Center for Plant Conservation

Center for Plant Conservation Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Center for Plant Conservation, Nonprofit Organization, 36068 Hidden Springs Road, Suite C 1040, Wildomar, CA.

CPC is advancing rare plant conservation through collaboration, science-based best practices, and free educational resources at SavePlants.org.

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Meet our newest , Serpent fern (Deparia kaalaana)!Deparia is a genus of about 50 species of ferns, commonly known as fa...
09/04/2026

Meet our newest , Serpent fern (Deparia kaalaana)!

Deparia is a genus of about 50 species of ferns, commonly known as false spleenworts. In its native habitat, Serpent fern can be found on rocks along stream-beds in wet forests. Historically, this Deparia species is endemic specifically to the islands of Kaua`i, Maui, and Hawaii. However, if observed today, it is predicted to only be found on the island of Maui as it has not been documented from Kauai and Hawaii since the early 1900's.

Unfortunately, the Serpent fern is ranked GH by NatureServe and it is considered possibly extinct in the wild.

Serpent fern is stewarded in CPC's National Collection by Conservation Partner Lyon Arboretum - University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Efforts to harvest plants from collected spores were too old to successfully reproduce and no gemmae was found on fronds to attempt reproduction by those means. Tissue cultures at the Lyon Arboreturm Micropropagation Laboratory on O`ahu may provide new spores for future reproduction. The Olinda Rare Plant Facility, a conservation nursery on Maui, is in the process of growing these ferns in their nurseries.

➡️ In Module VIII of CPC's Applied Plant Conservation Course, you’ll be introduced to the essential principles and practices of propagating rare plants for conservation purposes — with multiple lessons highlighting special considerations needed for unique plant groups, like ferns!

🔗 The APCC is a free public resource. Enroll today at: SavePlants.org/courses

📷 Photo Credit: Hank Oppenheimer
Image Description: Deparia kaalaana.

In CPC’s latest issue of Save Plants news, we’re highlighting the important partnership between San Diego Botanic Garden...
09/03/2026

In CPC’s latest issue of Save Plants news, we’re highlighting the important partnership between San Diego Botanic Garden and the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians, whose work to conserve native oak species threatened by goldspotted oak borer beetles (GSOB) demonstrates the power of collaboration rooted in shared knowledge and stewardship of the land.

In the more than 20 years since GSOB was introduced to the region, these beetles have caused extensive mass mortality among native oak species. Through shared nursery space, interpretive programming, and collaborative engagement with Tribal Nations and regional land managers, conservation organizations can help communicate the interconnected challenges facing oak woodlands while highlighting pathways toward stewardship rooted in both contemporary scientific understanding and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK).

➡️ Thank you to the authors of this feature: Kekoa Cantwell, Tribal Climate Resilience Specialist, Department of Science and Conservation, San Diego Botanic Garden () & Joelene Tamm, Natural Resources Director, La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians; M.S. Student, University of California, Riverside

🔗 Read more about this important partnership in our most recent Save Plants news digest: SavePlants.org/save-plants-august-2026-newsletter

📷 Photo Credit: Joelene Tamm
Image Description: An adult goldspotted oak borer photographed on a coast live oak leaf. The out-of-focus D-shaped exit hole visible on the oak trunk in the background is a diagnostic indicator of beetle activity, created when newly emerged adults exit infested trees.

At CPC, we believe advocacy begins with education and outreach. At SavePlants.org, you'll find free public resources for...
09/02/2026

At CPC, we believe advocacy begins with education and outreach. At SavePlants.org, you'll find free public resources for the advancement of rare plant conservation science, including professional development tools and conservation science lessons for all skill levels — plus beautiful photos and profiles of rare plants in their habitats!

Where can you get started?

🌱 Use our Rare Plant Finder tool to discover imperiled species in your region — and the botanical institutions within CPC's network that are working to preserve them for future generations.

🌱 Help secure crucial conservation funding by sponsoring a rare plant in CPC's National Collection or making a donation to support CPC's mission and initiatives.

🌱 Learn about essential conservation topics in CPC's Rare Plant Academy and Video Library containing informative and educational videos from leading experts.

🌱 Sign up for our newsletters to receive updates about critical conservation work being done by CPC's Conservation Partners, or read our latest Save Plants news digest.

🌱 Visit CPC's Advocacy page to learn more about what is being done to protect imperiled plants across North America.

🔗 SavePlants.org/advocacy

📷 Photo Credit: Tim Sisneros
Image Description: Xylorhiza cognata

CPC works to save plants—specifically rare plants. This we're asking: what makes a plant rare? In 1981, Ecologist Debo...
09/01/2026

CPC works to save plants—specifically rare plants. This we're asking: what makes a plant rare?

In 1981, Ecologist Deborah Rabinowitz described seven forms of rarity, each depending on geographical distribution, habitat specificity, and/or local population size.

