NPI Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans

NPI Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans There's lots to learn there!

To increase the use of native plants in our area by expanding public awareness of their ecological benefits, boosting availability, and by preserving and creating native plant communities. Please be sure to also join our FB Discussion Group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/npigno, where people post lots of pictures, questions and comments about native plants in our area.

06/13/2026

Part 2 is here! 🌿

One of the biggest misconceptions about native plants is that they only belong in large gardens or wild spaces. The truth is, you can create habitat almost anywhere, even in a container on a porch, patio, balcony, or front step.

For this planter, I used one of NPI Native Plant Initiative of Greater New Orleans’s ready-made native plant designs, making it easy to build a beautiful container filled entirely with Louisiana native species. These plants don’t just look good, they can provide food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife throughout the season.

Small spaces can still make a difference.

🌱 Would you plant a container using 100% native plants? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments!

Woop woop! A big thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday evening at the Lafitte Greenway!With a little relief from...
06/10/2026

Woop woop! A big thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday evening at the Lafitte Greenway!

With a little relief from the afternoon sun, we spent the evening clearing a section of American germander to give neighboring native plants more room to grow, carefully removing nutsedge from between the pavers, and planting beautyberry, mountain mint, mistflower, and partridge pea.

We even had a young helper stop by and get their hands dirty with us 😀

Special thanks to , Mallory, James, Zach, Amelia, Steven, Shawn, and Ann for helping improve this native plant demonstration garden. Every volunteer hour helps create more habitat for pollinators and showcases how native plants can thrive in urban spaces.

We couldn’t do this work without you!

Congratulations to Julie and Daniele in Houma for their for their Silver level habitat. We love that the former owner o...
06/05/2026

Congratulations to Julie and Daniele in Houma for their for their Silver level habitat. We love that the former owner of the home was an avid birder and you've had the advantage of starting with some established, mature bird-friendly natives. Kudos for continuing that great stewardship and adding more to it! What a great space!

Our next Pull and Prune is Tuesday, June 9 from 6-8pm (note the time change!) at the Lafitte Greenway Turning Sculpture....
06/03/2026

Our next Pull and Prune is Tuesday, June 9 from 6-8pm (note the time change!) at the Lafitte Greenway Turning Sculpture. We pushed the time back to 6pm to make it easier for those coming from work to attend and to give ourselves a reprieve from the heat 🥵! Whether you can come for 20 minutes or stay the full 2 hours, we hope to see you there. TIP: You can add this event (and any NPI event) to your own calendar. Click here > https://npi-gno.org/event/prune-and-pull-lafitte-greenway-4/

From UGLY GRAVEL EASEMENT to NATIVE HABITAT in the Marigny! The original vision was part rain garden, part meadow planti...
05/31/2026

From UGLY GRAVEL EASEMENT to NATIVE HABITAT in the Marigny! The original vision was part rain garden, part meadow planting. Season by season, inspired by his best friend’s native gardening efforts, Eric has been adding and experimenting with natives in his front and back yards for a couple of years now.

Like so many of us, Eric has experienced lots of trial and error with native plant placement and getting to know his space. The front easement really does not stay as wet as originally thought, so it’s not exactly a “rain garden.” Some things just didn’t thrive and so many plants have been adjusted and moved about to find the sweet spot for them.

A neighbor’s generosity leads to interest in native gardening in Algiers.Sick of an on ongoing renovation project, Kara ...
05/28/2026

A neighbor’s generosity leads to interest in native gardening in Algiers.
Sick of an on ongoing renovation project, Kara threw some seeds around her yard just to do something. Later, her neighbor started putting out plants and seeds labelled with scientific names - NATIVES, and that started Kara on a wonderful path of learning and research, meeting her neighbors and talking plants. She joined NPI and began replacing non-native plants in her yard with natives. Now Kara’s yard is a joyful place with LOTS of native diversity.
Our certifier was so impressed that in just 2 skinny easement strips, Kara has collected and planted 75 different species of native plants. Wow!

Excellent job beautifying your corner of our city Kara - You’re awesome! and that neighbor who inspired you is too! Congrats on GOLD!

THIS WEEKEND! SATURDAY, MAY 30 • 9:00 a.m.-noon • NPI MEETING at COMMON GROUND RELIEF NATIVE PLANT NURSERY • 1501 JO...
05/28/2026

THIS WEEKEND! SATURDAY, MAY 30 • 9:00 a.m.-noon • NPI MEETING at COMMON GROUND RELIEF NATIVE PLANT NURSERY • 1501 JOURDAN AVENUE, NEW ORLEANS - Common Ground Relief serves Greater New Orleans through wetlands restoration, food assistance, education, and building coalitions to make everyone’s lives better.

NPI has been invited to tour the nursery where the Common Ground Relief () team grows the native plants essential to stabilize Louisiana coastlines; the space is also used for educational programs and as a green space open to the public. Executive Director Christine Lehew will lead the tour and share stories of how Common Ground Relief is making a difference with native plants and community action. Nursery plants will be available for sale via the usual payment methods of cash, check, or credit card. NPI members are encourgaed to bring any seeds, seedlings, plants, etc. to share and swap as ususal.

As always, anyone and everyone (NPI member or not) is welcome to attend the meeting. Free.

Plant currently available, but subject to change: Swamp Chestnut Oak, Sycamore, Bitter Pecan/ Water Hickory, Sweet Gum, Tulip Poplar, Sugarberry, Green Ash, Swamp Red Maple, Persimmon, Red Mulberry, White Mulberry, Eastern Redbud, Buttonbush, and Beautyberry.

What started in Algiers as a vegetated swale between 2 houses to manage water run off at this shotgun house has blossome...
05/27/2026

What started in Algiers as a vegetated swale between 2 houses to manage water run off at this shotgun house has blossomed (ha!) into a full-on native gardening enterprise for the entire family. It was easy over the years to replace various non-native ornamental plants that died off with resilient natives to fill their spots. It has been a learning process to get to know spontaneous weeds from desirable plants, but the Knoll family and passersby enjoy the increased butterflies, bees, dragonflies and miscellaneous insect and pollinator traffic.

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1 Drexel Dr
New Orleans, LA
70125

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