Letter from the Executive Director
Dear Members and Friends of the Florida Native Plant Society,
This summer, my heart is heavy
The Everglades—our river of grass, our living heritage, our ecological crown jewel—is once again under siege.This time, it’s not just water diversion or development encroachment. It’s the planned construction of a federal immigrant detention center in an area sacred to so many, including myself. I grew up with the Everglades in my backyard. It was my playground, my teacher, my sanctuary And now, I am forced to witness it being stripped and filled to cage people, people like me.This is not just about wetlands and wildlife, it’s about what kind of society we choose to build, one that protects life. It’s about whether we see our natural and cultural landscapes as resources to defend or as collateral damage.
And it’s also about hope. Because despite it all, I believe in our community. I believe in you.
Here at FNPS, we are recommitting ourselves to nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards, young people who will stand up for places like the Everglades. That’s why we’ve launched a summer fundraising campaign for our growing internship program. Our goal is to provide more paid internships for students and young professionals who want to protect and restore Florida’s native ecosystems. With your support, they’ll receive mentorship, hands-on field experience, and the chance to become the next generation of advocates, ecologists, and restoration leaders. In return, our interns will provide invaluable services such as upgrading our website and famous plant database, updating all our educational materials, writing scientific reviews on valuable topics, and creating educational illustrations.
��Tropical Milkweed Now Listed as Category II Invasive
We want all members to be aware that Asclepias curassavica, commonly known as tropical milkweed, has now been officially listed as a Category II invasive species by the Florida Invasive Species Council (FISC) as of June 2025. While it’s often planted with good intentions, by invading our natural areas and replacing necessary native plants, and by disrupting monarch migration and harboring harmful monarch parasites. Please help us spread the word and encourage others to plant native milkweed species instead. Sandhills Native Nursery is holding a BOGO native milkweed sale through 7/31 in honor of this decision. You can share our 2024 position statement on A. curassavica and this article in the Palmetto 38(4).
�� Explore Our New Bookstore
We’ve launched an FNPS storefront on Bookshop.org, curated with titles that explore native plants, environmental history, and ecological justice. Every purchase supports both our mission and independent booksellers, so your next great read also helps protect Florida’s biodiversity.
Coming Soon: The Barbara Grigg Grant
In memory of Dr. Barbara Grigg, a tireless champion for native plants, FNPS is preparing to launch a new grant program to support research in the study of bryophytes, pteridophytes, and lichens. We’ll be announcing the application process later this month. Please help us spread the word to potential applicants doing work that echoes Barbara’s legacy
August is Make-A-Will Month
Protect what you love, now and in the future. Through our partnership with FreeWill, you can write a legally valid will at no cost and include a legacy gift that ensures Florida’s native plants and ecosystems continue to thrive for generations to come. If you’ve never made a will, or need to update one, this is the perfect time to take that meaningful step.
This season, let’s root ourselves more deeply in both love and action. Let’s grieve what is already lost and let us also nurture that what still grows. Through protest and planting, through policy and poetry, through photos and fieldwork, we will continue our shared purpose: to protect Florida’s native plants and the ecosystems that sustain them.
In solidarity and stewardship, Melissa Fernandez-de Cèspedes
Notes from the Editors
While out looking at plants this time of year I always hear the echo of Susan Carr yelling "aphyll action."The nodding pale lavender flowerheads of the Rose Rush also remind me that the Texas species of this genus, Lygodesmia texana, with its very cool common name: Texas Skeleton Plant. Florida Skeleton Plant is used occasionally and is listed as a valid common name in the Flora of the Southeastern United States, though Rose Rush still eclipses it in common use. I implore you to be the change that I wish to see in the world and use the better name for this lovely NorthAmerican aster. If you aren't already familiar with this species, now is the time to take a tour of your nearest fire-maintained flatwoods - the species ranges throughout the peninsula to the eastern panhandle and up into Georgia andAlabama. It's not yet vouchered west of Gulf County. Since LoranAnderson is no longer with us someone else (you?) needs to take on the responsibility of vouchering species in overlooked counties.
I've needed some nature time watching flowerheads bob in the wind after this wild fall, spring, and summer of non-stop policy engagement. Gene has put together a thorough summary of the past few months for the upcoming issue of The Palmetto, so keep an eye on your inbox.
Above: Whirlabout (Polites vitex) on a Rose Rush (Lygodesmia aphylla), Three Lakes WMA, Osceola County. Photo by Valerie Anderson.
