The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) is a non-profit organization formed in 1980. Its mission is to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.
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 FNPS, with over 400 members, is the state's largest and holds monthly meetings and field trips, workshops, special events and volunteer work days. It was established in 1990.
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. PCFNPS 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.
- Monthly field trips for viewing native plants and plant communities, and enjoying Southwest Florida's environment 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 demonstrations 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 promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida.”
- 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 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 FNPS for all the benefits of state FNPS and chapter membership, including the knowledge that you are supporting native plants and native plant communities!