As April arrives, the Arizona Columbine Garden Club and Garden Club of America are once again leading the charge in celebrating Native Plant Month, a nationwide initiative aimed at raising awareness about the vital role native plants play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting pollinators and preserving biodiversity.
Native Plant Month, officially recognized by the United States Senate in 2022, encourages communities, gardeners and conservationists to plant and protect native species in their local environments. The Garden Club of America (GCA), a century-old organization dedicated to environmental stewardship, has been a strong advocate for native plants, emphasizing their importance in creating resilient landscapes that require less water, fewer pesticides, and provide essential habitats for wildlife. Local GCA chapter, Arizona Columbine Garden Club, has successfully petitioned the Governor’s office to proclaim April as Arizona Native Plant Month for 3 consecutive years.
In the Sonoran Desert, these are the top native plants you can select to support our local insects, birds and pollinators that sustain our food systems and natural landscapes
Ironwood tree – Olneya tesota
Desert Marigold – Baileya multiradiata
Golden Flowered Century Plant – Agave chrysantha
Fishhook cactus – Mammillaria grahamii
Pink fairy duster – Calliandra eriophylla
Blue palo verde – Parkinsonia florida
Chuparosa – Justicia californica
Creosote – Larrea tridentata
Globemallow – Sphaeralcea ambigua
Desert milkweed – Asclepias subulata
Plus, here are some plants you should avoid planting:
Stinkweed – Oncosiphon piluifer
African Daisy – Dimorphotheca sinuata
Fountain grass – Cenchrus (Pennisetum) setaceus
African sumac – Rhus lancea
Salt cedar, tamarisk – Tamarix ramosissima
Garden Club of America and Desert Botanical Garden invites everyone to take part whether by planting milkweed for monarch butterflies, restoring local habitats or simply making some changes to your own home landscape. By working together, communities can foster a more sustainable and ecologically rich environment for future generations.
