Awards

Palmetto Awards

Once a year, the Florida Native Plant Society bestows various awards to members and chapters for their contributions to our mission. The Palmetto Awards were established in 1984 to further the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society by encouraging and acknowledging the contributions to conservation of natural areas and native plants, and educating to these objectives.

Green Palmetto Award

Submit a Green Palmetto Award Nomination

The Green Palmetto Award is given to members who make major contributions to the Society through Service, Education, or Conservation. Those awarded are nominated by chapters or members, and the Board of Directors makes the final choice. Current FNPS state board members are not eligible for Green Palmetto awards.   

Silver Palmetto Award

The Silver Palmetto Award is given to FNPS members, usually Board members, chosen by the FNPS President. They typically go to those who make major contribution to the functioning of the Society.

Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award

Submit a Chapter of the Year Award Nomination

The Outstanding Chapter of the Year Award is given to chapters with outstanding efforts during the preceding year(s).

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Nominations must be submitted via the linked forms above. Any member can make award nominations. Selection of award winners is by a vote of the FNPS Board of Directors. 

Recognition: We will announce and celebrate award winners on our social media, website, annual meeting, and in our Palmetto publication, which is circulated to over 6000 people. 

Mentor Award

Submit a Mentor Award Nomination

Created in 1995, the Mentor Award recognizes distinguished individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the science and practice of native plant preservation, conservation and restoration. This award is the highest honor the Society can bestow and is reserved for lifelong or career-long contributions.

Nominations must be submitted via the linked form above. Any member can make a Mentor Award nomination. Mentor Award recipients are chosen through a vote by the FNPS Board of Directors.

Recognition: We will announce and celebrate award winners on our social media, website, annual meeting, and in our Palmetto publication, which is circulated to over 6000 people. 

Florida Native Plant Society Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition

Submit an Emerging Leaders Nomination

The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition celebrates the exceptional contributions of young leaders and rising stars in the field of native plant conservation, education, and awareness in Florida. This prestigious recognition honors individuals under the age of 30 who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, innovation, and impact in their work.

The Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds, including students, researchers, educators, conservationists, and community activists. Nominees should be passionate about native plant conservation and have a track record of significant contributions to the field. 

The selection criteria for the FNPS Under 30 Award include:

• Leadership: Nominees should demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities, such as the ability to inspire and motivate others, build partnerships, and create positive change.

• Innovation: Nominees should have a history of developing and implementing innovative approaches to native plant conservation.

• Impact: Nominees should have a measurable impact on native plant conservation in Florida, such as through their research, education, or advocacy efforts.

• Commitment: Nominees should be deeply committed to native plant conservation and have a vision for the future of the field.

In addition to the general criteria, the FNPS Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition also considers the following factors:

• Diversity: The FNPS is committed to fostering diversity in the field of native plant conservation. Nominees from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

• Collaboration: Nominees who have collaborated with others to achieve their conservation goals will be given special consideration.

• Mentorship: Nominees who have mentored or inspired other young people in the field of native plant conservation will be given special consideration.

The Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition is a unique opportunity to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of young leaders in the field of native plant conservation, education, and awareness in Florida. This award is a testament to the FNPS's commitment to fostering the growth of young professionals and ensuring the future of native plant conservation in the state.

Nominations must be submitted via the linked form above. Nominees for the Emerging Leaders Under 30 Recognition must be FNPS members and submitted by a current FNPS member in good standing. 

Recognition: We will announce and celebrate award winners on our social media, website, annual meeting, and in our Palmetto publication, which is circulated to over 6000 people. 

Landscape Awards

Submissions for the 2025 FNPS Landscape Awards will open on June 2!

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.

Submissions will open on June 2, 2025 and will close on August 1, 2025.

Please click the button below for details and to apply.

If you have questions about the 2025 Landscape Awards, please email:

Grants

Research Grants

The Florida Native Plant Society maintains an Endowment Grant program for the purpose of funding research on native plants.  These are small grants (typically $2500 or less), awarded for a 1-year period, and intended to support research that forwards the mission of the Florida Native Plant Society "to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of the native plants and native plant communities of Florida."

Conservation Grants

FNPS Conservation Grants support applied native-plant conservation projects in Florida. Applicants can apply for a grant of up to $5,000 awarded for a 1-year period. Projects must promote the preservation, conservation, or restoration of rare or imperiled native plant taxa and rare or imperiled native plant communities.  To qualify for a Conservation Grant, the proposed project must be sponsored by an FNPS Chapter.

Dan Austin Grant for Ethnobotany

This award is limited to graduate or undergraduate students who are studying Florida ethnobotany – i.e., the study of the relationship between peoples or cultures with plants native to Florida or Florida ecosystems. These can be current uses or historic uses.

Evaluation Criteria

• Research must focus on Florida native plant species or plant communities.
• Research project must have a human/plant connection.
• Research can include mycology, taxonomy, botany, demographics of medicinal plants, medicinal chemistry, human effects on soils, economic importance, etc.