Hurricane Helene Devastated Our Upstate’s Native Plant Populations — You Can Help Restore Them
by Jo Ann McCracken-Redding
Since September 27th, people living in the Upstate have witnessed scenes of Helene’s devastation in our yards, neighborhoods, roadsides, parks, and trails.
Among the most visible victims in our native plant landscape were the trees, notably the mighty oaks of the genus Quercus.
Oaks are designated as keystone plants because of the critical services they provide for our food web including life support for birds, animals, soil, and atmosphere – and us! Many of these services cannot be provided by non-native species.
Imagine what it will take to fill the service gap created by the loss of countless native plants.
Filling this gap is the driving force of our Grow Back Native movement to plant and influence others to plant native.
SCNPS members and friends, this crisis created by Helene is our call to service: We’re known as the champions of native plants. So, now’s the time to accelerate and broaden our efforts as planters, leaders, mentors, and educators in native plant cultivation and recovery.
For many home gardeners, community landscapers, and large-tract land managers, 2025 will be a period of planning, planting, and implementing recovery strategies that may continue for years.
Throughout 2025, our Upstate chapter communications, monthly programs, plant sales, and volunteer opportunities will offer Grow Back Native strategies and resources you can use and share as broadly as possible!
For example, our Grow Back Native initiative will help people plan and plant in ways that may be new to them such as
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- converting shade gardens to sun gardens after loss of tree canopies,
- replacing non-native plants with natives,
- designing a pollinator garden,
- taking storm recovery measures to prevent further damage by erosion and invasive plant land grabs,
- convincing an HOA board to landscape with native plants, and
- finding out where to buy plants native to our region.
Our own Upstate SCNPS native plant sales are one of your best resources. Mark your calendar for the spring sale Saturday, April 12, at Conestee Stadium in Greenville.

white oak (Quercus alba) You can’t immediately replace a 300-year-old giant oak lost in the storm. BUT you can plant a young oak or cultivate one from an acorn. You might be surprised at how quickly it grows into a valuable contributor to our ecosystem. Photo by Jo Ann McCracken-Redding
Why We Call Grow Back Native a Movement
The answer has to do with you! We need your help turning this SCNPS initiative into a regional movement that spreads beyond our own circle of members and native plant enthusiasts.
For widespread devastation we need widespread recovery efforts. It requires a movement of people across the region to do the work.
Of course, many individuals and organizations have already been doing hard work towards Helene recovery. SCNPS is working with partner organizations involved in this effort. However, you may be surprised that you know many plant and nature lovers who don’t yet know the “Why Native” story that you can tell them.
By your example and by spreading the word about why replanting should be done with native plants, you’ll inspire others to join in and expand the Grow Back Native movement.
Learning to Tell the “Why Native” Story
The critical role of native plants in the food web within our ecosystem is complex. Native species are providing many different services to support wildlife and humanity. It’s not an easy story to tell, but we’ll help you do it. Throughout the year, we’ll share stories and fast facts you can use to create your own “Why Native” elevator pitch.
Being confident about telling the “Why Native” story will make you a much more effective advocate for native plants and SCNPS. Whenever you have a chance to talk plants with anyone that is a gardener or influences landscape planning, installation and maintenance in shared spaces, you’ll know just what to say about Grow Back Native.
You have a broad audience that may include friends, neighbors, co-workers, HOA board members, landscapers, developers, elected officials, land managers, park directors, and others!
We’d Like to Hear From You!
- What beloved plants did you lose to Helene?
- What Grow Back Native information would you like to read about in the SCNPS newsletter or learn about through our programs?
And if you know anyone working in local media – newspapers, newsletters, television, radio, podcasts, blogs – recommend them to us via growbacknative@scnps.org so we can share our native plant story content and expertise with them.
Stay Tuned for Grow Back Native Updates Throughout 2025
Look to this newsletter each month as the central source of Grow Back Native information, including conversations with our SCNPS leaders and experts, details on relevant programs, and “Why Native” facts you can share with others.