Conference Goals

In 1984 the Tennessee Valley Authority provided grants for outreach projects in the Southeast. One grant was directed to underwrite a “Plant Utilization” meeting that has become known as The Cullowhee Conference, an annual event that has changed the American landscape.

The goals of the Cullowhee Conference are to:

• Provide forums for presentations and discussions about ecological philosophy, horticulture, landscape design and installation, gardening methods, and ecological investigation
• Increase interest in and knowledge of native plant propagation
• Promote knowledge of native plant and native plant community ecology
• Encourage the use of native plants in landscaping and ecological restoration
• Provide field, workshop, and lecture activities designed as valuable educational experiences
• Advance dialog and cooperation between all participants in native and cultural landscape management

The conference is held at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina close to both the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Cullowhee is in an ideal location for anyone with interests in the biodiversity and beauty of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.