Who we are
The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon is a volunteer organization supporting gardeners across the Pacific Northwest.
With more than 3,200 members, we welcome gardeners of all experience levels to learn, share, and grow together.
We offer a rich array of programs and events, including lectures, workshops, social hours at local nurseries, plant sales featuring specialty growers, member-exclusive open gardens throughout the region, domestic and international garden tours, a quarterly magazine with original content (print and digital), an exclusive members’ reading room, and a weekly newsletter.
PHOTO CREDIT: AUBREY HORNOR, CHICKADEE GARDENS
Learn from fellow gardeners
Visit members’ private gardens located throughout the Pacific Northwest with our Open Gardens program and find some local inspiration
Dig into the art of gardening
Learn about how people around you are gardening through our Quarterly magazine or community events listed in the weekly GROW newsletter
Nurture your curiosity about plants
Attend engaging lectures by renowned garden luminaries from the region and around the world, or attend exclusive After Hours events at local nurseries
Connect with nurseries and their plants
Come to Hortlandia and PlantFest — our legendary spring and fall plant sales featuring independent, specialty nurseries from around the PNW
- Over 3,200 members
- Serving gardeners of all levels
- Founded in 1984
Our Mission
Rooted in the Pacific Northwest
We bring plants and people together in the evolving world of gardening to inspire joy, curiosity, and learning.
PHOTO CREDIT: AUBREY HORNOR
OUR VISION
To create a flourishing community through the art of gardening
The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon is a volunteer organization supporting gardeners across the Pacific Northwest. With more than 3,200 members, we welcome gardeners of all experience levels to learn, share, and grow together.
Our History
Cultivating a community since 1984
On the heels of a heady gardening conference known as “Study Weekend” featuring renowned British gardening expert Beth Chatto, a group of Oregon gardeners founded the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon (HPSO) in 1984. From the very beginning, HPSO has been volunteer-driven, sustained by the energy and dedication of its members.
The organization’s original focus was on herbaceous perennials—plants that regrow each year without woody stems. At the time, perennial plants were not widely known or available in the Pacific Northwest, making HPSO’s mission both pioneering and timely.
Over the years, HPSO’s focus has broadened, reflecting the curiosity and growth of our membership. Our location in the Pacific Northwest offers a rich setting for exploring the art of gardening. We have hosted speakers on trees, welcomed vendors offering a wide variety of plants at our spring and fall sales, and cultivated a vibrant community of gardeners.
Today, HPSO includes gardeners of all skill levels and interests. Members engage with a diverse range of plants—from the most tender to the hardiest, from the native to the exotic. The common thread is a shared passion for plants and the natural world.
Over four decades later, HPSO has grown to more than 3,200 members, making it one of the largest gardening groups on the West Coast. The organization remains volunteer-driven, guided by a working board and active committees, and supported by three part-time professional staff. HPSO serves gardeners at every level through educational events, plant sales, and our extensive Open Gardens program. HPSO maintains its offices at Elk Rock Garden in Portland, one of Oregon’s oldest and largest intact private gardens—a fitting home for our mission and love of gardening.
