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North Alabama Native Plant Symposium

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Wild Ones North Alabama invite you to the North Alabama Native Plant Symposium. This full-day event focuses on the integration of native plants into landscapes and invites horticultural professionals, conservationists, and homeowners to envision cultivating beauty while sustaining ecology. The symposium will feature optional morning hikes and presentations from botanists, ecologists, and landscape professionals on topics related to Alabama’s native plants and ecological landscaping.

When: Saturday, June 7

Where: Monte Sano State Park, 5105 SE Nolen Ave., Huntsville, AL 35801


Registration

Online registration will open in mid-March. The goal is to reduce barriers to attendance by keeping the cost relatively low.


Agenda & Topics

The symposium will feature a keynote address from Scot Duncan, the executive director of Alabama Audubon and author of “Southern Wonder: Alabama’s Surprising Biodiversity.” Also featured will be two presenter tracks, guided hikes, exhibiting organizations, and networking opportunities. Topics and presentations will include the following:

  • Insect-Plant Interactions
  • Plant Identification: Keying Out Plants
  • Invasive Species Management in Landscape Settings
  • Native Grasses and Sedges: Smart Choices for Landscapes
  • Southern Grasslands and the Virginia Native Seed Pilot Project
  • A Landscape Design Panel with Local Native-Plant Landscapers
  • A Native Plant Business Roundtable

Presenters include plant professionals from Alabama A&M University, Auburn University, North American Land Trust, The Clifton Institute, and Izel Native Plants.


Thank you to Izel Native Plants, Land Trust of North Alabama, the Nature Conservancy, and Redstone Federal Credit Union for sponsoring the 2025 North Alabama Native Plant Symposium!


Sponsorship

The North Alabama Native Plant Symposium would not be possible without the support its sponsors. By becoming a sponsor, you are supporting the symposium’s goal to grow and support the network of native plant professionals and enthusiasts in Alabama. The following table outlines the sponsorship levels available and their benefits. To sponsor the symposium or learn more about sponsorship levels, contact Holt Akers-Campbell at hza0093@auburn.edu.

2025 North Alabama Native Plant Symposium Sponsorship

Sponsorship LevelSponsor Benefits
Level I. Host Plant—$250
  • Logo on digital and printed conference agenda
  • Verbal recognition at conference opening
Level II. Native Pollinator—$400
  • All Level I benefits
  • Logo included on all conference promotional materials—including print flyers and digital marketing—and the registration web page
  • Conference registration for one person
  • Exhibitor table
Level III. Fungal Associate—$750
  • All Level II benefits
  • Conference registration for two people
  • A half-page feature in the printed agenda 
Level IV. Keystone Species—$1,500 (Only one available)
  • All Level III benefits
  • Conference registration for three people
  • A full-page feature in the printed agenda
  • Featured sponsor of the 2025 North Alabama Native Plant Symposium

Exhibitors & Vendors

If you or your organization is interested in being an exhibitor or vendor at the symposium, contact Holt Akers-Campbell at hza0093@auburn.edu. Spots are limited.


Donations

Those wanting to support the symposium in other ways than sponsorship can make a donation online. Any donations are greatly appreciated, as they help keep registration costs lower and native plant knowledge more accessible. To make a donation, visit the Alabama Extension Store at www.aces.edu/store. There, you can enter the amount that you would like to donate. To direct your donation to the symposium, enter the following information when prompted:

  • The Alabama Extension County, Activity, or Program: North Alabama Native Plant Symposium
  • The name of the Alabama Extension contact person regarding this donation or sponsorship: Holt Akers-Campbell
  • The email address of the Alabama Extension contact: hza0093@auburn.edu

Make a Donation