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

Solidago sempervirens (seaside goldenrod), Common buckeye butterfly (Junonia coenia), 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

Join us for our first virtual program

November 21, 1:00 – 2:30

Enhancing Delaware Highways: Lessons from the Roadside

Dr. Sue Barton from the University of Delaware will address strategies for managing landscapes sustainably and provide guidelines for promoting native plants and combating invasive plants in public and private spaces.

Happy Fall

Salicornia ambigua (perennial glasswort), Jamestown, RI. Growing in a saltmarsh beside an ocean beach. October 4, 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.

Events/Programs Update

As our highest priority continues to be the health of our members, volunteers and friends we are not offering live programs at this time.  The events listed on our programs page are virtual.

Be sure to check out our recent blog items or out our self guided walks. or  Partner Page for links to organizations with conservation lands.   Focused on you own garden?  See our planting resources. which includes information on sustainable gardening practices for the fall.

Upcoming Events

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Wed 28

Nature’s Best Hope – Talk by Doug Tallamy ONLINE

April 28 - December 31

Recent RIWPS News

RIWPS Sponsors Another Pollinator Garden

RIWPS has sponsored another pollinator garden this year at the Roger Williams National Historic Park in downtown Providence.  The park has a visitor center and facilities office on North Main Street. 
Read more

RIWPS First Online Plant Sale – Much Thanks

RIWPS's first online plant sale is over, plants have been picked up and we hope are settling into gardens throughout our region. Thank you to all who supported our sale and brought 1600 plants into our communities.  
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.