FLORIDA CONSERVATION GROUP
The Florida Native Plant Society’s mission is to champion Florida’s native plants and their habitats.
WHY?
We are all interconnected and interdependent.
Click HERE to watch a 4 minute video of Doug Tallamy explaining the interconnection of native plants to our native ecosystems.
Native plants are essential to the health and resilience of Florida’s natural ecosystems. They’ve evolved over thousands of years to thrive in local soils and climates, forming the foundation of the food web and supporting the animals, fungi, and microorganisms that also call Florida home.
Unlike non-native or ornamental species, native plants provide the specific food and shelter that local wildlife—including birds, bees, butterflies, moths, frogs, lizards, gopher tortoises, and even mammals like rabbits, foxes, raccoons, and bats—need to survive and reproduce. Many species, especially pollinators and insect-eating birds, are directly dependent on native plants for part or all of their life cycles.
Most native insects cannot digest non-native plants due to evolutionary specialization and plant chemical defenses. Over 90% of plant-eating insects are host plant specialists, meaning they have evolved to feed on a narrow range of native plants and lack the ability to process the novel chemical defenses found in non-native species. Non-native plants are like plastic to most local insects.
Beyond supporting wildlife, native plants also stabilize soil, reduce erosion, filter stormwater, and improve water quality. Because they are well-adapted to Florida’s environment, they typically require less irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides, which reduces pollution and conserves resources.
In a time of rapid development, habitat loss, and climate pressure, native plants play a critical role in conserving Florida’s natural heritage, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining healthy landscapes—for wildlife and for people.
Our Values:
Learning – Expanding our collective knowledge of native plants, landscapes, and habitats in Florida.
Accuracy – Anchoring our work in science, research, and fact-based information.
Enthusiasm - Cultivating excitement and love for native plants and their habitats.
Inclusivity – Becoming stronger as a whole because we welcome and embrace all people.
Integrity – Holding ourselves consistently accountable to high standards in all our endeavors.
Stewardship – Responsibly acting as the voice for conserving & restoring native plants and their habitats.
Sustainability – Operating in ways that minimize harm to our natural environment.
Community - Fostering collaborations and nurturing productive relationships that connect to our native plant heritage and FNPS.
The local Palm Beach County Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is a conservation group that meets for educational programs and plant drawings.
We also explore our Natural Areas (scroll down for more info) and host special events, such as our Annual Native Garden Tours, Native Plant Expo, and Native Plant Giveaways.
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Meeting Information:
531 N Military Trl, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Third Tuesday of most months - see calendar for dates and speakers.
6:30pm-9pm
6:30pm - Mingle with plant nerds, experts, and visiting nursery folks. Ask questions, check out plants, share stories, make friends.
7pm - Speaker Program
8:15pm - Rundown and description of plants available for the evening
8:40 - PLANT DRAWING
Meetings are FREE to attend. Bring a friend!
Our chapter's goal is to preserve, conserve, and restore the native plants and native plant communities of Florida. And so we learn about various topics related to native plants, including their importance in providing native habitats, promoting biodiversity, and carving the pathway to sustainability. Check out our calendar to see our upcoming speakers and topics.
Whether you're a seasoned native expert, or just starting your journey, our meetings offer something for everyone.
Learn from experienced members of our community who will share valuable insights on getting involved in conservation, exploring our Natural Areas, and creating your own sustainable garden. Connect with fellow environmental advocates and native plant professionals, exchange ideas, ask questions, and gain inspiration.
Our popular native plant drawing follows the speaker program. This is a great way to learn from our knowledgeable members who share their expertise on specific native plants in hand, and it’s an opportunity to add hard-to-find plants to your own landscape.
Don't miss the chance to connect with like-minded individuals; these meetings are a fantastic opportunity for champions of nature to gather and share their love for native plants, wildlife, and gardening.
All are welcome. We embrace diversity, knowing our community is stronger when it includes many voices, backgrounds, and perspectives.
Also, we have snacks!