FNPS staff, Gene,Travis Moore, and the Policy and Legislation Committee been working hard to represent and protect you and Florida's native plants at the state and national levels, we need your support to fight the attacks on our public lands, endangered plant funding, conservation land funding, and federal environmental policy Donations are welcome and you can also leave us a review on GreatNonprofits.
-ValerieAnderson and Cherice Smithers
Society News
Get involved in the next conference!
Athena Philips, Conference Committee Chair
Planning time for the 2027 Spring Conference has arrived! For those who love this event, we seek three important elements: a venue, an artist, and a full committee.
We rely on member volunteers to bring this event to life and that starts with a chapter or chapters to host the conference. Host chapters know their region, local botanical highlights, and experts to showcase. If you can spare a few members to assist the committee and have enthusiastic members to volunteer during the event, please reach out to me about potentially bringing the conference to you.
Once a location is determined we’ll start laying out the conference vision and content. One of those early tasks is finding an artist to design a charismatic logo. If you are an artist, or you’d like to recommend someone, we’d appreciate hearing from you.
And last but certainly not least, our committee is looking for new members to help in the whole planning process and for organizers of the special conference elements like the plant sale, socials, exhibitors, publicity, CEUs, volunteer coordination, registration, author signings, youth projects, and more. If you have experience in organizing tasks like these, please let me know. If you’d like to dip your toes in and attend a planning meeting, I would be happy to include you for the next one.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Athena Philips, Conference Chair ConferenceChair@fnps.org
FNPS legends at the 2025 Conference. From left: Jackie Rolly (Tarflower), Peg Lantz (Tarflower), and Sonja Guidry (Pawpaw)
2025 FNPS Research Grants
The ScienceAdvisory Committee selected three projects to recommend for Endowment Research Grants in 2025. The recommendations were approved by the FNPS Board of Directors.These grants are funded by earnings on the FNPS Endowment and contributions by Chapters and individuals.The 2025 Research grants are going to:
Rosemary Murray and Dr. Rachel Mallinger. University of Florida, Gainesville, Entomology and Nematology Department.Abiotic and biotic factors affecting the pollination of Conradina etonia, an endangered species of scrub mint.
Milo Neelands. University of Florida, Gainesville, School of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Developing a conservation strategy for broadleaf noddingcaps.
Dr. Hector Perez and DanielAgis. University of Florida, Gainesville, Environmental Horticulture Department. Investigating seed traits of Asimina reticulata in relation to seed storage capacity.
Goodbye and good luck, LydiaArrieta!
This season’sTorreyaKeepers internship has wrapped up, and I want to thank LydiaArrieta for her excellent work!
Lydia developed a keen eye for spotting endangeredTorreya trees on our surveys this year and also helped by recruiting and wrangling volunteers, managing data, and mapping.
We had several difficult days in the field, which she happily endured despite the tough terrain, thick, thorny vegetation, and even the occasional unintended creek baptism. She was always an asset in the field.
We are excited to announce that she quickly moved on to her new position as a Senior Fisheries and WildlifeTechnician at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission!
Thank you, Lydia!Thank you, as well, to the Florida Wildflower Foundation for generously funding this internship opportunity
- Lilly Anderson-Messec, FNPS Director of North Florida Programs and Project Manager of the TorreyaKeepers Project
2025 LandscapeAwards are open!
From residential yards to commercial landscapes and from large-scale restoration sites to small-scale wildlife and butterfly gardens, FNPS encourages Chapters, community groups, businesses, professionals, government agencies, HOA's and individuals to nominate their own or others' landscapes for recognition of their efforts to celebrate and highlight the benefits of native plants.
Categories include:
Residential (Pro + Homeowner)
Commercial & Institutional
Habitat Restoration
Pollinator & Community Gardens
Win statewide recognition, media features, FNPS signs, and more!
We will be hosting a LandscapeAwards Q&Aon Friday, July 18, 2025 at noon via Zoom. Register here.
Submissions will close onAugust 1, 2025.
Please click the button below for details and to apply. If you have questions, please email landscape-awards@fnps.org
2025 LandscapeAwards
FNPS Photo Contest: Celebrating Florida’s Native Flora
Show off your photography skills and celebrate Florida’s native plants! Enter the inaugural FNPS Photo Contest and share your unique perspective on native flora and conservation.
