California Native Plant Society

As a gardener I enjoy the Cal Scape search when looking for new plants and trees for my garden. As a parent I have enjoyed the educational resources available both online and at community events. Many years ago when I was in college they also were a valuable resource for learning about California’s native flora!!

I have been a proud member and volunteer of the San Luis Obispo chapter of CNPS since I was an undergrad. I have since attended professional development workshops, gotten involved with the board, and am supporting the creation of new programs for our chapter's local professional development workshop series.

I have also relied on the California Rare Plant Rank database that is maintained, updated, and managed by CNPS for the entirety of my professional career. These rankings are scientifically based and critically important for evaluating development-related impacts throughout California, and are recognized by state and local governments.

California Native Plant Society and their online database has been the be all and end all guide and teacher of California native plants. I am constantly learning from their expertise. They are a vital lifeline for learning, preserving, advocating and protecting native plants and are instrumental in getting more native plants in the ground, creating and fostering habitat for our animal brethren.

I loved volunteering at the California Native Plant Society Sacramento Chapter plant sale! I enjoyed meeting the staff, chatting with other volunteers, and learning more about native plants. Everyone was extremely welcoming, knowledgeable, and eager to get me involved. Although I was new, the busy nursery head took me aside to explain the ropes and oversaw my work until I was comfortable to do it alone. I know I will definitely go back to volunteer not only for more plant sales, but for the other events they host.

I enjoy the webinars the overall nonprofit puts together, I appreciate the resources they have on their site, and I am glad to know they are a reliable resources for all things California native plants!

The California Native Plant Society is effective in their mission to celebrate and preserve native plants through their education program which has included many presentations over zoom, covering a range of interesting topics and with speakers representing different points of view and different parts of California. Education and advocacy are also achieved via the great photographs, art, and thoughtful articles in their printed magazine. Local chapters sell seeds and host plant sales which helps to get native plants into local gardens. And they've worked with growers on the Bloom! California program to increase availability of native plants on a larger scale with hundreds of nurseries participating. This organization has sound strategy and excellent implementation of programs, and is adaptable as seen through the last year with the pandemic. Great work!

For many years I lived in the mountains of Southern California and had nature as part of my daily life. I now live in Southern California suburbia and was suffering from being out of touch with much of nature's beauty. Enter CNPS! I was so fortunate to find our about them - this non profit has changed my life in breathtaking ways. They have educated and illuminated me. I have a large backyard which has now become a native plant sanctuary. Of course, with native plants comes native insects, bird life and wildlife. As a retiree in the autumn of my life I now find the most enjoyable part of many days is planting and watching native plants grow in my backyard - spending time in nature again which gives me such joy and fulfillment and peace. So, when I say that CNPS has transformed my life - it is not an exaggeration - it is a fact.

I adore CNPS, a focused, determined, kind nonprofit working to save the most vulnerable of our earth’s species, plants. CNPS is effective and efficient at their mission, using member dues wisely and partnering with members. I feel encouraged every day when I look at my garden and native plants and know I’m helping. That’s what CNPS does for me, for us, for the planet.

Retired nursery/landscape professional - A joy to browse their FB page. I've developed favorites amounst the many amazing photographers posting there.

I always learn from the posts on this site. Good info and photos.

Always my go to resource for native plant identification and tips on cultivation. It's time to live more responsibly on our neighborhoods and CNPS helps make it happen.

Happy to have a place to learn and grow
Great work with conservation and maintaining the natural ecosystem

I learn so much about the benefits of native plants through their educational events, newsletter, and CalScape website. I appreciate that they advocate for protecting open space and habitat for rare plants. California’s amazing biodiversity is at risk and they are helping with solutions.

Between their assistance with plant identification, review of rare plants, educating the public about the need to protect our natural environment, and amazing training opportunities for me and other colleagues, CNPS is a true treasure, making not only me better, but all of California.

This group does great things at the state amd local level, from conservation to advocacy to science to education to promoting native gardens and growing native plants. The local chapters provide an excellent opportunity for learning and getting involved. They have helped me learn my local native flora and transform my yard into a little slice of wild California and saved some places that I love going to.

