Plant Donation Program
PLANT GRANTS
Plant Grant Overview
The Plant Grant is part of our Plant Donation Program (PDP) and supports our third mission: providing assistance to create Lepidoptera-friendly habitats. We will donate a minimum of 50 Plant Grants (approximately 810 plants) per year to qualifying applicants.
• 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 for each type of Plant Grant. While we intend to fulfill all grants as described, availability is limited. As a small, specialized nursery, we may occasionally experience failed or poor germination rates. If we are unable to provide the full selection of plants as described, we will offer comparable substitutes and notify you of any changes when issuing your official grant award.
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.
Fall 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, Aromatic
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium
H: 2ft 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
Beebalm, Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium
H: 4ft W: 4ft
Hyssop, Anise
Agastache foeniculum
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Medium-Dry
H: 3ft W: 2ft
Mountain Mint, Virginia
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Sunlight: Full-Part Sun
Moisture: Wet-Medium
H: 3ft W: 1ft
Eligibility Requirements
Our Plant Grant is intended to support groups and organizations seeking to create or maintain butterfly-, moth-, or insect-friendly gardens or habitats. If you are unsure whether your project aligns with our eligibility requirements, please contact us before applying.
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- The applicant must represent a group or organization.
- Applications for personal use or profit are not eligible.
- Donated plants must be installed in the ground as part of a permanent garden or habitat project within North Carolina. Plants may not be used for temporary installations, container gardening, resale, or relocation.
- The recipient organization or group must be located within North Carolina.
- All donated plants must be planted and grown in North Carolina.
- The recipient agrees not to use any pesticides or herbicides on donated plants.
- Donated plants must be used for one of the following purposes:
- Education garden or habitat
- Habitat restoration
- Public pollinator garden
- HOA community garden
- Pollinator garden project
- Other projects or purposes pre-approved by Backyard Butterflies
- Recipients may re-apply in future years but are limited to one Plant Grant 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 donation is necessary instead of purchasing plants outright.
Application Periods
Spring Donation Awards:
Applications accepted January 1 – 7*.
Donations are distributed in May.
Fall Donation Awards:
Applications are accepted June 1 – 7*.
Donations are distributed in October.
* The application will automatically close on the 7th or when 30 submissions have been received.
Application Process
To efficiently manage the volume of applications we receive, we use an automated application system that requires applicants to create a user account. Registration is free and quick to complete. Creating an account allows us to communicate with you throughout the Plant Grant process, including application updates, eligibility notifications, and award details.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with all available Plant Grants typically fully allocated within the first 2 – 3 days of the application opening. If you are considering applying and have questions, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us as early as possible. Doing so allows us to hold a place for you in our applicant queue.
Application Timeline
Timeline Overview:
- The Spring cycle runs approximately 5 months from application opening to final pickup.
- The Fall cycle runs approximately 4 months.
Our Plant Grant program follows a structured review and award process.
- Application Period: Applications are open for one week.
- Eligibility Review: Within 1–2 weeks after the application closes, we review submissions for eligibility.
- Eligibility Notification: Applicants who meet all requirements will be contacted and informed that they are eligible to receive a Plant Grant.
- Award Notifications: Official award emails are sent on April 1 (Spring cycle) and September 1 (Fall cycle).
- Confirmation & Scheduling: Selected recipients have two weeks to confirm acceptance and schedule their Plant Grant pickup.
- Grant Pickup: All plant grants must be picked up during the scheduled dates and times of our plant sale fundraiser. Limited accommodations may be available for extenuating circumstances, but cannot be guaranteed.
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 their Plant Grant Award 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.
Fall 2026 Application will open in
Get a Reminder
Our next application period opens on June 1, 2026.
Sign-up to receive a reminder to apply for a Plant Grant.