REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the March 28-29 Class in Mandeville, La. Scroll down to register
Sign up for our Native Landscape Certification Program and take your brand to the next level with new expertise and certification in the following:
- The ecology of native plants
- Ability to identify native plants
- Skills to design and maintain landscapes with native plants
- How to landscape to Louisiana’s geography and hydrology
What you will learn
Topics covered in the training manual and in-person classes:
- native plant basics, ecology, and terminology
- plant nomenclature and anatomy
- native and invasive plant identification
- Louisiana soils and ecoregions
- site evaluation
- landscape planning, plant selection and placement
- installation and maintenance of native landscapes
Graduates of the Basic curriculum will be listed indefinitely on our online-directory.
Upcoming Course Details
Join us for our next class in Mandeville, Louisiana!
- Date: March 28 – 29, 2026
- Time: 8am to 5pm each day
- Location: Mandeville, Louisiana
- Address: 63350 Pelican Dr., Mandeville, Louisiana, 70448
- Cost: $400
- Registration Deadline: February 24, 2026
Classes will include classroom presentations by instructors, in-class drawing exercises, and site visits to at least two field locations that include both natural and landscaped areas for live plant identification, site analysis and landscape technique demonstrations.
Those who successfully complete the training receive a digital copy of Native Plants in the South, third edition, by Bill Fontenot and Lawrence Rozas. They will also be listed in a directory available to homeowners, municipalities and government
If you would like to be notified about future courses in other areas, please sign up for our Landscaping Professionals email list.
To Register for Current Class – FULL CLASS
To participate, you must submit your registration forms and $400 class fee no later than February 24th, 2026. Your registration is not considered complete and your space in the class cannot be held until the class fee has been received.
Register for TESTING ONLY
Can existing professionals who are already practicing native landscaping test out and receive certification? YES!
Individuals already knowledgeable in native plants and landscaping may test out of the Basic level curriculum and become certified for a fee of $150.00. The written exam must be taken on-site at a scheduled class. You must appear in person on Day 2 of the current class for the written exam and also present a landscape plan online to the review committee. The fee includes a printed and shipped Training Manual (required), listing in the on-line directory, a certificate of completion and one vehicle decal/magnet upon successful completion of written and online elements.
Q & A
YES. A participant will be granted ONE opportunity to retake the initial tests. A retake of the written portion must be done at a subsequent scheduled class. Likewise, the landscape planning and virtual presentation will be scheduled by the committee concurrent with the interviews that follow a scheduled class.
Once registered and paid, an individual may cancel their registration for an 80% refund up until one week before the class. The Training Manual will remain theirs to keep. If that person registers for a future class, they may use that manual and take the class at a discounted price without receiving a new manual.
Yes! While the class is tailored to Louisiana conditions and plants, much of the information presented is largely relevant for any native gardening pursuit, especially for those in the nearby states.
Reasons To Get Certified
A growing number of residential and commercial customers are looking for native plant experts.
This is an excellent opportunity for you to stand out in your industry and get ahead of the growing demand. Early adopters will have the advantage of being some of the few who are certified before anyone else. This certification can help you stand out.
Nature friendly landscapes are in!
People are noticing the decline in pollinators, birds and other wildlife and want to do something about it. As a trained native plant professional you will be educated and certified to designed nature friendly landscapes that help our habitat and look beautiful.
Create highly resilient landscape designs
Learn to create landscapes that withstand extreme elements. Extreme droughts, flooding and weather related events. The designs are even known to remediate and clean soils!
Native plants require less inputs
They require less irrigation, fertilizer, labor fossil fuels for equipment saving your customers time and money. You will be able to offer your customers a low maintenance garden design.
Recent Graduates
This is made possible by our sponsors
