2ND ANNUAL
Think Natives First™
Plant Conference 2026
sPECIFY iT rIGHT.
nATIVE pLANTS FROM pLAN TO pERFORMANCE
Tuesday, August 11
8:30a – 5:30p
Gwinnett Technical College
5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Not the Exception, but the Norm
Building on the success of last year’s Think Natives Firsttm Plant Conference, this year’s event brings a stronger industry focus with expanded learning opportunities for Civil Engineers, Landscape Architects, designers, growers, contractors, and maintenance professionals.
The 2026 theme, “Specify It Right. Native Plants from Plan to Performance,” centers on practical, real-world strategies for integrating native plants into successful, high-performing projects. Attendees will have the opportunity to earn Professional Development Hours/Continuing Education Units while learning the importance of writing native-forward specifications, aligning plant selection with stormwater and site goals, reducing long-term maintenance costs, and navigating challenges like plant availability and value engineering.
Through keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and collaborative discussions, the conference connects the professionals who specify projects with those who grow, install, and maintain them, creating a shared path toward more resilient, sustainable, and economically viable landscapes.
Join industry leaders and environmental professionals for a day of actionable learning, meaningful networking, and solutions that benefit both projects and the planet.
This conference seeks to understand
What can we do to ensure the best plants and processes for our clients, our business, and our planet?
Be part of the conversation.
General Admission
Student: $75 $65*
Professional: $150 $125*
Each ticket includes:
- One (1) ticket to the full conference
- Access to Vendor area and Networking event following the conference
- Light refreshments throughout the day
- Lunch
- PDH/CEUs (where applicable)
- Listing on EMMA, the Eco-Map of Metro Atlanta (where applicable)
- Complimentary membership to the TNF Green Coalition ($50 value; kicking off Fall 26)
*Early bird pricing, available until June 30.
Get Involved
We’re bringing together the professionals and advocates shaping the future of sustainable landscapes for conversations that spark collaboration, practical solutions, and real industry change.
Register to attend and connect with vendors, exhibitors, and experts focused on native plants, biodiversity, stormwater solutions, and climate-positive landscape practices. Learn cost-effective strategies that transform traditional landscapes into thriving ecosystems.
Register as a vendor/exhibitor to showcase your solutions to an engaged audience actively seeking sustainable products and services. Sponsorship opportunities are available at multiple levels to fit every budget.
Root Local is NOT the expert; we are the backbone organization supporting the understanding and adoption of the yards and greenspaces of the future – living, thriving, and sustainable environments. All proceeds support Root Local’s mission to connect people, businesses, and communities to local environmental action and measurable impact across Metro Atlanta.
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