herbaceous and woody plants intended for further processing or out-planting. Learn how to assess seed ripeness and the strategies for harvesting, labeling, drying and processing seeds on a small scale. While the presentation will be from a Mid-Atlantic perspective, the techniques for seed handling are applicable nationally.
Native Plants: Community Collaboration for Seed Conservation
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
12:00 - 1:00 PM, EST
Speaker: Francis Smith, MD DNR
Learn about how collaboration can strengthen efforts to support native seed conservation. This presentation will highlight how the MD Forest Service sources seed for its state nursery, and the statewide coordination among colleagues, communities, nonprofits, academia and youth groups to make it happen. The challenges of timely delivery and proper storage will also be examined. The techniques shared and statewide networks discussed are broadly applicable and accessible beyond the Mid-Atlantic.
Building Your Native Plant Toolbox: Guidance for Extension Professionals
There are many resources Extension professionals can draw upon to help you answer native plant questions, but curating these resources will help you deliver the best information possible for your unique location and clientele. Building a toolbox will help you deliver accurate and adaptable information for you and your clients.
Using Native Cultivars in Landscapes: Guidance for Extension Professionals
This fact sheet is meant to assist the Extension professional in responding to that some cultivar
features may have reduced ability to support pollinators and other insects, and provides suggested guidance on when and how to incorporate cultivars into native plantings.