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In 2024, the petition to list the Apalachicola wild indigo for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was withdrawn—a conservation milestone made possible through a network of partners across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
The species was first petitioned for federal listing in 2010. At the time, petitioners raised concerns about land use changes and habitat loss and fragmentation that threatened remaining populations. Many occurrences of the Apalachicola wild indigo were found along roadside rights-of-way, where routine mowing or herbicide use could eliminate entire stands. For a species already naturally rare, each population plays an important role in overall viability.
Building the Science Needed for Good Decisions
The withdrawal of the petition to list the Apalachicola wild indigo under the ESA was made possible through the collaborative efforts of partners including Atlanta Botanical Garden, Alabama Power, Troy University, the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance, the Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance, Georgia Power, state partners, private landowners, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program began collaborating with Atlanta Botanical Garden to assess and improve habitat for the Apalachicola wild indigo and other declining plants, including the federally petitioned eared cone flower.
The Service and collaborators conducted species surveys in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama to:
- Assess previously documented populations
- Discover new populations
Identify private landowners adjacent to roadside right-of-way populations
Survey teams also documented threats, including incompatible roadside vegetation management such as mowing and herbicide treatment. These findings will help transportation agencies adjust practices where needed. The updated information directly informed Species Status Assessments (SSAs) and guide habitat restoration priorities on private lands.
A Partner’s Stewardship Makes a Difference
Alabama Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company, played a crucial role in the conservation success story of Apalachicola wild indigo. During routine monitoring for the federally threatened red-cockaded woodpecker, Alabama Power biologists discovered Apalachicola wild indigo on company property near Lake Mitchell in central Alabama. Alabama Power—already partnering with the PFW Program on habitat projects for multiple imperiled species—expanded surveys for the plant on adjacent project lands, resulting in the discovery of the species’ largest known population.
This discovery demonstrated how proactive habitat stewardship for one species can benefit others. Alabama Power’s ongoing management for red-cockaded woodpeckers effectively strengthened conditions for Apalachicola wild indigo as well.
“A commitment to stewardship and strong partnerships contributed to meaningful conservation outcomes for this species—demonstrating that consistent, collaborative management can make a real difference.”
– Dylan Shaw, Biologist with Alabama Power
A prescribed burn is the controlled use of fire to restore wildlife habitat, reduce wildfire risk, or achieve other habitat management goals. We have been using prescribed burn techniques to improve species habitat since the 1930s.
Learn more about prescribed burn for the benefit of flora and fauna, including Apalachicola wild indigo
A New Understanding of the Apalachicola Wild Indigo and a Path Forward
Presented with updated occurrence data, improved habitat management, and key threats better understood and addressed, the petitioner elected to withdraw the request to list the Apalachicola wild indigo under the ESA. This outcome highlights the power of voluntary conservation, good science, and committed partners working together.
Attention has now turned to the eared cone flower. Using the same survey data and collaborative approach, the PFW Program and Atlanta Botanical Garden are prioritizing opportunities for habitat enhancement on private lands. Potential actions include prescribed fire, invasive plant control, and timber stand improvements—steps that benefit both landowners and declining perennial species.
