Louisiana Native Plant Society (LNPS)

What invasive plant is giving you the most grief?

Register to get certified as a Louisiana Native Professional.
📅 Date: March 28–29, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day
📍 Location: 63350 Pelican Dr., Mandeville, LA 70448
Registration fee $400
Register by March 2, 2026.
Visit: www.lnps.org/louisiana-pr...

#NativePlants #Louisiana

These are all aggressive growers that spread quickly and crowd out native plants. They can form dense mats or stands that reduce plant diversity, alter habitat, and make it harder for native species to return. They provide little for native wildlife. Early management can make a big difference.

They may be pretty but they’re invasive.
Not every plant belongs in our landscape. Some popular ornamentals escape gardens and take over, crowding out native plants. When invasive plants take over, we lose the native plants that feed caterpillars, pollinators, birds, and the entire food web.

Most people never see the fight… but across Louisiana, crews, scientists, and volunteers are constantly battling invasive plants to protect our forests, wetlands, and waterways. Planting natives isn’t just landscaping — it’s prevention.

🌿Plant native. Help Louisiana stay wild.

#NativePlants

Christmas Fern - A Louisiana Native Fern

#Louisiana #NativePlants #ProtectNatives

Louisiana once had tens of thousands of acres of prairie scattered across the state but today less than 1% remain. Protecting and learning about these prairies helps ensure that this unique ecosystem, the native plants and wildlife that depend on it, are not lost. www.lnps.org/wp-content/u...

Meet one of the Louisiana Native Professional Trainers, Jesse Cole. She will be teaching at the March 28 - 29 class in Mandeville, LA. Secure your seat today at LNPS.org (visit “Programs”).

Scarlet Sage has pretty tubular red flowers.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea) thrives in our heat, humidity, and long growing seasons. Those tubular red flowers are especially perfect for hummingbirds, making this plant a consistent wildlife favorite.

#NativePlants #Louisiana #Pollinators

Here are just a few Louisiana Native Certified Professionals. You can view the full list of those certified at LNPS.org in the programs section.

Next class is March 28 & 29 in Mandeville, Louisiana. Register before February 24th.

#Certification #NativePlants #Conservation

Amorpha may be one of the quieter native plants in the landscape, but it delivers in a big way. When it blooms, it becomes a magnet for native pollinators, and unlike many plants, Amorpha doesn’t stop after just one round. A second bloom means a second wave of activity. #NativePlants #Louisiana

2026 Louisiana Native Plant Conference will take place March 6-8. Network with others who have a passion for native plants at this wonderful event. Register by February 20th,2026 at LNPS.org.

Why we love giant coneflower:
🌿 Native to Louisiana and the Southeast
🌿 Drought-tolerant once established
🌿 Long-lived perennial
🌿 A favorite of pollinators
🌿 Adds bold height and structure to gardens

#NativePlants #Louisiana

New Louisiana Native Professional Certification Class NOW OPEN for registration. Join others and elevate your brand with this great program. Register by February 24th.

#Certification #NativePlants #Louisiana

Save your Pentstemon seeds.
#SeedSaving #NativePlants

The Baton Rouge class is filling up fast with over 60% of seats registered. Make sure to register now to get certified as Louisiana Native Professional.
Register here: www.lnps.org/louisiana-pr...

#Education #NativePlants #SpecialTraining #Louisiana

Not all plants win you over with flowers, some steal the show with their leaves. Here are three of our favorites that bring unique texture, shape, and personality to the garden. Native plants bring more than just flowers, they offer beauty in every season and support local wildlife.

As we move into mid-August in Louisiana, many butterfly and bird species are gearing up for their incredible migratory journeys. Providing them with the right native plants ensures they have the fuel they need to make it! You can be a crucial part of their survival. Plant natives!

#PlantForNature

🌿 Speaker Highlight: Kim Eierman 🌿

Want to fight pollinator decline & climate change? Kim Eierman shows you how. Founder of EcoBeneficial LLC, author of The Pollinator Victory Garden, and expert in native plants & climate-resilient landscapes.

Register: wildones.org/landscape-st...

Giant Vernonia. In the Aster family, sometimes called ironweed, these tall perennials bloom in vibrant magenta‑purple clusters. They are beginning to light up coastal prairies, wet woodlands, and roadside meadows and bloom between now and fall. A pillar of a healthy native ecosystems.

NEW CLASS DATES RELEASED! Become a Certified Native Plant Professionals.

New Class date: Sept 20 & 21
Time: 8am - 5pm both days
Location: LSU Hilltop Arboretum, 11855 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70810
Cost: $400 - Lunch provided

www.lnps.org/louisiana-pr...

Spurred Butterfly Pea (Centrosema virginianum)
This delicate native vine brings subtle beauty to shady and sunny spots alike with its soft purple blooms but its true value lies beneath the surface.🦋 Host Plant Power🌱 Soil Enrichment🌾 Low-Maintenance Beauty - Reseeds easily.

Leavenworth’s Sedge 🌿
Not every plant wants to be the star of the show, some are happy being the quiet backbone of the landscape. Meet Leavenworth’s Sedge, a tough little native that plays the long game. It doesn’t shout for attention, but your garden will thank you for inviting it in.

Meet the American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)
also known as Musclewood - one look at its smooth, fluted, bluish-gray trunk explains why! It’s a subtle stunner in the landscape, with fall leaves that glow golden-yellow and bark that adds year-round visual interest. A great native shade maker!

Japanese Climbing Fern, is a vine-like fern from Asia. A Tier I invasive, it smothers native vegetation, steals light and even fuels wildfires by acting as a “ladder” letting flames climb into the canopy. Remove all visible fronds and dig out rhizomes before the spores develop in late summer.

Does anyone have a Botanical Bucket list? We have some great recommendations if you do not! 🌱

For links to each of these visit:
www.lnps.org/resources/ga...

🌺 Mallow Madness Begins. If you’ve driven down a rural Louisiana road lately, chances are you’ve seen them, giant blooms exploding in pinks, whites, and reds like summer fireworks. Our native Mallows (Hibiscus species) are back in bloom! They support native pollinators and even hummingbirds.

Carolina Buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana). Despite the name, Carolina Buckthorn doesn’t have thorns, just bright green foliage, glossy berries, and a ton of ecological value. Great for woodland edges, understories, or anywhere you want to add color, texture, and life. A great Native tree.

The Two Joes of Louisiana! Eutrochium fistulosum (Hollow Joe Pye) & Eutrochium purpureum (Sweet Joe Pye). Most Joe Pyes thrive in moist, rich soils, but purpureum can handle woodland garden conditions too. Both species are loved by butterflies especially monarchs and other great pollinators.

Bayou-Buzz’s profile says, “Will pollinate native plants for love” - awww. Better luck next time Bayou-Buzz. 🐝

Have a great weekend everyone!