Submit your best shots in one of six categories:
Native Plants in Their Habitat - Showcase Florida's native plants thriving in their natural environments.
Wildlife and Plant Interactions - Capture moments of wildlife engaging with Florida’s native plants.
Landscapes Featuring Native Plants - Highlight landscapes where native plants are prominent.
Artistic Interpretations - Creative compositions emphasizing the beauty of Florida’s native plants.
Advocacy inAction - Spotlight community advocacy and engagement to protect Florida’s natural areas.
Youth Category (17 and under) - Open to young photographers capturing any of the above themes.
Opens: July 15, 2025
Submission Deadline: September 15, 2025
WinnersAnnounced: October 15, 2025
Winning images will be featured in The Palmetto, on FNPS social media, and at the 2027 FNPS Conference.
All entrants will receive an FNPS sticker, and members enjoy discounted entry fees. View full contest details and enter now!
Features
Plant Profile: Bartram's Rosegentian, Sabatia decandra | Lilly Anderson-Messec
Undulating seas of pink erupt in wet ditches and flatwoods across Florida each summer. Thousands of the hot pink pinwheels of Bartram’s Rosegentian sway in the humid breeze, abuzz with busy insects looking for lunch. The flowers are perched atop tall, branched, wiry stems that sway in the wind.
It’s a showstopper from 50ft away, but the closer you look, the more entranced you will be. Like many Sabatia, the yellow base of each petal forms a star-like shape, often intricately outlined in red.Their stamens (male reproductive organs) and pistils (female reproductive organs) coil up like springs as they mature.
This species was formerly known as Sabatia bartramii, which pays homage toAmerican naturalist and botanist William Bartram, and the common name still reflects this. However, due to nomenclature revision, the species epithet was changed to decandra, which refers to the 10 petals the flower typically sports.
Deep Creek Bioblitz: Rediscovering Lost FloraAlong the Ocklawaha | Adam Arendell
In collaboration with the Free the Ocklawaha Coalition, a team representing the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS), the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), the Florida
Above, from left: Erick Revuelta (SJRWMD), 2nd Bjørn Parramoure (PLC), Adam Saffles, Connor B, Pete Johnson (Audubon), Adam Arendell (FNPS), Michael Ingram (Gnarly Nursery), Hanna Rozner-Katz (FNAI). Photo by Valerie Anderson.
NaturalAreas Inventory (FNAI), and the Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC) gathered near Deep Creek, a tributary of the Oklawaha river, to survey for rare and unique plant species not seen since the 1980’s.The Coalition’s goal is to raise awareness about the ecological damage caused by the Rodman dam, which has disrupted the natural flow of the Oklawaha river and its watershed.
The bioblitz took place on October 1, 2022, just after Hurricane Ian, which was the strongest hurricane since 2018, had weakened and moved into theAtlantic.
Deep Creek runs through privately owned land, and special access was granted from the landowner thanks to the work of Willy The Losen, CEO & Conservation Director of the Putnam Land Conservancy, who has developed trust with local landowners.
Our trip was guided in part by a 1987 ecological report by the late Bob Simons, a respected author and ecological consultant. In his extensive survey of Deep Creek, Simons described local soil types, flooding, lightning impacts, plant communities, and historical land use. He noted the residents of the area consistently refer to the stream as Cabbage Creek, a name likely derived from an extensive cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) savannah along both sides of the stream.At present, this savannah is shallowly covered by waters backed up by the Rodman Reservoir, a now-flooded portion of the Oklawaha River
Deep Creek itself is a crystal-clear, sand-bottomed stream stretching roughly 4.3 miles, fed abundantly by seepage from adjacent sandy slopes.
As we made our way through the thick tangle of Catclaw (Smilax sp.) and Muscadine (Vitis sp.) vine the floodplain opened to a new world.Ashaded and dense hardwood forest enveloped us. The towering canopy includes Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), Red Maple (Acer rubrum), GreenAsh (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) and Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) all covered in Woodvamp (Hydrangea barbara) and Eastern Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans).
The understory consists of old Walter's Viburnum (Viburnum obovatum), SmoothAlder (Alnus serrulata), Dwarf Palmetto (Sabal minor), SwampAzalea (Rhododendron serrulatum), Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) and Stiff Dogwood (Cornus foemina).
Once our eyes adjusted to the surrounding flora more unusual plants revealed themselves, such as the native Florida Yam (Dioscorea floridana) and the mysterious Virginia Snakeroot (Endodeca serpentaria).