A plant can be broadly distributed over a wide range, but still be rare because it occurs only in specialized habitats and has small populations, as with the pictured Climbing Vine Fern (Microgramma heterophylla).

Very narrow range-endemics are also often very rare, such as the Cliff-palace Milkvetch (Astragalus deterior), a narrow endemic restricted to specific soil and geologic conditions found only on the south rim of Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park.

Still others may have populations of large numbers, such as San Diego Thornmint (Acanthomintha ilicifolia) with a few populations reaching tens of thousands in good years, but is restricted to specific habitats in a small area—in this case, the clay soils in coastal San Diego county.

The reason why a plant is rare relates to its biogeographical history and the threats it has faced, including broad distributions now fragmented due to habitat destruction. Other species are naturally rare, meaning they never had a broad distribution or large numbers of individuals, and thus may be more susceptible to unpredictable and catastrophic events.

NatureServe, a CPC network partner, gathers information on plants throughout their range to evaluate their rarity and the degree of threat they face. They have developed a consistent method for evaluating the imperilment of a species, ranging from critically imperiled to demonstrably secure. CPC uses NatureServe's conservation status rankings to track and target species for the CPC National Collection, with our main focus being G1 (critically imperiled globally) and G2 (imperiled globally) ranked species. These statuses are especially useful to help prioritize resources for conservation work.

🔗 We invite you to learn more about the species in CPC's National Collection: SavePlants.org/national-collection

📷 Photo Credit: J. Possley
Image Description: Climbing Vine Fern (Microgramma heterophylla)

CPC is honored to announce that we have partnered with the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a joint initiative of bio...
09/01/2026

CPC is honored to announce that we have partnered with the Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a joint initiative of biodiversity conservation organizations from around the world dedicated to preventing extinctions by identifying and safeguarding key sites — some of which are the last remaining refuges of one or more Endangered or Critically Endangered species.

Many of the rare and imperiled species that CPC and its Network of Conservation Partners conserve as part of the CPC National Collection are of One Known Occurrence or exist in specialized geographic regions featuring multiple endangered species. This partnership further strengthens CPC’s ability to share best practices, contribute conservation expertise, and advocate for stronger protections for rare plants worldwide.

AZE engages national and regional governments, multilateral institutions, local and Indigenous communities, and non-governmental biodiversity conservation organizations working to prevent species extinctions. We invite you to learn more about AZE on their website: https://zeroextinction.org/the-alliance/about-the-alliance

To stay up to date on critical conservation initiatives within CPC's network, subscribe to our Save Plants news!

🔗 Read our most recent newsletter on our website: SavePlants.org/news

📷 Photo Credit: Bart O'Brien, courtesy of Regional Parks Botanic Garden.
Image Description: The endangered Vine Hill clarkia (Clarkia imbricata).

Registration is now open for the U.S. Action Plan for Plant Conservation Summit!Join plant conservation leaders and prac...
08/31/2026

Registration is now open for the U.S. Action Plan for Plant Conservation Summit!

Join plant conservation leaders and practitioners from across the United States for the 2026 U.S. Action Plan for Plant Conservation Summit: Adapting and Implementing the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation for Botanic Gardens.

➡️ October 28–29, 2026
➡️ Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri
➡️ Registration: $125, includes all summit sessions, lunch on both days, refreshments transportation to and from Embassy Suites St. Louis Downtown, and admission to the Missouri Botanical Garden.
➡️ In-person only

During this collaborative two-day summit, participants will review, refine, and commit to shared actions that will guide measurable progress toward the 2030 targets of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation.

The Summit is open to anyone interested in contributing to the development of the Action Plan. Registration closes October 5, 2026.

Can't attend the Summit in person? You can still contribute to the development of the U.S. Action Plan for Plant Conservation. If you would like to stay informed, provide input, and receive an invitation to a virtual follow-up meeting, please email [email protected]

🔗 Register today: https://bit.ly/4pSCHcb
🔗 Learn more about the U.S. Action Plan: https://bit.ly/4pRJ9jx

Convened by: Missouri Botanical Garden, American Public Gardens Association, Botanic Gardens Conservation International U.S., U.S. Botanic Garden, and Center for Plant Conservation.

📷 Photo Credit: Sonnia Hill, Oklahoma Grass-pink (Calopogon oklahomensis)

The mariposa lily is a flower of resilience — blooming year after year in even the most challenging landscapes, symboliz...
08/30/2026

The mariposa lily is a flower of resilience — blooming year after year in even the most challenging landscapes, symbolizing legacy and continuity. Its return each season reminds us that with care and protection, life endures.

At the Center for Plant Conservation (CPC), we invite you to let your values bloom for generations by joining The Mariposa Lily Society — our special recognition group for those who include CPC in their estate plans.

