Overview
Pennsylvania Native Species Day is May 20, 2025.
The Governor’s Invasive Species Council will hold a press event in conjunction with the Invasive Replace-ive event in Carlisle, PA. We encourage everyone to hold their own local event to help celebrate PA’s native species.
Possible activities could include:
- A guided hike
- A native species planting event
- An invasive species pulling event
- A workshop or webinar
Please tell us about your event by completing this brief survey and we will share information about your event on our website. Thank you!
Resources
Pennsylvania-responsibility speciesOpens In A New Window: Members of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey compile comprehensive lists of native and invasive species statewide and determine the conservation status of each. Check out their website to find out about rare, threatened, and endangered Pennsylvania native species of all kinds.
Native plant fact sheets - From the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program.
Biota of North America ProgramOpens In A New Window - an authoritative academic native plant atlas, listing genus and species and what states they're native to.
Native plant information sheetsOpens In A New Window and native plant identification and use webinarOpens In A New Window - From Penn State Extension. The Extension website offers many other resources as well.
Pennsylvania Native Plant SocietyOpens In A New Window - Offers lists of information sources and native plant garden centers and nurseries.
Lehigh Valley Native Plant DirectoryOpens In A New Window – Offers a list of nurseries and garden centers that offer native plants in the Lehigh Valley area
Landscaping with native plants - Templates for shade, sunny, dry, and wet locations and more, from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Native plant finderOpens In A New Window - From the National Wildlife Federation; search by zip code.
Threatened and endangered fish species - From the Fish and Boat Commission.
Pennsylvania native reptile and amphibian species - from the Fish and Boat Commission.
Invasive species of concern in Pennsylvania - The Governor's Invasive Species Council identifies the approximately 300 invasive plants, insects, pathogens, and animals with the current or potential greatest negative impacts for Pennsylvania.
Center for Rural PA legislative hearing on invasives, August 2021Opens In A New Window: State, business, and academic leaders described the impacts that invasive species are having on Pennsylvania and called for invasive management statewide.
Aquatic invasive species of concern - From the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
What happens when a butterfly native to Pennsylvania mistakes nonnative invasive garlic mustard for its host plant, native toothwort - Helpful example of native species' mutual dependence, written for a general audience.
Hemlock woolly adelgid: How the Pennsylvania state tree and state fish are harmed by this one nonnative insect - A look at the ripple effects from one invasive species.
How aquatic biologists are working to protect threatened freshwater mussels in French Creek, Crawford CountyOpens In A New Window - Video from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Why protect Pennsylvania’s native species?
Pennsylvania is home to diverse native plants, trees, insects, fish, birds, and mammals that originated thousands of years ago and thrive in mutual dependence. This native ecosystem provides us with natural resources that benefit our lives by enabling agricultural food production, recreation, fisheries, timber, and more.
As humans have increased worldwide commerce and travel, nonnative species have crisscrossed the world with us. When species are transported to areas outside their native range, they have no natural predators. They often invade, crowding out and threatening the survival of native species.
The council created Pennsylvania Native Species Day to celebrate the state’s diverse native species and increase Pennsylvanians’ understanding of the importance of protecting them against the proliferation of invasive species.
4/25/2025 – Native Wildflowers in the PA Wilds Workshop at Dancing Bear Lodge, Loganton, PA.
4/25-27/2025 – Native Plant Sale at Jenkins Arboretum, Devon, PA.
4/26-27 and 5/3-4/2025 Native Wildflower Sale at Churchville Nature Center, Churchville, PA. See
4/26/2025 – Manheim Township Earth Fest and Native Plant Sale at the Overlook Park and Activity Center, Lancaster, PA.
5/3/2025 – Native Plant Festival at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center, State College, PA.
5/3/2025 – Manada Conservancy Native Plant Sale Festival, Grantville, PA.
5/10/2025 – York County Master Gardeners Native Plant Sale and Educational Talks at John Rudy County Park, Emigsville, PA.
5/10/2025 – Constance Ranson Native Plant Sale, Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle, PA.
5/10/2025 – Perkiomen Native Plant Sale and Tours at Jacob Reiff Park, Harleysville, PA.
5/10/2025 – Delaware County Master Gardener Native Plant Sale, Springfield, PA.
5/10-11/2025 – Brandywine Conservancy Native Wildflower, Plant, and Seed Sale, Chadds Ford, PA.
5/14/2025 – PA Native Species Day Hands-on Native Plant Workshop at Nimick Family Education Center, Ligonier, PA.
5/16/2025 – Weeds and Wildflowers Walking Tour at Pymatuning State Park. Contact smarendt@pa.gov for more information.
5/17/2025 – Herb & Native Plant Faire, Joseph Priestley House Museum, Northumberland, PA.
5/17/2025 – Plant Celebration at Centre Furnace Mansion, State College, PA.
5/20/2025 – Native pollinator and plant tour at the Burnside Plantation pollinator demonstration garden, Bethlehem, PA. Contact connies2cats@yahoo.com for more information.
5/20/2025 – PA Native Species Day at Promised Land State Park, Greentown, PA.
5/20/2025 – Native Wildflower Hike at Varden Conservation Area, Lake Ariel, PA.
5/20/2025 – Restoring Nature, An Evening with Doug Tallamy at Penn State Behrend, Erie, PA.
5/20/2025 – Native Species Day Planting for Pollinators workshop at Beltzville State Park.
5/20/2025 – Native Species Day Hike at Voxburg Neck State Park, Tunkhannock, PA.
5/22/2025 – Native Plant Garden and Counseling Awareness workshop, Nesquehoning, PA.
