The Center's National Collection of Endangered Plants contains plant material for more than 600 of the country's most imperiled native plants. An important conservation resource, the National Collection is a back up in case a species becomes extinct or no longer reproduces in the wild.

Seeds, cuttings and other plant material are collected and carefully maintained by botanical institutions that participate in the Center for Plant Conservation. Researchers and botanists at each participating institution collect plant material and seeds from the most imperiled plants in their regions. The institutions study and hold this material in protective custody. An important conservation resource, the Collection is a back up in case a species becomes extinct or no longer reproduces in the wild. The Collection is also an important resource for the scientific study of plant rarity, rare plant life cycles and rare plant storage and germination requirements.

After studying and growing the plants, institutions provide plant material to federal and state agencies and private land managing organizations to assist their efforts to recover imperiled plants in the wild. CPC participating institutions are involved in restoring more than 60 of America’s rarest plants in their natural habitat.

Current information on the National Collection of Endangered Plants is available online at http://www.centerforplantconservation.org/NC_Choice.html

For more information contact: Center for Plant Conservation 314-577-9450.