Above: Pete Johnson looks into the canopy for birds. Photo by Valerie Anderson.
Above: Not the invasive air potato,
Left: Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) towering above the other canopy trees in Deep Creek. Photo by Connor B.
Crossing a prominent sandhill, we reached another section of Deep Creek with a strikingly different plant community This section is home to one of the southern most locations ofAtlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides). Typically found in the Florida Panhandle, the North Carolina coastal plain, and southern New Jersey, this species is a relic from a time when cooltemperate bogs with soggy acidic soils were more widespread during the last ice age.
TheAtlantic White Cedars are by far the largest and most dominant tree in this area of deep creek. It resembles a tall spruce tree. The bark has a beautiful cross hatch pattern of gray and red ridges.
Soon we found other cool-temperate plant species that are unknown from peninsular Florida. Fairy-wand (Chamaelirium luteum), Swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum) and the exquisite large leaf grass of Parnassus (Parnassia grandifolia).
The rarest discovery of the day was the Endangered Florida Willow (Salix floridana), a species with very few known locations in the state. Deep Creek remains one of its strongholds.
By the end of the day, the team had made 153 observations representing 90 species. Special thanks to WillyThe Losen of the Putnam Land Conservancy and the rest of the crew for an amazing day of botanical exploration and camaraderie.
Private Property Conservation, The Florida Land Steward Program, and Scrubby Sandhill | Melanie Simon
We all know that the State of Florida purchases land for conservation, but often overlook the fact that public land alone cannot adequately support native plant and wildlife populations. The Florida Land Steward Program, an extension program of the UF/IFAS School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, encourages and assists private landowner efforts to actively protect and manage their own land for multiple benefits including providing sustainable habitat for plant and animal species.
this is Florida Yam (Dioscorea floridana). Photo by Adam Arendell.
Passionflower member Rebecca Mendoza and her husband recently received statewide recognition as the 2025 Florida Land Steward Landowners of the Year. Congratulations, Rebecca!
The award recognizes over a decade of hard work implementing conservation management practices such as reforesting with longleaf pine; removing hardwood encroachment and overgrown vegetation to restore remnant sandhill and scrub areas; removing invasive plants such as downy rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa), coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata), caesar weed (Urena lobata), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), and natal grass (Melinis repens; and propagating native plants, especially native wildflowers.
Sections of the Mendoza’s 120-acre property include unique Scrubby Sandhill habitat - a name that FNPS member Rosi Mulholland thinks Steve Christman first coined back in the day when he did lots of scrub surveys throughout Central Florida. It’s a blend of sandhill and scrubby components found on the northern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, and it provides habitat for a host of plant and animal species that include state and federal listed species such as sand skinks, gopher tortoises, Britton’s beargrass (Nolina brittoniana), scrub plum (Prunus geniculata), and Lewton’s milkwort (Senega lewtonii).
The Mendozas accomplished this work with the help of many partners including the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Forest Service,Alachua ConservationTrust, and Florida Native Plant Society
While this type of conservation (and hard work) is not for everyone, assistance may be available to landowners with smaller properties. Learn more about the Florida Land Steward program and resources available to landowners at http://floridalandsteward.org or https://programs.ifas.ufl.edu/florida-landsteward/about-us/.
Photo credit: Rebecca Mendoza. Scrubby Sandhill habitat in the fall including Blazing Star (Liatris tenuifolia), Yellow Buttons (Balduina angustifolia), and Deer Moss (Cladonia spp).
Places to Visit:The Northern Region of the Florida National Scenic Trail | Chelsey Stevens
The Northern Region of the Florida National Scenic Trail offers an immersive experience through some of the state’s most diverse and ecologically significant landscapes. This section begins at Blackwater Creek in Seminole State Forest, heads north into Ocala National Forest, then continues through Rice Creek, Etoniah Creek State Forest, Gold Head Branch State Park, Camp Blanding, Osceola National Forest, and finally to the banks of the Suwannee River.
Tall red maples and bald cypress border the dark waters of Blackwater Creek as the trail crosses on a concrete bridge. Following an ecotone between floodplain forest and oak scrub, orange blazes wind through a jungle of palmettos underneath huge loblolly pines, passing the crystal clear waters of Sharks Tooth Spring along the way. Crossing over SR 44, the trail weaves through a mosaic of pine scrub and depression marshes before reaching the Ocala National Forest at Clearwater Lake.
