Native Plant Rescue Squad

Native Plant Rescue Squad Become a Patreon Member here https://www.patreon.com/nativeplantrescuesquad

Native Plant Rescue Squad (NPRS) is an educational non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the rich diversity of native flora in East Tennessee.

Have you ever noticed the gold shimmer on Liriodendron tulipifera?! Tulip poplar leaves naturally have a waxy surface, a...
05/22/2026

Have you ever noticed the gold shimmer on Liriodendron tulipifera?! Tulip poplar leaves naturally have a waxy surface, and under certain angles, humidity, and heat, especially on fresh new leaves, can have a golden shimmer. 

The gold residue is more of a waxy cuticle (surface coating) effect than a fungal pathogen.

However, tulip poplars in East Tennessee are highly susceptible to environmental stress, Verticillium wilt, and powdery mildew for example. Our region's intense midsummer heat and drought often cause premature yellowing, leaf drop, and vulnerability to sap-sucking pests like aphids and scale insects. Just saying
BTW, Tulip Poplar is in the magnolia family (Magnoliaceae), which explains its beautiful flowers.
popular Knoxville family that look like a cat

We are launching our inaugural Sassafras Awards to celebrate local native gardens and their stewards in the Knoxville co...
05/05/2026

We are launching our inaugural Sassafras Awards to celebrate local native gardens and their stewards in the Knoxville community and raise awareness about the importance of native plants.

We have new judges every year and they will review the applications and agree on their favorite 3 for the residential garden and 3 for the public garden categories by June 5th. Finalist will give site tours to the judges throughout June. There will be a total of 6 gardens (3 residential and 3 public) that will be selected for group guided tours, but only one winner for each category.

If you have an application from the past, and you'd like to apply I can send it to you. There are sooo many good ones that I'd personally vote for but I'm not a judge.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a woodland native with white flowers and red sap found in its roots. The root’s cr...
04/20/2026

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a woodland native with white flowers and red sap found in its roots. The root’s crimson juice was used as a natural dye by Native American tribes and held cultural and medicinal significance. I've also been told Native American tribes, including the Ponca and Algonquin, used the bright red sap as a love charm. Bachelors would apply the root's juice to their palms and attempt to shake hands with a woman they desired to marry, leaving a red stain.

Putty root (Aplectrum hyemale), or “Adam and Eve,” is a native orchid with paired underground corms—one old, one new. Its sticky corms were once used as natural glue. A quiet woodland plant that’s easy to overlook.

Sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus), or Jerusalem Artichokes, produces edible underground tubers. Harvest after the first frost in the fall. Cold temps helps convert stored carbohydrates into sugars for a sweeter taste.

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) spreads through aggressive underground rhizomes, forming dense colonies. Its root system makes it ideal for pollinator habitats and restoration areas.

Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) is a shade-loving ground cover that spreads via shallow, creeping rhizomes, forming a dense mat that helps suppress weeds.

Trillium luteum is a long-lived native trillium, often living 20–50+ years. It spreads through a slow underground rhizome, and each leaf scar can mark roughly one year of growth. A true woodland timekeeper.

03/19/2026

Join the Native Plant Rescue Squad Community

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated. Be sure your subscription is set to regular so you don’t miss any updates.

Comment below to be added, or email us at [email protected].

You’ll receive notifications about volunteer meetups, plant rescues, and local restoration projects happening in your area.

If you'd like to support the Squad, join our Patreon to receive native plants, Squad swag, and personalized consultations.
Find the link in our bio or visit our website for more details.

🌳🚲 TREE PLANTING RALLY 🚲🌳March 15th, 9:30am - 1 pm (ish) at Caswell Park 570 Winona Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Link to...
03/13/2026

🌳🚲 TREE PLANTING RALLY 🚲🌳
March 15th, 9:30am - 1 pm (ish) at Caswell Park 570 Winona Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Link to Trees Knoxville in bio for more info and scheduling.
Trees Knoxville and Bikes are teaming up for a TREE PLANTING RALLY.
It’s un-be-leaf-ably simple.
Gather a team or ride solo and branch out across town to plant, water, and learn about local trees.

You’ll receive a "Tree Passport" with a list of locations and activities like prepping a root ball, digging a hole, and more! At each stop, a volunteer will stamp your Passport. Stops can be completed in any order, so you set the pace and the route.

