Next Meeting

May 1, 2026 Dr. Richard Primack, “Flower Visitors to the Plants of Newton and the Arnold Arboretum: Can Honeybees and Native Insects Coexist?” Hybrid in Framingham, MA and via Zoom.

Visit our Upcoming Meetings for up to date information. You can download a PDF version of our 2025-2026 Programs here.

Announcements

Issue #1006 of Rhodora is available. See this page for free electronic access for members through BioOne.

NEBS now has an online store! Merchandise options include shirts manufactured sustainably with organic materials. Modest proceeds support our mission.

NEBS Mission and Vision statements and Strategic Priorities for 2026-2030

Lecture Series Videos. Video recordings of some past lectures are available on the Videos of Past Meetings page.

About New England Botanical Society

New England Botanical Society Brochure
Mission and Vision Statements
Strategic Priorities for 2026-2030

The New England Botanical Society (NEBS) was founded in 1896 as the New England Botanical Club. It is a non-profit organization promoting the study of plants of North America, especially the flora of New England and adjacent areas. The Society publishes the peer-reviewed journal Rhodora, holds monthly meetings during the academic year (usually at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts), maintains an herbarium of more than 258,000 sheets, has a small library, and annually grants research and publication awards.

Mission and Vision Statements

The mission of the New England Botanical Society is to increase scientific knowledge and appreciation of the flora of New England.

Our vision is to connect, inspire, mentor, and support a vibrant community of people who are passionate about the flora of New England.

To accomplish this the New England Botanical Society:

  • Fosters scientific and social connections among professional and amateur botanists, students, and others who share an interest or passion for the flora of New England;
  • Promotes and supports botanical research through annual grants to students, professional and amateur botanists, and academic faculty;
  • Disseminates important information on the flora of New England through publication of the scientific journal Rhodora and occasional special publications;
  • Hosts regular meetings to showcase the botanical research of scientists and other professionals active in the New England region;
  • Organizes botanical conferences, field trips, and educational workshops for members and the general public focused on the flora of New England;
  • Preserves, stewards, and continues to expand a significant herbarium collection documenting the vascular and non-vascular flora of New England from the mid-19th century to present;
  • Shares information and insight into the rare and endangered flora of New England with relevant conservation entities and supports conservation efforts to preserve the botanical diversity of the region.

Strategic Priorities for 2026-2030 are to:

  • Invest in the growth,success, relevance, and use of NEBS’s core fixed, long-term assets: our herbaria, journal, and library & archives.
  • Reinvigorate NEBS’s leadership and outcomes in plant conservation  across New England.
  • Cultivate a vibrant, inclusive future for NEBS by engaging and supporting  people across diverse botanical backgrounds, interests, and career  stages, with emphasis on students and early-career plant scientists.
  • Modernize NEBS’s governance, operations, and financial management  to ensure long-term organizational resilience.
  • Increase NEBS’s relevance and visibility by being intentional  ambassadors, by embracing new technologies and ways of experiencing  botany, and by inspiring broader public engagement with plants.