Horticulture and Natural Resources

Native Plant Master Program 
Have you always wanted to learn how to identify the beautiful plants that grow in nature? 
Would you like to learn more about using  them in your landscape? 
Would you like to learn how to distinguish
natives from noxious weeds? 
Find out what's blooming and learn more about some of your favorite plants in Colorado with a handy new tool, the Colorado Plant Database .

Become a Native Plant Master™

Courses are held in the field at local open space parks. Participants will learn plant identification with an emphasis on scientific names and families, use of a botanical key, ecology, landscaping, and other human uses. This award-winning program is now being sponsored by Colorado State University Cooperative Extension in San Miguel/ West Montrose Counties .

Click here for the courses are being offered in southwest Colorado this summer.

NATIVE PLANT MASTER PROGRAM

What is the Native Plant Master Program?

  The Native Plant Master Program (NPM) was created in 1997 as a local program of Colorado State University Extension in Jefferson County , Colorado . Since that time, it has grown to be offered in multiple counties across Colorado . The mission of the Native Plant Master Program is to educate the public about native plants in order to foster stewardship, sustainable landscaping and management of weeds that threaten native ecosystems . NPM courses are offered in the field using living examples of the local flora. Courses are held on public lands during spring and summer. Participants who pass three courses and satisfy a teaching requirement become certified Native Plant Masters.

The Native Plant Master Program has been recognized for innovation and excellence at both the national and local levels . The Native Plant Master Program received the Excellence in Higher Education award from the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education in 2004. The program was also recognized by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals with the National Program Leadership Award in 2002. The program was awarded a grant of $14,986 by Colorado State University Extension for 2007/2008 to support expansion of the program statewide and beyond.

What is a sustainable landscape and why is it important?

  Sustainable landscapes use site-appropriate native plants and can reduce the need for water, maintenance time and pesticide use . Research demonstrates that landscapes including natives and adapted non-natives can reduce water usage by 60%. Natives can also be beneficial because they are environmentally adapted, hardy, provide food and shelter for wildlife and maintain local biological diversity. However, many residents need education in selecting plants appropriate to their state's local environmental conditions such as water availability, soils and elevation.

Why are non-native weeds a problem?

  Invasive, non-native weeds are a critical concern in many communities and threaten native ecosystems. Loss of native plant communities and exotic plant invasion costs money. The United States spends $137 billion per year in controlling weeds and mitigating damage. Noxious weeds are moving into valued ecosystems displacing natives at an alarming rate. Invasive species are a factor in the decline of 49% of all imperiled species. Each year, invasive species advance by 1.7 million acres per year. Invasive plants are found on 133 million acres across the country.

If you are interested in the NPM Program, click on the Native Plant Master Application on the left and fill it out and return it to the CSU Extension Office at PO Box 130, Norwood, CO 81423. Note, the Colorado Schedule of the classes in our area. Click Here for the Application!

Questions and more information? Call Yvette Henson, CSU Extension Agent/County Director at 970.327.4393.

Page updated: November 10, 2009
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