Preserve & Protect Rhode Island’s Native Plants & Their Habitats

common winterberry (Ilex verticillata), GGardner

Our Native Plants

  • We provide opportunities to study and enjoy them.

  • We encourage and offer guidance in their cultivation and use.

  • We educate the public on their ecological and aesthetic values.

  • We support land preservation and practices fostering their natural communities.

Why native plants matter
What you can do

Calls for …

APPLICATIONS
Deadline February 28, 2021

NOMINATIONS

ANNUAL VOLUNTEER AWARD

RIWPS exists thanks to volunteers.  We are accepting nominations for the both the annual Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Service Award.  See details about these awards and previous recipients. Deadline January 30.  Send nominations to office@RIWPS.org.

2 New Programs

January 24 & February 7

Sightings

Botrychium dissectum (dissected grapefern), West Greenwich, RI. 11/08/2020

Doug McGrady, a RIWPS walk leader, is passionate about exploring plant communities in RI and neighboring states.  He also tracks rare and endangered plants as a member of the Plant Conservation Volunteer (PCV) Corps, the oldest rare plant-monitoring program in the country.

Click image more plants from Doug’s forays.

Upcoming Events

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Sat 16

Recorded Lecture: Nature’s Best Hope by Doug Tallamy

April 28, 2020 - May 1, 2021
Sat 16

Recorded Virtual Lecture – Enhancing Delaware Highways: Lessons from the Roadside

December 2, 2020 - December 2, 2021
Sun 24

RIWPS Member Book Discussion – Wilding: Returning Nature to Our Farm

January 24 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Recent RIWPS News

In Memory: Mabel “Sindy” Hempstead

In early December, at the grand age of 95, RIWPS Life member…
Read more

At Risk Plant Propagation Program

In 2019, in an effort to formalize relocation and support of rare plant species populations, the RINHS, RIWPS, and RIDEM discussed a cooperative program to propagate the seed of state listed rare plant species.
Read more

Resources

Find online resources and printed references from organizations that steward native plants, including the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, New England Wild Flower Society,  University of Rhode Island Outreach Center, Among Rhode Island Wild Flowers and, of course, RIWPS .

Grow

The Rhode Island Wild Plant Society (RIWPS) has seed starter groups in Exeter, RI (Seed Starters West) and Portsmouth, RI (Seed Starters East). Seed starters cultivate most of the plants at RIWPS plant sales.

Both groups would welcome more members. Dig in the dirt in non-gardening seasons and enjoy constantly learning about native plants! Don’t worry about the drive; many members car pool.

Explore

People of all botanical abilities are welcome at RIWPS events — beginners, experts, amateurs, and professionals. Come to enjoy and learn about wild plants.

Some RIWPS programs, especially the walks and workshops, can only accommodate a limited number of participants, however; so register early.