Tennessee Native Plant Society

From the Appalachian Mountains to the floodplains of the Mississippi, Tennessee’s native plant communities make this one of the most botanically diverse and interesting states in the nation. Remnant alpine and prairie plants contribute to the variety of plant communities and give wildflower enthusiasts a chance to see plants that are rare or endangered, both nationally and regionally. The beauty and habits of Tennessee’s plants fascinate professional botanists and amateurs alike.

Since our founding in 1977, the Tennessee Native Plant Society has helped nurture the growing interest in wildflowers and other native flora while also working to protect Tennessee’s native plant heritage and preserve it for future generations.

The society’s objectives include education of the public about native plants and support of efforts to protect wild plant communities. We believe that a public educated about wildflowers of the state will help to ensure the conservation of these irreplaceable resources.

Achieving Our Mission

Members include wildflower enthusiasts from all over the state who share common interests in the areas of plant identification and folklore, growing native plants from seeds and cuttings for use in naturalized landscapes, and preserving natural areas to protect plants. Our members range from professional and amateur botanists to individuals simply interested in learning about Tennessee’s diverse array of flora and unique environments.

• TNPS members meet frequently at various locations all over the state for field trips. For these trips, we rely on local amateurs and professionals who know the plants in a given area to guide us in locating the beautiful and sometimes rare native species unique to that habitat. Species identifications are shared and photos often are taken.
• Members meet annually for a conference that includes a variety of presentations and field trips to better inform us of the unique native plants and features of the area. We also provide student/teacher scholarships for attendance at various regional plant conferences. Our newsletter informs us of these TNPS activities and events, as well as rare or unique Tennessee plants that may need some level of protection.
• TNPS supports the development and publication of materials that assist in the identification and preservation of our native plants. So far this includes our identification book, Wildflowers of Tennessee, plus: Guide to the Vascular Plants of Tennessee, Woody Plants of Kentucky and Tennessee, and Tennessee Lichens. TNPS also supports the online Tennessee and Kentucky Plant Atlas.