ACR 173 Summary

• Designates the third week of April each year as California Native Plant Week

• Encourages community groups, schools, and citizens to promote conservation, restoration, and appreciation of California's native plants

• Recognizes California's over 6,000 native plant species, with more than 2,150 found only in California, making the state home to more diverse plant life than all other states combined

• Highlights that native plant gardens use 60 to 90 percent less water than conventional landscapes, with a Santa Monica example showing a 77 percent decrease in water usage

• Notes that nearly one-quarter of California's native plants are designated as "special status plants" requiring additional protections, while the state contends with over 1,000 invasive nonnative plant species