Plant Donation Program
PLANT GRANTS
Plant Grant FAQs
What is the Plant Donation Program?
The Plant Donation Program (PDP) is part of our third mission to provide assistance in creating Lepidoptera friendly habitats. We will donate a minimum of 50 Plant Grants (approximately 810 plants) per year to qualifying HOAs, schools, parks, groups, organizations, and nonprofits who apply for a PDP Plant Grant.
• HOAs are eligible to receive one HOA Plant Grant per year containing 9 plants.
• Schools, parks, nonprofits, and other organizations are eligible to receive one Plant Grant per year containing 18 plants.
What plants are donated in a Plant Grant?
We have curated a selection of keystone, host, and nectar plants to donate for each type of Plant Grant. Our intention is to fulfill all Plant Grants as described here; however, all donation awards are subject to availability of plants.
The plants listed and described below are what will be awarded to qualifying Plant Grant applicants. HOAs will receive one of each species, all other organizations will receive 2 of each species.
Spring 2026 Plant Grant Plants
Keystone Species
Each HOA Plant Grant will have one (1) of each species listed below. All other Plant Grants will have two (2) each of the species listed below.
Total Keystone Species: 4
Aster, Shorts
Symphyotrichum shortii
Sunlight: Part-Shade
Moisture: Medium-Dry
H: 3ft W: 2ft
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium
H: 2ft W: 2ft
Goldenrod, Showy
Solidago speciosa
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
H: 5ft W: 3ft
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Wet-Dry
H: 4ft W: 2ft
Host Plants
Each HOA Plant Grant will have one (1) of each species listed below. All other Plant Grants will have two (2) each of the species listed below.
Total Host Plant Species: 2
Bluestem Little
Schizachyrium scoparium
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium
H: 3ft W: 3ft
Species Hosted: Dusted Skipper, Crossline Skipper, Swarthy Skipper, Delaware Skipper, Common Wood Nymph
Butterfly Weed Milkweed
Asclepias tuberosa
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
H: 3ft W: 2ft
Species Hosted: Monarch
Nectar Plants
Each HOA Plant Grant will have one (1) of each species listed below. All other Plant Grants will have two (2) of each of the species listed below.
Total Nectar Plant Species: 3
Beardtongue, Hairy
Penstemon hirsutus
Sunlight: Full-Shade
Moisture: Medium
H: 2ft W: 1ft
Beebalm, Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium
H: 4ft W: 4ft
Mountain Mint, Virginia
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Wet-Medium
H: 3ft W: 1ft
Eligibility Requirements
Our PDP Plant Grant is intended to help groups and/or organizations seeking to create or maintain a butterfly, moth, or insect friendly garden or habitat. It is not intended for individuals or for personal benefit. In order to qualify the applicant must meet the following criteria:
- The applicant is applying on behalf of a group or organization.
- The recipient (organization or group) must be located within North Carolina.
- All donated plants to the recipient must be planted and grown in North Carolina.
- The recipient agrees not to use any pesticides or herbicides on any donated plants.
- The recipient will use the donated plants for any of the following purposes: education garden or habitat, insect support, habitat restoration, public garden, HOA community garden, pollinator garden project, or other purpose(s) pre-approved by Backyard Butterflies.
- Recipients may re-apply to the program. Recipients are limited to receiving only one Plant Grant donation award per year.
- For-profit businesses may apply, provided they clearly outline the intended use of the donated plants, fully describe the project, and explain why a plant donation is necessary in lieu of purchasing plants outright.
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Application Periods
Spring Donation Awards:
Applications accepted January 1 – 15*.
Donations are distributed in May.
Fall Donation Awards:
Applications are accepted June 1 – 15*.
Donations are distributed in October.
* The application will automatically close on the 15th or when 30 submissions have been received.
Award Process & Notification
We currently fulfill applications on a first-come, first-served basis. We strongly recommend submitting your application within the first 48 hours of opening as there are a limited number of grants to award.
If in the event we experience failed or low germination rates we will substitute any unavailable plants with a suitable alternative or omit that plant if no substitution is available.
Applicants will be notified 1-3 weeks by email prior to the next upcoming plant sale fundraiser listed on the main plant sale fundraiser webpage.
All applicants will be required to confirm that they accept their award by a given date. Awards will be forfeit if no confirmation is received by the requested date.
Important Not-So-Fine Print
Applicants are Responsible for Transportation
Our Plant Grant program serves the entire state of North Carolina. We are located in Hillsborough, Orange County. It is the applicant’s responsibility to arrange for pick-up of the Plant Grant Awards in either May or October. Please only apply if you are prepared to travel from your location to claim your Plant Grant.
A Shared Commitment: From Application to Pick-Up
Each Plant Grant is composed of plants that are newly propagated from seed specifically for the award recipient. The propagation process requires an investment of time, energy, and labor for seeds to germinate and develop into transplants of sufficient size and vigor for distribution. As a result, there is typically a four to five month interval between the submission of a Plant Grant application and the fulfillment of the award. Applicants are asked to apply only if they are fully committed to accepting their Plant Grant, in recognition of the considerable resources and care invested in cultivating each award.
Spring 2026 Application is CLOSED
Get a Reminder
Our next application period opens on June 1, 2026.
Sign-up to receive a reminder to apply for a PDP Plant Grant.