***EVENTS***
NEXT CHAPTER MEETING:
TUESDAY, February 17, 2025
6:30pm
"How to Maintain Your Native Garden"
with Jeff Nurge
Did your native plants shiver through that recent cold snap? Wondering what to prune, what to leave alone, and what’s actually thriving? We’ve got you covered!
We will take a look at the various native plants and discuss some of the most commonly recommended maintenance procedures to ensure the appearance and health of your yard using native plants of South Florida.
SPEAKER BIO:
Jeff Nurge is the owner and founder of Florida Native Gardening, a company devoted to the practices of consulting and creating sustainable landscapes through the selection of local indigenous plants and the placement of those plants in appropriate sites to support the native species of birds, insects and animals.
In another endeavor, Native Choice Nursery was opened for retail business twelve years ago to cater to the growing demand of individual homeowners looking for a more responsible way to landscape their yards. Over 150 species of native plants are on display and offered for sale at the nursery so as to better educate the public of the wide variety of Florida native plants that are available.
Jeff has been a South Florida resident for over 50 years. He is a Master Gardener graduate (2009) and current Director at Large for the Palm Beach County’s chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Jeff is also on the Board of Keep Palm Beach Beautiful. Both non-profit’s that promote environmentally friendly practices. An informative website devoted to promoting Florida friendly landscapes at www.nativechoicenursery.com. was created to bring the necessary tools for homeowners to make informed choices as to how and where to plant Florida native plants in their landscapes.
Jeff is a public speaker and promoter of native plants giving lectures to Local Garden Clubs, Master Gardener classes and Mounts Botanical Garden educational series courses. Topics including: “Butterflies and their connections to plants in South Florida”, “How to create and maintain a native plant landscape” and “The selection, care and use of Florida native trees-Right Tree Right Place”.
Also, Jeff was a contributing writer for the Palm Beach Post Newspaper, having written over 60 articles in an ongoing series of columns called “Native Roots” which monthly highlighted one specific South Florida native plant and their attributes. Jeff also was a contributing writer for the Sun Sentinel, writing a 9 part series on butterflies of South Florida and their native host plants.
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PLEASE LABEL & BAG YOUR DONATION PLANTS IN ADVANCE.
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CONSERVATION WALKS & BOTANIZING AT OUR
Our monthly conservation and botanizing walks focus on discovery and identification of south Florida native plants in their natural habitats. Botanizing with us is an excellent way to explore our county's beautiful Natural Areas, ask experts questions, and learn from fellow wildlife champions. These leisurely walks are led by PBC Master Gardeners and FNPS heroes, Julia Renninger and Helen Laurence.
Botanizing is limited to 16 people. Membership is encouraged, but not required. Parking is usually limited - arrive early, and/or check online for overflow parking options in advance.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Click HERE to learn more about Palm Beach County's Natural Areas and the County's Environmental Resources Management.
SIGN UP FOR BOTANIZING FIELD TRIPS:
Saturday February 14, 2026
FRENCHMAN'S FOREST
11AM – 1PM
11AM – 1PM
Saturday, March 21, 2026
HYPOLUXO, FL
DETAILS TO COME...
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NATIVE PLANT DEMO GARDEN
Looking to volunteer with us at our Demo Garden at Mounts Botanical Garden?
This is a great opportunity to help keep our educational demo garden in shape and to collect cuttings for your own native landscape!
Our monthly garden maintenance meet up is the second Saturday of each month, from 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at our native plant demonstration garden next to the MBG Clayton Hutchinson building.
To get there, take Military Trail to Golf Rd and proceed to the rear entrance of MBG. We've arranged for the gate to be open so you will be able to park in the lot near the demo garden.
Don't forget to bring your pruning shears and a container for cuttings.
Please sign up with Angela directly at 561-309-3877.
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Loooking for volunteer opportunities? Does your teen need volunteer hours for high school graduation? Looking to get involved in other ways?
Send us a message! We'd LOVE and APPRECIATE for you to join us!
Click HERE to submit a volunteer form.
email: palmbeachfnps@gmail.com
(561)285-7213
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© 2020 Palm Beach County Chapter, Florida Native Plant Society