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.

Field trip at Todd Gulch Fen
CoNPS booth at Boulder's Farmers Market

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

native plant summit speakers
a photo of a subalpine delphinium plant with a whitelined sphinx Moth

Learn About our Plants & Habitats

Find out more about the diversity of our plant life zones and the native (and non-native) plants that thrive in each one.

Colorado Native Species to Discover

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.

CONPS Blog

Edible, Medical and Useful Plants

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

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 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...