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

Common Buckeye Butterfly on Euthamia graminifolia (common grass-leaved-goldenrod, flat-top goldentop), DMcGrady

RIWPS GRANTS Applications Due 02/28/23
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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

A Panel Discussion: Seeding the Future

Watch the recording.

RIWPS is 35 years old this year. On November 12, 2022 we celebrated our history – and discussed where we go from here, in this era of climate change and exploding interest in native plants.

Thanks to our moderator, Brian Maynard, longtime RIWPS board member and professor of plant sciences at URI; our panelists, Lisa Lofland Gould, a founder and former leader of RIWPS, Uli Lorimer, horticulture director of the Native Plant Trust, Heather McCargo, founder of the Wild Seed Project, in Maine; and our host University of Rhode Island.

A multi-year RIWPS initiative to increase the availability of seeds and plants from locally sourced wild native “ecotypic” plant populations.

Follow ReSeeding RI on Instagram

Sightings

Hamamelis virginiana (American witch-hazel), Burrillville, 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.

Upcoming Events

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Recent RIWPS News

Member Helen Lusi honored!

Congratulations! Helen's love of the natural world is much appreciated!
Read more

In Memory: Russell J. Chateauneuf

Russell J. Chateauneuf, of Cranston, a member since 2014, died earlier this year.
Read more
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

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.