Meet at Caswell Park at 9:30 am for registration. The ride starts at 10:30 am.
Potchke and Husmus Studio will provide bagels and coffee for breakfast (yum!). Don’t forget to stick around after the ride for a tree giveaway and an afterparty at Ricky’s.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Let’s ride, plant, and grow together. 🚲💚🌳
Here’s what the day’ll look like:
9:30am – 10:00am Registration/Breakfast
10:00am – 10:30am Ride Orientation
10:30am – 12:30pm TREE PLANTING RALLY
12:30pm – 1:00pm Awards and Tree Giveaway
1:00pm – ??? Afterparty at Ricky’s!

On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse of the Full Worm Moon will occur creating a "Worm Blood Moon" visible across Nor...
03/03/2026

On March 3, 2026, a total lunar eclipse of the Full Worm Moon will occur creating a "Worm Blood Moon" visible across North America (pre-dawn), the moon will turn a coppery-red for 1 hour during totality, with the entire event lasting over 5 hours.

Historical research suggests in 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver recorded that the name referred to beetle larvae, another type of “worm,” which emerge from thawing tree bark and winter hiding places at this time of year.

Either way, the name reflects the same idea: the land is beginning to wake up. Tennessee

We love this guy and his nonconventional salty narrative of ecology, beauty and land management. His book is Concrete Bo...
02/25/2026

We love this guy and his nonconventional salty narrative of ecology, beauty and land management. His book is Concrete Botany- The Ecology of Plants in the Age of Human Disturbance, and his YouTube channel and Instagram are called Crime Pays but Botany Doesn't.

The Wild Ones National Chapter will be hosting a free Webinar titled, Rethinking Horticulture with Real Ecology
Presenter: Joey Santore
Date: Wednesday, March 18
Time: 7 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. CT

Register here: https://wildones.org/joey-santore/

02/25/2026

Joey Santore spends his time studying plants where they actually live. Vacant lots, roadsides, rail corridors, and disturbed ground. 🌱

In this candid program, he challenges the idea that native plantings need to look tidy to function well and explains what real plant communities reveal about resilience and strength.

Join us on March 18 for Rethinking Horticulture with Real Ecology. 👉 Register here to attend: https://wildones.org/joey-santore

Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

The Forest is Alive: Winter isn’t an off-season for these beauties, reminding us that even in dormancy, the forest is st...
12/17/2025

The Forest is Alive: Winter isn’t an off-season for these beauties, reminding us that even in dormancy, the forest is still alive.

American Beech (Fagus grandifolia) During the winter keeps its leaves which is called marcescence, when trees hold onto dead leaves long after autumn has passed. Beeche's soft tan and copper leaves, whispering and rattling in even the slightest breeze in a quiet forest is bewitching.

Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is still putting on a show. Its exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark peels in papery curls and the dried flower heads linger like natural sculptures.

Frostweed (Verbesina virginica) waits for the first hard freezes to push moisture and sap through tiny cracks in its stem and instantly freezes, forming delicate ribbons and curls of ice blossoms called crystallofolia at the plant’s base.

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) sets the stage for winter, highlighting the plant’s strong structure and making those final berries stand out even more.

American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) stands luminous and essential, proving that beauty doesn’t disappear in winter.

$10 for 10 Years! Help us celebrate a decade of saving native plants and community conservation by donating $10 today.Wh...
12/02/2025

$10 for 10 Years! Help us celebrate a decade of saving native plants and community conservation by donating $10 today.

Why Native Plant Rescue Squad Needs Your Support:

Every week, NPRS is out in the field, salvaging native plants that would otherwise be goners, restoring habitat, and engaging our community in conservation. To keep this work going, we need support for the dirty and essential things that make rescues possible:

Our Field Vehicle (essential mascot): Our old be**er truck hauls volunteers, tools, and thousands of pounds of rescued plants, tons of soil every week.

Tools & Equipment: Trailers, shovels, picks, containers, soil, wheelbarrows, hoses, signage, safety equipment…. we use them daily, and they wear out fast when rescuing hundreds of plants weekly in all weather conditions.

Volunteer Support Program: Our volunteers are the backbone of NPRS, and we need funds for training and safety materials like gloves, tools, and supplies​. Water, snacks, and basic hospitality. Coordination resources to help us manage growing volunteer demand​.

Greenhouse & Nursery Supplies: After a plant is salvaged, it still needs months of care before it can be replanted. Soil conditioners, pots, irrigation, shade cloth, mulch, potting benches to help the plants along their restoration journey.

Education & Outreach: Workshops, community events, school programs, and collaborations with local groups all require materials, signage, and staff time. Go to our website in the bio: nativeplantrescuesquad.org for the givin'

Address

Plants Are Located At 2778 Wimpole Avenue. Mailing Address Is 1300 Army St. Knoxville, TN 37920
Knoxville, TN
37914

Telephone

+17316106984

Website

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