Excellent educational outreach on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/38417209275/

Wonderful people so willing to share what they know! Offers frequent programs, walks and information on Native Plants at no cost and even serve refreshments. The Native Plant movement is working to save biodiversity and we all know how important that is today. Great organization. Has my support.

They work hard to protect and educate the importance of our native plants.

CNPS is a great group for anyone with any bit of interest in the outdoors or flowers - whether in the garden or out in the wild. If you want to turn your yard into a great sanctuary for yourself and native insects and animals, come spend time with CNPS. Take hikes with local chapters, learn more about plants, and meet people with similar interests. Volunteer pulling invasive plants, watering or selling plants at the native plant sales. There are so many great things to do with CNPS. It’s up to you if you want to adopt the “plant nerd” title for yourself.

This group has been absolutely amazing in helping me identify plants I find in my workplace and in the mountain region I live in. So many friendly knowledgeable and helpful members.

The best organization that protects and conserves native plants. CNPS is very active all throughout the golden state and is consistently monitoring rare plants, taking legal actions , and so much more.

As a life long nursery professional, arborist and horticulture consultant as well as a California native I have found so many amazing people within the California Native Plant Society who have shared their passion and knowledge with me. The pride and dedication to preserve and educate others about the wonderful native plants of out great state is unmatched in my experience. No matter your experience or knowledge this gtoup will teach you something every day. That is what life is all about.

When it was time to replace my lawn with drought tolerant plants, they provided education, assistance with selection, historical framing of the importance of native plants, and made drought tolerant landscaping accessible to me. Their services and nursery made re-landscaping affordable and helped me to understand the importance of native plants.

Fabulous non-profit. The CNPS does a great job locally, with its chapters, and on a statewide level with resources, trainings, and conservation work.

Great organization! Especially important here in the San Joaquin Valley, where native plants are few and far between, and drought is having a tremendous impact on both agricultural and natural habitats.

I am a backyard gardener. Interested in using native plants to create a natural ecosystem. Calif. Native Plant Society has been marvelous as an informational resource, and a place to purchase healthy native plants at reasonable prices. Their annual plant sale is a must do for me every year.

I started attending California Native Plant Society's free library lectures to learn about California native plants. Then I joined the society and now I volunteer to teach others about the unique flora of California and how important it is to preserve the unique ecosystems. I have learned much, and seen much. I'm also impressed at how many people contribute to the organization on a volunteer basis. It is an important institution.

CNPS placer county wikdflowers, and shrubs and trees books have been an invaluable resource. They are masterpieces and have helped plan our natives garden that will attract butterflies, bees, other beneficials and hummingbirds. CNPS's collaborative role in Calscape is monumental. Excellent organization for supporting habitat reatoration one home garden at a time. Great also for organic gardening. CNPS is simply the best!

CNPS was instrumental in getting me to a nearly water free front yard. After taking out over 1000 sq feet of grass, they helped me to learn about the new, Native plants I should be growing.

California Native Plant Society is an exceptionally informative and supportive group, focused primarily on education and real outreach. They assist in everything from identifying plants on social media, to consulting with land use planners on best practices to maintain or restore native habitats. Their reach goes far beyond just plants, because when native plant habitats are preserved, whole areas and ecosystems are preserved. CNPS is non-judgmental and always mindful that they operate in the real world. They have become an excellent resource and community to thousands, and will continue to grow in importance as pressures increase on native ecosystems.

The California Native Plant Society works to preserve the flora of our wild spaces, and in today's world of invasive weeds, that work is so important. People are becoming complacent and accepting of the hodgepodge of invasive weeds in our wild places and are often not even aware that they are not native. I've been tending an ecological restoration plot on West Cliff Drive, a scenic coastal walk in Santa Cruz popular with locals and tourists alike. When I chat with passers by, I find they are not even aware that the smothering blanket of ice plant is an invasive exotic plant from South Africa - planted in a bad mistake made many years ago. Along West Cliff Drive there are virtually no other plants growing on the bluffs. Without native flora, many native insects can't breed. Without insects - no birds - it's all a web that starts with soil, and includes all living things - take away any key component and we can have ecological disaster. CNPS champions our amazing and varied flora - over 7,000 native species - and seeks to protect areas where rare plants grow. I've volunteered with CNPS for a few years now and stepped up to local chapter board a couple years ago. I enjoy the guided hikes, the propagation group and the great resources about gardening with natives. It's a wonderful organization full of hardworking and committed individuals, and I encourage all people living in California to join.

