Our Mission

Theodore Payne Foundation inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes

The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers & Native Plants (TPF), established in 1960, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding, preservation and horticultural use of California native plants. The Foundation preserves the legacy and carries on the work of Theodore Payne, a pioneering Los Angeles nurseryman, horticulturist and conservationist who was an early advocate for cultivating native plants in California’s urban environments.

Our headquarters are located on 22 acres of canyon land in the northeast corner of the San Fernando Valley (map). Our full-service native plant nursery, seed and book store, art gallery, demonstration gardens and hiking trails are open to the public year-round. We offer classes for adults and families, as well as school field trips, and host offsite educational outreach events throughout greater Los Angeles.

The Foundation has a major focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainability in Southern California landscapes. Our commitment to these issues is achieved through a variety of programs and projects, including providing professional training in low-water plant care to the landscape industry, a conservation seed bank of Los Angeles wild plant diversity, and advocacy on behalf of urban nature parks in Southern California.

Theodore Payne Foundation is a community organization, supported by donors, members, volunteers and customers. Thank you for your support.

To learn more, please visit www.theodorepayne.org.