Unusual and Rare Plants of Georgia

Henning von Schmeling has been at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) for 37 years, starting as a part-time janitor while in college and ending up as Senior Director of Operations. In late 2022, Henning switched positions at CNC and is now the Conservation Horticulturist. All along his journey at CNC, he has shown a passion for native plants, learning how to propagate and grow many species in our greenhouse and growing facilities. Another aspect of the new position is to grow and propagate many of the rare and endangered plant species from Georgia, concentrating on species from Northwest Georgia.

There are so many physiographic regions in this state, and each has its own unique set of species. We will start the journey in the mountains of Northeast Georgia and end up in the coastal plain. Unique habitats will bring with them unique challenges to the plants, and he will explain how some plants have adapted to these conditions.