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 RPC Conference: Feb. 25-27, 2025

IDFG Regional Office in Nampa, Idaho

Agenda

Alpine Ecosystems

This year’s conference theme is Alpine Ecosystems, featuring Papaver coloradense, Rocky Mountain poppy—a recently confirmed Idaho alpine species! Keynote speaker Dr. Hannah Marx will be sharing her research on the floristic diversity of high alpine summits. Other presentations include the Denver Botanic Garden Alpine Strategy, updates on ongoing alpine research in Idaho (including GLORIA and Idaho Peaks!), and several exciting recent discoveries in species groups and locations of interest. The conference will also include business-as-usual tasks such as ranking of rare plant species from the Northern and Southern Idaho Rare Plant Working Groups, and updates from land managers and other stakeholders. New this year, we are pleased to offer a virtual option for those unable to join us in-person in Nampa!

FEB. 25th: 1pm – 5pm followed by a no-host dinner at 5:30pm at Fiesta Guadalajara

FEB. 26th: 8:30am – 4:30pm followed by a poster session/social from 4:30pm – 6:00 pm, a catered banquet dinner at 6pm, and our banquet speaker at 7:00pm

BANQUET | A banquet dinner catered by Mazzah Mediterranean Grill will be held at the IDFG Southwest Regional Office in Nampa Wednesday, February 26th at 700pm MST. The banquet speaker will be Shannon Fowler, M.A., Director of Communications & Public Programs at the Center for Plant Conservation, presenting Cultivating Conservation: Training our Botanical Workforce in the Best Practices of Rare Plant Conservation.

FEB. 27th 8:30am – 4:30pm followed by a no-host dinner at 5:30pm at a location TBA

FEB. 28th Tentative field trip led by Barbara Ertter to observe the soon-to-be described (rare) species in the Boise Foothills

IT’S OFFICIAL—the 2025 Idaho Rare Plant Conference registration is now LIVE!

New this year, we are pleased to offer a virtual option for those unable to join us in-person in Nampa.

Please note: registration is a two-step process. Early registration supports planning efforts and is greatly appreciated. To avoid a $10 late registration fee, complete your registration no later than February 3^rd, 2025.

Please go to the form below to sign up. At the end of the form there will be a link to another form for payment. In the payment form, you will check boxes to calculate fees and make your payment using PayPal.

Form link: https://forms.office.com/g/4iAYJhZqCt

Registration Fees*

In-Person Attendance Rates:
- $55 Member
- $65 Non-Member
- $30 Student
Virtual Attendance Rates:
- $25 Member
- $35 Non-Member
- $15 Student

Banquet Fees**

$25 per person
- Online registration form provides an option to reserve for guest

*After Feb 3, 2025, registration will include an additional $10 late fee.

**Late registrants are unable to reserve a catered meal for the banquet; however, they are still welcome to attend the presentation.

We will only be accepting PayPal payments (no checks) for this year’s conference.

Thank you for understanding and we look forward to seeing you at the conference.

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