“The only possible guarantee of the future is responsible behavior in the present.”
— Wendell Berry, recipient of the GCA’s Cynthia Pratt Laughlin Medal
Photo by Phyllis Russell, Paducah Garden Club
GCA PRIORITY:CONSERVATION & ADVOCACY
One of the basic tenets of The Garden Club of America's purpose is to restore, improve, and protect the quality of the environment through educational programs and action in the fields of conservation and civic improvement.
Native Plants
Native plants play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of ecosystems.
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2025 Plant of the Year Quercus montana by J. M. Hagstrom
A native plant is defined as one that has evolved over thousands of years in a specific geographic region, alongside local flora and fauna, without direct or indirect human intervention. Native plants include large canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, or grasses that are indigenous to an area.
Read our Position90
90 Native Plants with newfound attention through Native Plant of the year
Discover remarkable natives