Who We Are

Oregon is a fantastic place to explore! Our state supports ten diverse ecoregions and more than 4,500 species of plants from the Blue Mountains to the Klamath Mountains.

We are the only organization that focuses on plants, one of the main building blocks of our natural environment. Since 1961 NPSO has been providing educational opportunities and advocating for Oregon’s native flora.  Read one story of how NPSO is replanting native species along a state highway.

Thirteen local chapters are the heart of NPSO offering a variety of informational presentations, workshops, field trips, and opportunities to be involved with Oregon’s native plants and habitats.

Field trips

One part of the NPSO mission statement is the enjoyment of Oregon’s native plants and habitats, and as such, field trips are a critical element. Our Chapters offer numerous field trips throughout the year to explore the biodiversity and natural wonders of Oregon. Socializing with people of like interests, learning and searching for little known plants, and appreciating our native habitats from the coastal headlands to the alpine meadows and old-growth forests to the high desert plateau are some of the mainstays of our organization.

Publications

Our newsletter, the Bulletin of the Native Plant Society of Oregon, is published 11 times per year providing organizational news, chapter meetings and events, articles on native plants, habitat and conservation, and reports from recipients of the NPSO field research grants. In addition, as part of our goal of collaborating with other environmental organizations and increasing educational opportunities for our members, NPSO advertises events from other non-profits in the Bulletin. An archive of the Bulletin is available on the NPSO web page.

Volume 15 of Kalmiopsis, our annual journal, contains articles on the "plant of the year" green-flowered wild ginger (Asarum wagneri), botanizing Grizzly Peak in Jackson County, early Oregon botanist Thomas Jefferson Howell and the First Pacific Northwest Flora, the little known Hinds Walnut (Juglans hindsii) in the Rogue Valley, and ferns and botanists in the Wallowa Mountains.  All of Volume 15 and past issues are available via printed copies held by libraries or separate articles and sections in PDF format on our web site (www.NPSOregon.org).

We also publish occasional papers, a series that began in 1999. Two have been published to date: the Atlas of Oregon Carex and a paper on Louis Henderson.

Events

Check www.NPSOregon.org for local chapter events such as wildflower shows, hikes, presentations, identification workshops, and weed-pulling parties.  In addition, several chapters have community native plant gardens they care for and will gladly accept volunteer help.

The 2010 Oregon Native Plant Awareness Week will be the first week of May.  It's an opportunity for local NPSO chapters to reach out to the broader public raising awareness about the importance of native plants and habitats in Oregon.

Every year NPSO members from around the state gather for an "Annual Meeting."  The 2010 Annual Meeting is being hosted by the High Desert NPSO Chapter in May near Fossil, Oregon.  We will have numerous field trips, spectacular scenery, and a plethora of plants.  It’s always fun to see old friends, meet new members, and explore another outstanding section of Oregon.