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

Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine), DMcGrady

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
We offer grants

Save the Date!

SEEDING THE FUTURE 

A Panel Discussion

 

WHEN & WHERE: Saturday, November 12, from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at the URI Pharmacy building, in Kingston.

 WHY: RIWPS is 35 years old this year, and we want to celebrate our history – and discuss where we go from here, in this era of climate change and exploding interest in native plants.

 WHO: Brian Maynard, longtime board member and professor of plant sciences at URI, will moderate a panel discussion with Lisa Gould, a founder and longtime leader of RIWPS, Uli Lorimer, horticulture director of the Native Plant Trust, and Heather McCargo, founder of the Wild Seed Project, in Maine.

More details to follow!

Sightings

Scudderia furcata (Forked-tailed bush katydid) on Minuartia glabra (Appalachian sandplant), Charlestown, RI

Doug McGrady, a RIWPS walk leader, is passionate about exploring plant communities in and close to RI. He also tracks rare and endangered plants for the Plant Conservation Volunteer Corps. Click image.

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Upcoming Events

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Recent RIWPS News

Marvin DeJong

Reseeding Rhode Island

Reseeding Rhode Island, is RIWPS new multi- year initiative to Increase substantially the availability of seeds, and plants grown from locally sourced Rhode Island native wild plant seeds.
Read more

In Memory – Janet White and Margaret (Johnny) Stone

We remember two of our long serving members.
Read more

Rites of Spring Adventure

Yes, the Trailing Arbutus was in bloom!
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!

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.