Native Plant Master
In-person native plant field courses near you
The Native Plant Master® (NPM) program offers classes to enjoy wildflower hikes, field botany, native grass identification, and more. Dive deeper with our in-person field courses offered across the state. The Native Plant Master Program is an award winning, non-credit, educational program offered by various County Extension offices through the State’s land-grant institution, Colorado State University.
To be one of the first to learn about Native Plant Master courses and the latest local information through the Jefferson County office, join our newsletter.
Please review the following NPM cancellation guidelines:
- Cancellation at least four weeks prior – Full refund.
- Cancellation at least two weeks prior – 50% refund.
- Cancellation less than two weeks prior (0-13 days) – No refund.
Please note: We often have waitlists of excited learners. Please give us as much notice as possible so that we can offer other learners the opportunity to join the course if you can not.
Note: For additional information regarding Native Plant Master across Colorado, visit the statewide CSU Extension NPM website.
Native Plant Master Certification
The Native Plant Master Program is an award winning, non-credit, educational program offered by various County Extension offices through the State’s land-grant institution, Colorado State University.
Certification as a Native Plant Master is earned by:
- Completing and passing three, 3-day Native Plant Master classes hosted by CSU Extension (36 hours of teaching time).
- Each course must be taken in a different life zone.
- Note that you do not have to complete all courses in a single year.
- Participants seeking certification must pass each course exam with a grade of “C” or higher.
- Native Plant Master Program Coordinators will track your class data across counties, so if you live in Larimer County and take a class in Boulder County, your 3-day class will still count towards the certificate. Please retain class registration and completion information for your records as you will need this to apply for your Native Plant Master Certificate.
- Certification is awarded in December each year by your local county extension office. An email will be sent to all class attendees for the year, and then people will have the option to apply for their Native Plant Master certificate by showing they have completed 3 NPM courses in different life zones and passed all of the associated exams.
Life zones offered by CSU include:
- Alpine
- Foothills + Montane
- Montane Meadow
- Plains + Grasslands
- Semi Desert Shrub
- Wetland + Riparian
Note: The Colorado Flora Certificate is no longer available. Class attendees may apply to become a Native Plant Master after completing three 3-day courses and passing associated exams.
Join our newsletter to get notified when Jefferson County in-person Native Plant Master courses open. You can also start learning online and on your schedule with the online Native Plants Training program from CSU Extension.
FAQs
Colorado has a wealth of native plants, colorful wildflowers, grasses, shrubs and trees, which are naturally adapted to our variable climate, soils, temperatures and elevations. Native plants are great for landscaping because of their adaptability.
An easy entry into the program is a NPM special class where you can discover local wildflowers along a trail, brush up on basic botany or delve into topic areas like sustainable landscaping and invasive weeds.
Award-winning Colorado Native Plant Master classes and courses are offered across the Metro to Mountain (M2M) area – Clear Creek, Denver, Gilpin and Jefferson Counties. Offerings are also sponsored by other Extension offices across the state. See Colorado NPM Programs.
“It is the best educational experience I have had through my local Extension office. It is . . . hands-on, taught by passionate intelligent people, and has real world applications.”
Native Plant Master classes and courses are taught by certified Native Plant Masters, CSU Extension agents, CSU faculty and other horticultural and natural resource experts.
The Colorado Native Plant Master® Program is an offering of Colorado State University Extension. The program was founded in 1997 in Jefferson County and has since grown across Colorado. The mission of the program is to educate the public about native plants in order to foster stewardship, sustainable landscaping and management of weeds that threaten native ecosystems. The program has won numerous awards, most recently the Award of Excellence from the Western Extension Directors Association.
Online Native Plants Training
Online native plant courses from CSU Extension blend scientific knowledge with hands-on learning, empowering you to confidently identify, classify, and incorporate native plants into landscapes.
Interested in becoming a Native Plant Master Trainer?
Becoming a Native Plant Master (NPM) Trainer allows you to lead courses or special classes that educate communities about Colorado’s native plants and the ecosystems they support. This role offers a rewarding way to share your valuable knowledge and foster meaningful connections. Learn how you can become a NPM Trainer and start making a difference!