The Board of Trustees of Native Plant Trust today announced the appointment of Tim Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely focused on New England’s native plants. Johnson joins Native Plant Trust from Smith College, where he was Director of the Botanic Garden and Professor of Practice.
Johnson will lead the conservation and horticulture organization, including 45-acre Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA; Nasami Farm, a native plant nursery in Whately, MA; and expanded seed-processing and storage facilities
to support the new Northeast Seed Network, a regional initiative led by Native Plant Trust to create a sustainable source of seed to meet the increased demand for native plants. Johnson brings a background in environmental horticulture and biological science to a long-standing career in conservation and botanic garden administration and leadership, pillars of Native Plant Trust’s mission and organization.
“I am excited to join Native Plant Trust at this important moment, and for the opportunity to meld
my experience as a plant conservation researcher and a botanic garden leader in this new role,” said
Johnson. “My affection for native plants is born from a childhood spent exploring the great outdoors
of Wisconsin, and my appreciation for the importance of protecting the rarest of the rare comes
from my graduate studies working with threatened orchids on the Florida Panther National Wildlife
Refuge. I know the importance and relevance of Native Plant Trust because it is an organization
that has inspired me professionally and personally for twenty years. I have always been attracted to
the organization’s scientifically sound approach to plant conservation and citizen science, desire to
push the envelope on environmentally friendly native plant garden design, and ability to meet the
learning needs of a diverse range of plant lovers.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Tim as our CEO,” said Bill Huyett, Chair of Board of Trustees at Native
Plant Trust. “Tim’s academic background and leadership experience in conservation, horticulture
and education are an exemplary fit with our organization and our plans for growth. Native Plant
Trust has an ambitious vision to expand our impact in the areas of ecological horticulture, native
plant conservation, biodiversity and climate change. Our board looks forward to working with Tim
to harness Native Plant Trust’s strong foundation and reputation to expand and deliver on that
vision with the highest sense of urgency. I am truly excited by the opportunity to work with Tim in
translating his track record of impact and innovation in relating science to diverse audiences to our
work in the Northeast and beyond. This is an important moment for expansion and innovation in
our organization as we approach our 125th anniversary in 2025.”
Native plant garden at Nasami Farm © Liza Green; Spring at Garden in the Woods © Gary Sloan.
321 Commonwealth Road, Suite 204, Wayland, MA 01778 • 774-519-5555 www.NativePlantTrust.org
At Smith College, Johnson expanded the impact of scientific programming and conservation science
research, mentorship and education. He oversaw the financial management of the renowned botanic
garden, and guided the development of organizational vision in alignment with mission. He grew the
botanic garden’s fundraising capacity, led strategic planning including the first comprehensive plan
in its 128-year history, and restructured and strengthened internal and external communications. He
modernized links to the college curriculum, oversaw membership growth, audience diversification
and founded the garden’s germplasm conservation collections by partnering with Botanic Gardens
Conservation International. Prior to his role at Smith, Johnson was Head of Preservation and
Seed Bank Manager at Seed Savers Exchange, an international non-profit that stewards America’s
culturally diverse and endangered garden and food crop legacy through the preservation and
collection of 27,000 heirloom seed varieties.
A native of Wisconsin, Johnson focused his studies on biology and environmental horticulture,
earning a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences at the University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire
and a PhD in environmental horticulture from the University of Florida. The appointment is the
culmination of a national search, and follows the retirement of Executive Director Debbi Edelstein in
January 2024 after fifteen years of distinguished service to the organization. Johnson will begin his
role as CEO at Native Plant Trust on January 29, 2024.
Native Plant Trust is the nation’s first plant conservation organization and the only one solely
focused on New England’s native plants. We save native plants in the wild, grow them for gardens
and restorations, and educate others on their value and use. From our base in Massachusetts, staff
and trained volunteers work throughout New England each year to monitor and protect rare and
endangered plants, collect and preserve seeds to ensure biological diversity, detect and control
invasive species, conduct research, and offer a range of educational programs. We welcome visitors
from all over the world to Garden in the Woods, our renowned native plant botanic garden in
Framingham. We also operate a nursery at Nasami Farm in western Massachusetts and manage
six sanctuaries in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont that are open to the public. Native Plant
Trust is among the first organizations worldwide to receive Advanced Conservation Practitioner
accreditation by London-based Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), which included
an endorsement by an International Advisory Council representing six continents. Please visit
www.NativePlantTrust.org