August is make-a-will month, but planning for the future can happen at any time. Planned Giving is a way to support the causes you care about through your estate plans. In addition to supporting long-term conservation efforts, your gift becomes a lasting symbol of your commitment to protecting nature.

Plant the seeds of tomorrow — join The Mariposa Lily Society and let your love of nature bloom forever.

🔗 Learn more: SavePlants.org/planned-giving

📷 Photo Credit: Joe Davitt
Image Description: Dunn's mariposa lily (Calochortus dunnii)

Meet the Compact cobweb thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. compactum), a T2-Imperiled species endemic to San Luis Obispo ...
08/29/2026

Meet the Compact cobweb thistle (Cirsium occidentale var. compactum), a T2-Imperiled species endemic to San Luis Obispo County, California, and a focal species of the California Plant Rescue (CaPR). This native biennial herb blooms pink-purple flowers from April to June and is found along the coast on dunes in grassland and scrub. Unfortunately, this rare beauty is threatened by habitat loss, but in 2025, CaPR partner Santa Barbara Botanic Garden made two collections of Compact cobweb thistle from its native habitat to help safeguard this species from extinction.

CaPR is a collaborative network of not-for-profit botanical institutions focused on conserving the flora of the state of California. United under CPC’s best practices, CaPR works collaboratively to ensure all the plant diversity of California is conserved in ex situ collections. We invite you to learn more about CaPR and the rare plant species we are safeguarding from extinction!

This important partnership is just one of many initiatives you can learn about on CPC's digital home at SavePlants.org.

🔗 Visit: SavePlants.org/california-plant-rescue

📷 Photo Credit: Daniel Hetzel
Image Description: Cirsium occidentale var. compactum in situ in California.


The August edition of CPC’s Save Plants Newsletter is now live!Across the CPC Network of Conservation Partners and the b...
08/28/2026

The August edition of CPC’s Save Plants Newsletter is now live!

Across the CPC Network of Conservation Partners and the broader conservation community, diverse partnerships are bringing together knowledge, expertise, resources, and perspectives to advance plant conservation and amplify what we can accomplish collectively.

What you’ll find in this issue of Save Plants:

🌿 Learn about the partnership between San Diego Botanic Garden and the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians to conserve oak species threatened by goldspotted oak borer beetles

🌿 Meet CPC’s New Trustees

🌿 Celebrate CPC Co-founder Dr. Don Falk’s election as a Fellow of the Ecological Society of America

🌿 Learn about CPC’s new partnership with the Alliance for Zero Extinction

🌿 And more!

Together, these efforts reflect something at the heart of CPC’s work: when we connect people and organizations with a shared commitment to plant conservation, we strengthen the collective impact of our community.

🔗 Read our latest Save Plants news: SavePlants.org/save-plants-august-2026-newsletter

📷 Photo Credit: Rebecca Sucher
Image Description: Our National Collection spotlight species, Pyne's ground-plum (Astragalus bibullatus).

In honor of National Parks Week, today's is Cape Sable thoroughwort (Chromolaena frustrata), a G1- Critically Imperile...
08/28/2026

In honor of National Parks Week, today's is Cape Sable thoroughwort (Chromolaena frustrata), a G1- Critically Imperiled and federally endangered member of the Asteraceae family.

Cape Sable thoroughwort is a narrow South Florida endemic, with fewer than 6,700 plants known to exist in seven areas: Everglades National Park, Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, Lignumvitae Key, Long Key, Big Munson Island, and Boca Grande Key. It grows in open canopy habitats, including coastal berms and coastal rock barrens, and in semi-open to closed canopy habitats, including buttonwood forests, coastal hardwood hammocks, and rockland hammocks.

The number of individuals in the wild is declining, and the species is severely threatened by loss of habitat, fragmentation of populations, and invasion of exotic plants, as well as possible loss of entire populations in a catastrophic event. It once ranged widely in the Florida Keys, and is now known there only from a few small sites. On the mainland, it had several historical localities, and is now known from just one site.

Cape Sable thoroughwort is stewarded within CPC's National Collection by Conservation Partner Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (). In coordination with the Florida Plant Rescue, a collaborative state-wide seed collection initiative, Fairchild held 6 accessions totaling approximately 1,405 seeds representing 84 maternal lines as of 2023.

We invite you to learn more about this important collaboration and CPC Conservation Partners at the forefront of FLPR.

🔗 Visit SavePlants.org/florida-plant-rescue

📷 Photo Credit: 1) Keith Bradley, iNaturalist; 2) US Fish and Wildlife Service; 3) : J Possley; 4) dakoda, iNaturalist
Image Description: Cape Sable thoroughwort (Chromolaena frustrata)

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36068 Hidden Springs Road, Suite C 1040
Wildomar, CA
92595

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