PROMOTE | PROPAGATE | RESEARCH | EDUCATE
Promoting the Proper Use of California Native Plants
California Native Horticultural Foundation (CNHF) conducts seminars, workshops, educational events, directed to the general public and the horticultural industry. CNHF represents an expert voice in native plant horticulture. In addition to live, in-person training, CNHF produces extensive material in both printed and digital formats and serves to equip and train others to continue these educational efforts.
Operating Propagation and Production Nurseries
CNHF operates propagation and production nurseries as a transformation of the original Tree of Life Nursery (TOLN) on Rancho Mission Viejo in San Juan Capistrano California. CNHF continues the 45 year tradition with expert capabilities in growing native plants. In addition to producing plants for sale, the CNHF nurseries serve as training facilities for all aspects of native plant horticulture, specifically in the fields of propagation, production, care, and maintenance of California native plants.
Conducting Scientific Research in the Field of Native Plant Horticulture
With its nursery expertise and state of the art facilities, CNHF conducts research, working autonomously and also partners with universities, nonprofits, industry trade groups, land managers, resource agencies, and others who desire scientific outcomes.
Examples of research in the field of native plant horticulture include rare plant propagation and recovery, native plant propagation techniques including micropropagation and tissue culture, seed and germplasm preservation, ecological interactions in the landscape, urban wildlife, water use, water quality, and fire issues. CNHF maintains a program for breeding and plant selection, thus providing native plant appropriate introductions into the commercial horticultural trade.
Additionally, CNHF provides quantitative data on the healing and wellness properties of native plants, landscape water conservation, and the use of native plants in the landscape to provide climate resiliency to our built environment.
Providing Education and Resources to the General Public and the Horticultural Industry.
California’s native flora is unique in all the world for its sheer number of species, its diversity and its high percentage of plants found only in California. Through workshops, seminars, programs, events, literature, and online media, in the context of botany and horticulture, CNHF provides educative and interpretive training in the following areas,:
CNHF provides hands-on and related training both on the nursery grounds and on off-site landscape venues where classes are conducted on all aspects of native plant use in horticultural settings. CNHF supports California’s “green industry” by preparing individuals for careers in all aspects of native plant horticulture, through certificate programs as well as through continuing education.
CNHF provides goods and services including training in all aspects of California native plant horticulture to specific groups including schools and universities, parks, hospitals, senior living centers, homeowners associations, Indian reservations, conservancies, and botanic gardens. CNHF stands ready to help these groups and others like them to establish on-site nurseries, design, establish, and maintain natural gardens, and conduct their own ongoing education programs.
Partnering with industry colleagues, CNHF operates a design studio specifically focused on natural garden design. In its statewide promotion of native plants CNHF provides training and hands-on experience in the fields of landscape design, installation, and maintenance. Education through internships and apprenticeships, as well as classes and seminars are offered as part of CNHF’s promotion of the proper use of native plants.
CNHF participates in and leads efforts for community based habitat restoration, as well as providing high quality native plants specifically grown for ecological restoration projects of every size and scope.
CNHF leads the way in providing information and materials including plants for building beautiful, functional urban habitat gardens, partnering with homegrownnationalpark.org, water agencies, and other organizations.
Partnering with municipalities and water districts, CNHF is the expert voice for landscape water conservation, providing valuable information through our education, seminar, and training programs, as well as native plants for low water use gardens.
Partnering with municipalities, agencies, and homeowner associations, CNHF conducts research and provides both information and plants for landscapes that save water, make functional habitats, and thrive as fire-safe planted areas in the built environment, especially at the urban/wildland interface.
Uniquely adapted to our environmental conditions, California native plants are the obvious solution to the problem of preserving functionality and beauty in our built environment; the principal components of landscapes equipped to thrive during both short term and long term changes in our weather and climate.
CNHF maintains a viable, catalogued seed bank and database for native seeds and cuttings (and their sources) used for plant propagation.
CNHF partners with like minded nonprofits on projects and grants where horticultural expertise is required.
CNHF conducts community events and provides meeting space for special events with a unique focus on the rustic beauty of old California, allowing the participants to experience and learn of its rich historical eras.
CNHF uses its unique horticultural experience and graphic design expertise to assist like minded nonprofits, cities, water districts and agencies, by providing educational material on various websites, in videos and recorded events, and in printed format.
CNHF assembles, trains and maintains an active team of people of all ages and backgrounds to help achieve its mission and the objectives of its vision statement, both onsite and off site.