My work with CNPS began some three years ago, when my curiosity and interest in California native plants put me in contact with local CNPS members conducting field trips in the Sierra foothills region.

At first, my activity consisted of attending field trips and meetings of various speakers, and occasionally helping out on service projects like invasive plant removal. However, my activity with the group soon escalated as I discovered how serious and dedicated a group of people was the local chapter, and in less than a year I found myself assisting in a summer-long project with two professional botanists on an extensive lava cap plant community survey throughout the Eldorado National Forest, a scientific project that led to my own photo project on native plants in our region that has now had three exhibitions of the work.

While my work and respect for the local group and individuals deepened, I came into direct contact with the state organization of CNPS, and soon discovered that my experience in the local chapter was a reflection of the mission and goals, as well as dedication, of the state organization and staff, that have a proud history of informational, scientific, and advocacy work on behalf of California's native flora. From educating gardeners throughout the state about how to incorporate native plants into their landscape, to directing and carrying out sophisticated computer mapping surveys of California native vegetation in conjunction with various state agencies, to publication of scientific as well as popular books on native flora, CNPS provides a broad support structure for people working professionally "in the field" as well as people like myself, working in their own backyards and local forests or deserts to protect, identify, use or grow our native plant heritage.

Without CNPS, a great deal more of California's often rare and unique plants would have been lost to ignorance, development, carelessness and lack of understanding and education. But because of CNPS, California is able to share with the world it's uniquely diverse floral heritage with future generations. There is no other organization in our state that covers such a range of activity, both general public and scientific, on behalf of our native flora, and CNPS is in fact a model for similar work in other states and regions in our nation, perhaps the world.

Our plants, and our future, would be even more endangered without it.

This is an almost 50 year old conservation organization which strives to protect native plants throughout California. It is science based and has developed a listing of rare and endangered plants which are used by many other people and organizations. It has a large volunteer base. It has well respected programs to teach children about nature. There are 34 local chapters and many of those have free educational programs to teach people about California native and why it is important to protect them.

CNPS provides the support I need to grow my landscaping business with native plants of California, many of which are endangered. The public has shown increasing support to landscaping with the incredible diversity of species native to California, and the results are spectacular. It is a revolution of how we manage the land, and I see great future for the society. Their field trips have inspired me and connected me with valuable networks in the profession I am passionate about. They are very active with their members and I appreciate their workshops and outreach efforts.

As a botanist and Environmental Consultant in California, I have worked with CNPS information and programs for over 20years. Their work to classify native CA plants and communities and evaluate threats and risks is outstanding. What CNPS does is essential to applying CA's legal protection to natural resources through the CEQA and federal regulations such as the NEPA and the ESA. CNPS also has good programs for public awareness, landscaping with natives, habitat restoration, and many more. The close connections between local chapters and state CNPS works well to ensure the entire state and all audiences have the most useful help.

I've also worked in other western US states and can compare the high quality of CNPS very favorably with what exists ( or doesn't) elsewhere. During my time working with CNPS, I've seen their publications go from text only computer print outs of lists and tables (in the 1980s) to color photo filled books of great value to both lay and professional users. Nothing is glossy just for cosmetic value; these quality publications serve both professionals and gardeners, and help hikers identify the rare plants encountered. Considering the myriad habitat types and large number of vegetation resources in CA, this undertaking requires enormous efforts and close attention.

I don't know how Environmental Consultants, botanists and other plant scientists could conduct their work in CA without the vast resources of CNPS. I know that our rare plants and plant communities would be greatly diminished, many extirpated or extinct, without the advocacy and programs of CNPS.

