Native Plant Network

Native Plant Network Since 2007, the Network has sought to promote our region’s unique native plant heritage.

The Native Plant Network (formerly the Connect to Protect Network) is a citizen science program that enlists South Florida residents to plant native plants in their yards, providing habitat for our native bees, butterflies and birds. Members provide information about the wildlife that uses their gardens, and send seeds back to the Network. The program is run by the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garde

n’s Conservation Team. The ultimate goal of the Network is to create corridors and stepping stone gardens that connect isolated fragments of natural habitat. These corridors and stepping stones can be created or restored on rights-of-way along freeways, on privately owned lands, and on public lands such as school yards and parks. Planting native species and managing non-native, invasive plants will increase the probability that bees, butterflies and birds can find and transport seeds and pollen across developed areas that separate our nature preserves. Meeting our goals of connecting habitats will require widespread participation and many plants that are native to South Florida habitats like pine rockland, rockland hammock, and coastal strand. Because many of these species are uncommon in the nursery trade, we ask members to provide seeds of certain species back to the Network so we can grow more. An invitation to join and more information can be found on our website: www.fairchildgarden.org/ctpn

05/21/2026
04/22/2026

Every day is Earth Day in the Native Plant Network! Our membership of >2100 is gardening and planting as if life on earth depended on it — because it does. Native plants feed our local birds and butterflies and that feeds our souls. Thank you members, for 19 years of support, seeds, citizen science data, and hard work! Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at some of the people, plants, and critters that make up our network. 🌎 💚
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

We just shared our April newsletter with our 2000+ member members and it’s all about Walter’s ground cherry (Physalis wa...
04/16/2026

We just shared our April newsletter with our 2000+ member members and it’s all about Walter’s ground cherry (Physalis walteri). We’re interested in identifying what pollinates it, if anything, in urban gardens. This pretty little tomatillo relative is a staple in pine rocklands and also coastal systems in Miami. Interested in getting to know it better? It’s for sale on Fairchild‘s online plant store— a link to that is in our bio

Earlier this week, 2nd graders from Joe Hall elementary joined us for a nature walk at Boystown pineland Environmentally...
03/06/2026

Earlier this week, 2nd graders from Joe Hall elementary joined us for a nature walk at Boystown pineland Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Preserve. Important lessons were learned and we had great fun! It’s always good to get out in the woods!!!

JOIN US! Field Trip to the Underline with a special tour for NPN members, Saturday, March 7th, 9am to NoonFor the first ...
03/02/2026

JOIN US! Field Trip to the Underline with a special tour for NPN members, Saturday, March 7th, 9am to Noon

For the first two hours, we will help install The Underline’s first demonstration garden, which will highlight how native plants can enhance public spaces. This will be followed by a special tour for NPN led by the Underline Horticulturist. We will get to admire a part of this wonderful urban park filled with many native plant species.

Location: In Brickell (you’ll receive details once you register) Registration is required - send an email with the names of all attendees to [email protected] latest by Thursday, March 5. We will then send you detailed information and directions. This event is for NPN members and their families.

📅 SAVE THE DATE! From our friends at the Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.
02/20/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE! From our friends at the Dade Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society.

This weekend will be beautiful to spend a little time, caring for mother nature in the town of Cutler Bay. If you haven’...
02/18/2026

This weekend will be beautiful to spend a little time, caring for mother nature in the town of Cutler Bay. If you haven’t seen this beautiful restoration site, you are missing out!

Did you know there are two herbs native to South Florida that can be used in cooking? They are both mini-versions of a d...
02/15/2026

Did you know there are two herbs native to South Florida that can be used in cooking? They are both mini-versions of a domesticated plant, but no less tasty:

🌶️ Bird pepper (Capsicum anuum var. glabrisculum)
🌿 Wild basil (Ocimum campechianum)

We hope to offer these species to our members later in the year but we need more seed!! If you can help, please message us.

Membership in NPN is free and available to anyone in Miami-Dade or Monroe County. Others can still join our mailing list. Reach out to [email protected] for membership inquiries.

NPN merch is coming! Starting in February, we’ll have limited t-shirts and mugs available for sale. They’ll make a great...
01/26/2026

NPN merch is coming! Starting in February, we’ll have limited t-shirts and mugs available for sale. They’ll make a great gift to yourself or to a native plant-loving friend. Tshirts are lightweight,100% pre-shrunk combed ringspun cotton jersey. We will do in-person sales only, at our monthly plant distribution events. Email us beforehand ([email protected]) to find out what’s available. Mugs are $15, T-shirts $30.

01/10/2026

2026 is going to be our biggest year yet, and we’re sowing lots of seeds for Native Plant Network member gardens. Our potting bench is full! Watch our newsletter for new member plant distribution info and for our requests for needed seed. Keep on gardening for good!

🪴 Got native plants in planters?📷 Send us pictures! In 2026, Fairchild will be launching the Million Balcony Project. T...
12/16/2025

🪴 Got native plants in planters?
📷 Send us pictures!

In 2026, Fairchild will be launching the Million Balcony Project. This campaign is rooted within the garden’s over-arching “City in a Garden” vision of Miami transformed from concrete jungle to actual jungle, with plants in balconies, swales, rooftops, and patios to both cool and beautify our environment.

Native plants can be great choices for container plantings, and we foresee plenty of overlap with the Million Balcony Project and Native Plant Network. We just have one problem: we don’t have very many photos showcasing native plants in pots.

That’s where you can help! If you have pictures of good looking native plants in decorative planters, post them in the comments or send them to us at [email protected].

pictured here are our three best photos so far:
1- Quailberry at by A Mirow
2- Pineland heliotrope by N Frade
3- Pearlberry at FIU-ICTB by J Possley

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1901 SW 134th Ave
Tamiami, FL

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