The Backyard Butterflies Plant Donation Program (PDP) purpose is to provide donations of native plants to groups and organizations that desire to create or maintain a public or communal pollinator or Lepidoptera garden or habitat. The program is not intended to assist individuals or for personal benefit.

Each year we will donate between 200-400 plants that we grow on-site. All plants are raised without the use of pesticides. We use a mild seaweed and fish fertilizer to assist with transplanting.

We have pre-selected plants from our Keystone, Host, and Nectar Plant categories that you may request as a donation. Our intention is to fulfill your request as submitted, however all donations are subject to availability of plants, and we reserve the right to substitute plants as needed.

All applicants who receive an award will be required to confirm their acceptance of the award before the given deadline, and they must travel to our location in Hillsborough, Orange County, to pick-up their award during the designated dates and times, unless other arrangements have been made.

Plant Donation Program Awards

• HOAs are eligible to receive up to 10 plants per year.

• Schools, parks, nonprofits, and other organizations are eligible to receive up to 20 plants per year.

Awards are determined by a first-come, first-served basis and availability of plants. If plant availability is limited, available plants will be equally distributed to applicants so that everyone may receive a portion of their request for that species. Substitutes may also be given due to limited availability.

Eligibility Requirements

• The organization must be located in North Carolina.

• The plants must be planted in North Carolina.

• The organization agrees to not use any pesticides or herbicides on donated plants.

• The organization will use the donated plants for any of the following purposes: education, insect support, habitat restoration, public garden, HOA community garden, pollinator garden project, or other purpose(s) pre-approved by Backyard Butterflies.

• Only one plant donation award per applicant per calendar year.

Application Deadlines

Spring Donation
Applications accept January 1 to January 31, 2025.

Donations are distributed in May.

Fall Donation
Applications accepted June 1 to June 30, 2024.

Donations are distributed in October.

Re-application to the Plant Donation Program

Recipients of a previous plant donation award may re-apply to the Plant Donation Program, however the policy of one plant donation award per applicant per calendar year applies.

By submitting this application you agree to the following:

• You will respond to all emails by the given deadline.
• Confirm your acceptance of your Plant Donation Award by the given deadline.
• You are responsible for picking up your Plant Donation Award during the dates and times provided unless other arrangements are made.

 

Please only submit an application if you are certain you will be able to pick-up your Award in May or October.