Rare Plant Conference, Rare Plant List, and Working Groups

The Idaho Rare Plant Conference (RPC) is generally held every other year, where issues related to Idaho’s flora are discussed and Idaho’s rare plants are ranked to determine their protection requirements. It is organized by INPS along with various agencies (such as Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, etc.), academics, consultants, and others interested in Idaho’s rare plants.

It is an opportunity to learn about rare plants, share information, and network with others of similar interests.

Updating the INPS Rare Plant List, based on new information, is a substantial portion of the RPC. In addition, there are usually a number of talks/presentations on rare plants, conservation issues, or related topics. Dinners (either banquet or informal gatherings) along with conference breaks and poster session offer opportunities to renew or make new botanical acquaintances. Sometimes a field trip has been part of the RPC.

Rare Plant List and INPS Rare Plant Working Groups

Updating the

Idaho Rare Plant List

begins with the

Rare Plant Working Groups.

Current Conference to be held Feb. 25-27, 2025

Announcing 31st Biannual Idaho Rare Plantl Conference

by Crista O’Conner and Elle Kramer, USFS Botanists and RPC 2025 Co-Chairs

Extra! Extra! Calling all native plant aficionados for the 31st biannual Idaho Rare Plant Conference, to be held at Idaho Fish and Game’s Southwest Regional Office in Nampa, February 25-27, 2025!

Past Conferences and Keynote Speakers

2023 Keynote: Ben Legler, Idaho’s elusive moonworts (Botrychium). Featured plant: Botrychium hesperium. 2023_RPC_Agenda_FINAL Our 31st Idaho Rare Plant Conference was held Feb. 28 – March 2, 2023.
2022 was an on-line, abbreviated conference focusing on the Rare Plant List update. Featured plant: Montia parvifolia var. batholithica. Link to agenda. Handouts can be found below.
2020 Keynote: Chris Davidson, Flora of the World. Featured plant: Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens. Link to agenda.
2018—Salmon R. Mountains penstemon, Penstemon salmonensis
2016—Packard’s milkvetch, Astragalus cusickii var. packardiae, was our highlighted species.
2014—Barbara Ertter, Consumers’ Guide to On-line Floristic Data–
2011—No Keynote Speaker, Focus on Rare Plant List Update—
2009 — Del Wiens, Plant Associations of Africa
2007 — George Wuerthner, WILDFIRE A Century of Failed Forest Policy
2006 — Bob Moseley, Plant Conservation in the Tibetan Borderlands
2005 — Bruce Welch, Countering Misinformation Concerning Big Sagebrush