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plant conservation

Denver Botanic Gardens research staff collaborates with organizations and agencies to protect and conserve many of Colorado’s rarest plant species. Our goal is to protect Colorado’s natural heritage through surveys, population monitoring, reintroduction and seed collections.

Members of the Research and Conservation Department of Denver Botanic Gardens do the majority of their work in the fields and valleys outside the Gardens’ gates. See exactly what these researchers are working on and how they are fighting to protect the flora of Colorado.

Surveys

plant conservation surveySeveral species of rare wild plants in Colorado are not effectively conserved due to a lack of data. We are filling these gaps by collaborating with the Colorado Natural Heritage Program and Colorado Natural Areas Program, to conduct floristic inventories, rare plant surveys, and ecological assessments.

Species we have surveyed:

  • Cypripedium fasciculatum
  • Cypripedium parviflorum ssp. pubescens
  • Listera borealis
  • Spiranthes diluvialis
  • Oenothera acutissima and Penstemon penlandii

Monitoring

plant conservation and monitoringSimilar to a census, a demographic monitoring study provides essential information for the management and protection of a rare plant species. These studies include collecting data about a population's birth and death rates, age distributions, sex ratios and population sizes. Some of our research projects have included investigation of non-target (i.e. unintentional) effects of biological control agents on Cirsium ownbeyi (Ownbey’s thistle) and Frankenia jamseii (James’ seaheath).

Species we have monitored:

  • Astragalus microcymbus (Skiff milkvetch)
  • Astragalus osterhoutii (Osterhout’s milkvetch)
  • Eriogonum brandegeei (Brandegee’s muckwheat)
  • Ligusticum porteri (Osha)
  • Lupinus crassus (Paradox Valley lupine)
  • Mirabilis rotundifolia (Roundleaf 4 o’clock)
  • Penstemon harringtonii (Harrington’s penstemon)
  • Sclerocactus glaucus (Colorado hookless cactus)

Reintroduction

plant conservation seed collectingReintroducing plants involves the purposeful sowing of seeds or planting of seedlings of rare species, with the goal of establishing the plants in what was once their native range. The Gardens has conducted an experimental reintroduction of Eustoma grandiflorum (Showy prairie gentian) at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. This experiment established self-sustaining populations of the rare plant, while testing different methods of establishment. In addition, considerable urban restoration work is ongoing in Denver with dedicated volunteers through the Partners for Colorado Native Plants Program.

Seed Collection

As a member of the Center For Plant Conservation, Denver Botanic Gardens has collected and stored seeds of rare plants since 1988. Seed storage is a form of ex-situ conservation to provide genetic material for plant reintroductions and experimentation. All material is stored at the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation, a USDA facility in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Below is the list of over 40 species for which we are the stewards.

  • Aletes humilis
  • Arabis fecunda
  • Astragalus deterior
  • Astragalus detritalis
  • Astragalus linifolius
  • Astragalus microcymbus
  • Astragalus osterhoutii
  • Astragalus ripleyi
  • Astragalus schmolliae
  • Atriplex pleiantha
  • Castilleja christii
  • Cirsium ownbeyi
  • Cleome multicaulis
  • Descurainia torulosa
  • Draba maguirei var. burkei
  • Erigeron kachinensis
  • Eriogonum pelinophilum
  • Eutrema penlandii
  • Gilia caespitosa
  • Ipomopsis polyantha
  • Lepidium barnebyanum
  • Lesquerella congesta
  • Lesquerella parviflora
  • Lesquerella pruinosa
  • Lomatium latilobum
  • Lupinus crassus
  • Lygodesmia doloresensis
  • Mentzelia densa
  • Oxybaphus rotundifolius
  • Penstemon degeneri
  • Penstemon gibbensii
  • Penstemon harringtonii
  • Penstemon penlandii
  • Penstemon retrorsus
  • Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis
  • Phacelia formosula
  • Physaria bellii
  • Physaria obcordata
  • Ptilagrostis porteri
  • Sclerocactus mesae-verde
  • Thalictrum heliophilum
  • The Center for Plant Conservation national collection

    Become a Rare Plant Monitoring Steward

    Biological "hot spots" are regions that have been identified by scientists as having unusually high levels of endemism (species found nowhere else in the world). Seven of these have been identified across Colorado, including the Roan Plateau and Piceance Basin, which spread from Parachute, Colorado on the western slope north to Rifle. These habitats and their species are threatened by many natural and human-caused threats, and our scientists are working to protect them.

    Denver Botanic Gardens has teamed up with the Colorado Natural Areas Program to engage our volunteers to take action as trained Rare Plant Monitoring (RPM) Stewards. 

    Contact our scientists

    high-altitude gardener

    Planting a garden this spring?
    We know that gardening can be
    challenging given Denver
    and Colorado’s high
    altitude. Denver
    Botanic Gardens has
    created a database of plants
    that thrive in our climate. And you can post your own photos!

    Search the database

    what's blooming?

    See the Gardens now!
    Winter is a wonderful time to visit the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. And purple Iris reticulata are blooming outside next to brilliant yellow crocuses--a sure sign of  spring approaching. See highlights of what's blooming in March

    York Street has a new café!
    Visit Offshoots for
    breakfast, lunch
    or an afternoon
    snack. Enjoy a
    latte, surf the
    Web via free Wi-Fi
    (compliments of Qwest Communications), work remotely and relax in one of the cushy chairs or at the laptop bar that looks out on vistas of gardens.
    More details on Offshoots