The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is a non-profit organization formed in 1980. Its mission is to champion Florida’s native plants and their habitats.
The Society fulfills this mission through:
- Support for conservation land acquisition
- Land management that enhances habitat suitability for native plants
- Education
- Public policies that protect our native flora, especially rare species
- Research on native plant species
- Encouragement of local landscaping practices and policies that preserve Florida's native plant heritage
The Pinellas Chapter is the largest chapter of FNPS. It holds monthly meetings from September through June, and hosts field trips, workshops, special events and volunteer work days. Most activities of the chapter are open to all, regardless of FNPS membership status.
Through education and conservation activities, we promote the use of native plants in landscapes to support wildlife, enhance native biodiversity, reduce introduction of non-native pest plants and conserve water. Pinellas FNPS activities include:
- Monthly meetings where we hear entertaining and informative speakers on topics related to Florida native plants, share plants, meet other plant enthusiasts and enjoy refreshments.
- Field trips for viewing native plants and plant communities, and enjoying southwest Florida's natural resources and wildlife.
- "How-To" workshops on native plants and related gardening topics
- Tours of our member’s personal landscapes and gardens.
- Outreach at public events
- Volunteer workdays at native plant demonstration gardens, invasive plant removal and other conservation projects.
- Chapter sponsored education and restoration projects.
- Providing grants to other organizations for projects that are consistent with the Society’s mission: “to champion Florida native plants and their habitats.”
- Collaboration with other environmental organizations in support of conservation and advocacy.
FNPS holds a statewide annual conference (in a different region each year); publishes the quarterly FNPS magazine, The Palmetto, and a bimonthly e-newsletter, Sabal Minor; awards grants for research and conservation; presents awards to outstanding native plant landscaping and restoration projects; and is actively engaged in advocacy, education and critical conservation efforts.
Please join join FNPS for all the benefits of state FNPS and chapter membership, including the knowledge that you are supporting native plants and native plant communities! To receive our twice-monthly newsletter with information about upcoming chapter activities, please complete this form and we will add you to the subscription list.