Moving across Ocala National Forest, hikers traverse huge swaths of scrub and sandhill communities showcasing desert like landscapes and savannahs of wiregrass under towering longleaf pines.The trail traces along an edge of open marshy wetlands at Farles, Juniper, and Hopkins prairies. Entering Rice Creek ConservationArea, once a 17th-century rice plantation, the terrain shifts to a lush wetland forest where tupelo, bald cypress, and swamp dogwood thrive.
At Etoniah Creek State Forest, hikers have the rare opportunity to see Etoniah rosemary in the wild (Conradina etonia), an endemic species found only in this part of Florida. This plant clings to dry, sandy ridges and is a testament to the fragility of Florida’s native plant communities. We also had the pleasure of spotting the Ghost Plant (Monotropa uniflora) poking its skeletal fingers out of the earth.The trail then winds through Gold Head Branch State Park, one of the state’s oldest parks, where hikers encounter steep ravines, seepage streams, and diverse ferns in the cool shade of ancient oak hammocks.
From Gold Head, the trail crosses into Camp Blanding, a historic military training ground where pine forests surround deep sinkhole ponds, and swamp tupelo, pond cypress, and red maples dominate the shoreline of the lake. The understory is thick with saw palmetto and gallberry, creating ideal habitats for wildlife.
Transitioning into the notoriously soggy Osceola National Forest, hikers can expect to trek across vast wet flatwoods, cypress swamps, blackgum forests, and wet prairies, where pitcher plants, sundews, and rare orchids flourish in acidic soils. This section is rich in biodiversity, offering glimpses of Florida’s untouched wilderness.
The journey culminates at the Suwannee River, where the trail follows its otherworldly limestone bluffs and tannin-stained water. White sand beaches line the river bends, while majestic bald cypress, live oaks, and river birch stand as ancient sentinels along the banks. Wild azaleas
bloom along the trail, their bright pink flowers adding bursts of color in the spring, while delicate rain lilies emerge after summer rains, creating a fleeting but stunning display of white blossoms. The Holton CreekTract is home to the second-largest bald cypress, a humbling sight for any hiker
From the rolling sandhills of Ocala to the rugged river bluffs of the Suwannee, the Northern Region of the FNST offers an unforgettable journey through Florida’s varied landscapes. Each step reveals a new piece of the state’s ecological and historical puzzle, reminding hikers that conservation begins with appreciation and action.
Chelsey Stevens has served on the Board of Directors for the Florida Trail Association since 2023 and is the Chair of the Central Florida Chapter. In addition to her work with the FTA, Chelsey regularly volunteers with several environmental organizations, including serving on the Communication Advisory Committee for the Florida Springs Council and of course, as a member of the Florida Native Plant Society. Her dedication to Florida's natural environments is reflected of her leadership and community involvement.
Upcoming Events
Chapter and Society Event Highlights
7/18 @ 12:00pm - FNPS LandscapeAwards Q&A- register here
7/19 @ 8:00am - Pinellas in Clearwater - Moccasin Lake Invasive Removal Workday
7/23 @ 6:30pm - Pine Lily Chapter in St. Cloud - Native Plant RockArt Class - register here
7/25 @ 12:00pm - FNPS Lunch & Learn - Old Growth Grasslands with Rae Crandall
7/26 @ 10:00am - FNPS VirtualAnnual Meeting - register here
8/2 @ 9:00am - Dade Chapter in Everglades National Park - Workday at the Visitor Center
8/5 @ 5:30pm - Sweetbay in Panama City - Monthly Meeting
8/29 @ 12:00pm - FNPS Lunch & Learn - Native Landscaping for your Yard with JPCharisma
9/4 @ 7:00pm - Magnolia inTallahassee - Monthly Meeting
9/26 @ 12:00pm - FNPS Lunch & Learn - Florida Forever: Why it Matters with Susan Carr
10/18 @ 9:00am -Tarflower in Winter Park - Backyard Biodiversity Day
10/18 - FNPS in Kissimmee - Board and Council of Chapters In-Person Meeting
10/31 @ 12:00pm - FNPS Lunch & Learn - Hurricanes and Longleaf Pines
11/28 @ 12:00pm - FNPS Lunch & Learn - Owen Schneider, iEcoLab atTemple University
Check out the FNPS Calendar for more details and events from our other Chapters!
