Welcome to the Colorado Native Plant Society!
We are dedicated to the preservation of native plants in Colorado, and are so glad you found us! Browse our site to see what’s new, discover a wealth of information about our plants and habitats, events and chapters in your area, methods for native plant gardening, and ways to volunteer ‘in the field’.
Become a Member
Discover the benefits of membership in the Colorado Native Plant Society.
Join a Local Chapter
Connect with fellow nature lovers in your immediate area, and find out how you can help preserve our native plants.
CONPS Chapters for Local Connection
Find an Event
See our Calendar of Events to find a gathering or field trip near you!
Events Per Year
Learn About our Plants & Habitats
Find out more about the diversity of our plant zones and the native (and non-native)plants that thrive in each one.
Colorado Native Species to Discover
CONPS News
Specialist Pollinators
Specialist Pollinators! One example of many specialists includes the squash bee. Colorado has a native squash called Buffalo Gourd- Cucurbita foetidissima. This native plant gets pollinated ONLY by squash bees in the genera Peponapis and Xenoglossa. I have never been...
Edible, Medical and Useful Plants
Bob Kennemer acquired more than a casual taste for collecting edible, medicinal, and useful plants soon after leaving the University in Denver when he attended the legendary National Outdoors Leadership School (NOLS). Considered the Harvard of outdoor schools, NOLS...
The Art and Science of Nature Journaling
Editor’s note: The author of this post will be leading a field trip on nature journaling at our 2021 Annual Conference in Trinidad! Nature Journaling can mean something different to each person who practices it. There are numerous approaches for both teaching and...
Wild Bergamot: Commonly Extraordinary
Wild bergamont (Monarda fistulosa) attracts an Aphrodite fritillary butterflyWild Bergamot is abundantly in bloom right now, covering the hills with exuberant bursts of purple, scenting the air nearby with gentle fragrance, and generously providing nectar to a variety...
Ground Nesting Bees
While hiking near Bonanza, Colorado we found a large nest of ground nesting native bees. This is always a very exciting thing to observe. They fly so fast and dive into the holes they have dug. Some are still digging, some are stuffing pollen and nectar...
Hummingbirds Love Penstemons!
Several species of hummingbirds migrate from Mexico and South America to Colorado in the spring each year. They are especially attracted to red flowers. Adding red penstemon to your garden such as Penstemon barbatus is essential for hummingbirds! Penstemon...
Aquilegia – The CONPS Magazine
CoNPS’ Aquilegia Magazine was first published in January 1977 after the first CoNPS board meeting. The magazine has been published quarterly from that date to the present.
In 2013 the magazine’s editor Jan Turner moved from the previous printed black and white format to a full-color on-line edition through our CoNPS website. Limited copies were still printed with a color cover only for members who preferred a printed copy.
Members have FREE access to digital subscriptions after logging in.
Print copies are available to everyone for $20.
We are a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the knowledge, appreciation and conservation of native plants and habitats of Colorado through education, stewardship and advocacy.
Administration – Virtual Office
1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 911
Denver, Co 80202
Programs HQ & Store
704 East Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
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Contact the CoNPS Team
Administration (virtual office)
1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 911
Denver, Co 80202
Programs HQ & Store
704 East Boulder Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903