I have been a member of CNPS for many years. They have inspired me to make over my garden with native plants. CNPS provides any and all the information I could possibly need, first hand or through links to relevant partners. Books, maps, seminars, lectures, regular meetings, dedicated nurseries are all available to members and often to the community at large. Annual native garden tours are a wealth of information not only for help in choosing appropriate plants but also for ideas for infrastructure utilizing solar, eco-irrigation/graywater, insect and fauna habitat etc. One has immediate contact and conversation with local experts in these fields.
Their educational outreach in the realm of local political, community and land-use concerns is most comprehensive and effective.

CA Native Plant Society's plant sales and educational events are helping a lot of Californians including myself learn about and plant California native plants. Great way to save water and money as a homeowner. Great for the environment and native birds of California! Their work helps to counter the the effects of the disappearing landscape brought on by development.

I had a lot of fun on a CNPS Rare Plant Treasure Hunt and learned so much. It is great to know that a hike can contribute to environmental conservation in California.

CNPS provides a full range of information about native plants, for everyone from the novice newby to the experienced professional. They support and promote the kind of on-the-ground scientific research that's desperately needed in today's rapidly changing world. I've learned a lot by being a CNPS member, and I'm glad to share my knowledge with others in the CNPS community.

The native plant society provided practical pictures and information to help you grow and enjoy our California native plants. The native plants are important so that we can provide habitat for our native animal species. Now I have tons of life teaming in my yard.

I've been volunteering with CNPS since 2005 and have learned so much and met tons of interesting, bright and dedicated people who love the natural world. CNPS at the state level does a lot of valuable work in state-wide vegetation mapping, conservation, education/outreach and rare plant research, working together with state and federal agencies. Each local chapter also has its own activities such as outreach events, field trips, educational grants, plant sales, speakers, gardening symposiums and more.
Chapters draw members with a variety of interests, - from native plant gardening to botany to conservation to just enjoying being out in and learning about nature.

This organization is composed of people passionate about protecting native plants and their habitats and promoting their use in horticulture. Each chapter has their legends about the vitality and eccentricities of their core volunteers who accomplish an incredible amount of productive and scientific work to fulfill the goals of the society. The staff (few as they are) are amazingly resourceful and attentive to the needs of their members as well as to the future of the society. Native plants, unlike wildlife, have few legal protections from destruction, but CNPS does its best to give them status, including developing and updating the comprehensive rare plant inventory that is universally used by botanists and ecologists to assess species rareity. I'm always amazed that so few active CNPS people can do so much! My one complaint is that the society is not well known by the general public.

The CNPS fills a vital role in conservation of native plants and landscapes in California. They are active in education, advocacy, research, publications, and volunteer efforts throughout the state. I have been extremely impressed by the professionalism of the staff and volunteer chapter members, as well as the feeling of all-inclusiveness and high standards to scientific inquiry that they maintain. I have been a member of other state native plant societies. CNPS is extremely active, especially in working to protect sensitive plants and habitats via education, legislation, and advocacy, including working with other advocacy groups. It is imperative to help fund their work to maintain a strong CNPS presence in the state.

This group gets it about having both very active, local chapters focused on local matters; and a statewide organization that works for common interests for the state. It is an effective organization in its goals of education and conservation both at the local and statewide level. It can also be a lot of fun.

I attended the terrific conference in Sacramento (on my own nickel) and found it well worthwhile. Much useful information, and I enjoyed the speakers Ringo and Hopper. Couldn't attend the evening banquet due to lousy public transport in Sacramento. I am a retired plant breeder, recently moved to the Big Valley (Lodi area) from the Monterey Bay. Thanks for a great conference, though a bit pricey for those of us with no sponsor. I will be working with invasive plant issues on the Mokelumne River and the Cosumnes, being a docent in the Lodi Lake Natural Area, doing water-saving workshops in our local nursery, trying to help out. Thanks for a great conference. Only comments: education outreach for native habitat gardens, through parks and schools, need to be enhanced. Count me in! Josie C can contact me any time for help in this, my services are Free! I also am a speaker for the Calif. Invasive Plant Council, and am available for any sort of visit to do the excellent powerpoint that they have provided.