ProNativas started as an initiative by botanist, educator, and writer Willow Zuchowski, resident of Monteverde and author of the book Tropical Plants of Costa Rica: A Guide to Native and Exotic Flora (Cornell University Press). In 2004 she started researching and promoting the use of native plants in the gardens of Monteverde. With the help of individual donors, the Children’s Rainforest U.S., several non-profit organizations in Monteverde, University of Georgia-Costa Rica, and the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, experimental nurseries and gardens have been established and a large amount of information is available about native ornamental plants in Monteverde.

With the objective to extend research throughout the entire country and promote the use of native plants in gardens of Costa Rica, in 2008 the ProNativas network was created. This network is made up of professionals and gardeners from all over the country who have also contributed to the information available on this website. Thanks to the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, in 2009 we were able to develop native ornamental plant workshops and support trial gardens in various parts of Costa Rica. Since we are constantly adding information to the native plant and exotic invasives database, the website is currently under construction.

Reason for the creation of the ProNativas Network:

- Lack of compiled information about native plants in all areas of the country.

- Absence of native ornamental plants for sale in nurseries.

- Existing gardens with a high demand of water during the dry season.

- Lack of recognizing the use of native plants as a sustainable practice.

- Disappearance of native flora which the native fauna depend on.

- Growing environmental awareness in developers, hotel owners, and home owners.

- Possible uncontrolled removal of plants from the natural forest.

Objectives of the Network:

- To identify native plants with ornamental potential in the different regions of Costa Rica.

- To research propagation methods that permit subsequent small and large scale reproduction of plants in nurseries.

- To standardize the collection of information of plants with ornamental potential in order to create a database of the native ornamental plants of Costa Rica.

- To educate nursery owners, landscapers and general clientele about the importance of using native plants in gardens.

- To create a discussion network formed by a multidisciplinary team to analyze:

o Potentially invasive plants.

o Native plants with high ornamental potential.

o Methods of native plant propagation.

- To provide information to the general public about native plants, dangerous exotic invasive plants, plants that attract wildlife, etc.

If you are a lover of the flora of Costa Rica and are interested in being a part of the ProNativas Network, go to “Contact Us.”