Membership
The Davis Botanical Society (DBS) is the support organization for the UC Davis Center for Plant Diversity and Botanical Conservatory.
Started in 1992, the Davis Botanical Society is an essential link between the community and the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory and Herbarium, enabling friends, alumni and students to become involved and engaged with these valuable programs and resources at the University.
Students, faculty, alumni, botanists, gardeners, hobbyists, friends and others of any background are invited to join the Davis Botanical Society! Learn more about our membership benefits and how to become a member below.
Membership Benefits
Keeping Up with the Society
Subscription to the semi-annual Society newsletter Lasthenia, filled with Society news and events and educational articles on a variety of botanical topics.
Get Opportunities for Student Research
The opportunity to support and learn about student research through our annual Student Grants Program, as well as supporting student research through the Society’s grants and endowments.
Gain Access to Exclusive Events
A year of Society events, including field trips to botanical sites of interest, workshops on botany-related subjects, and lectures presented by experts in many fields of botany. To see our calendar and more details of our events, visit our events page.
Gain Access to Exclusive Plant Sales
Admission to members-only plant sales at the UC Davis Arboretum. A printed list of active members will be distributed to the Arboretum prior to each sale.
Make a difference
Enjoy the knowledge that by donating your time and financial assistance, you are directly supporting the Conservatory and Herbarium collections that benefit all Californians.
Become a Member
By Mail Membership Application Form
Complete our printable Membership Form. Please read the instructions careully. In order to become a member, you must fill out the Membership Form and then donate to the fund through our Membership Portal or by mail.
After the University of California Davis has processed your payment, and the Davis Botanical Society has processed your membership form, sometime between two to four weeks, you will be sent a tax deductible donation acknowledgement from the The Regents of the University of California, Davis and a separate welcome email or letter from the Davis Botanical Society.
Online Membership Application Form
Visit our Membership Portal. Please read the instructions careully. In order to become a member, you must fill out the onilne Membership Form and then donate to the fund through our Membership Portal.
How to Make an Online Payment
On our Membership Portal, click on "Donate to this Fund". Then, enter the amount of your chosen membership level (see options below) into the "How much will you give?" line and follow the prompts to enter the rest of your contact and payment information. The online membership application form is also on this page.
Student – FREE (Submit the online application and skip the payment step.)
Individual – Annual donation of $30.00
Family – Annual donation of $40.00
Donor – Annual donation of $75.00
Patron/Organization – Annual donation of $150.00
Benefactor – Annual donation of $250.00
Lifetime – Single gift of $500.00 provides one individual with a lifetime membership
Students note:
Currently enrolled UC Davis students may join Davis Botanical Society for free. Student Members will receive digital copies of our announcements and bi-annual Newsletter Lasthenia. Students are welcome to visit the Herbarium to pick up printed copies of Lasthenia for free. If students want to have printed copies mailed to them, please purchase an Individual membership. There are no dues for students; however, you will need to fill out the Membership Form including your email.
Additional Donations
Student Research Grants Program
Each year, the Davis Botanical Society awards research grants to graduate and undergraduate students at UC Davis to help defray the expenses of independent study or other research projects. The student projects are field-oriented and related to plant taxonomy or plant evolutionary biology and ecology. Visit the Student Research Grants Program Portal.
For more information on the application process or to learn about recipients of our progam, visit our Grants page.
Ellen Dean Herbarium Fund
The Ellen Dean Herbarium Fund is a named endowment honoring Ellen Dean’s decades of service as Curator of the Center for Plant Diversity Herbarium. Established by volunteers, friends and family, alumni, and the extended herbaria community, interest income from this fund is used to support operation of the herbarium, support for student staff and purchase of curation supplies. Contributing to this fund is a wonderful way to support the Center for Plant Diversity Herbarium, as well as student training and botany at UC Davis. The Herbarium Endowment is maintained by the UC Davis Foundation. Visit the Ellen Dean Herbarium Fund Portal.
Tim Metcalf Botanical Conservatory Endowment
The Tim Metcalf Botanical Conservatory Endowment Endowment has been established by alumni, friends and colleagues to honor Tim Metcalf and his four decades leading the UC Davis Botanical Conservatory. All gifts given to this fund will provide unrestricted support to the Botanical Conservatory to address the program’s needs and goals over the long-term. The goal is to reach the endowment level of $50,000 and honor Tim Metcalf’s vital role in perpetuity. Visit the Tim Metcalf Botanical Conservatory Fund Portal.
Center For Plant Diversity Herbarium General Support
These donations might go towards consumable supplies for mounting specimens, for books for our reference library, or for a certain piece of equipment we need. Visit the Center For Plant Diversity Herbarium Fund Portal.
Botanical Conservatory General Support
These donations might go towards plants, consumable supplies, books for our reference library, or for a certain piece of equipment we need. Visit the Botanical Conservatory Fund Portal.
If your employer has a matching gift program, your contribution may be doubled (check with your employer). Memberships and gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.
When you are donating to more than one fund online, a separate donation form will be required for each fund. Membership in the Davis Botanical Society is considered a separate “donation” with its own form.
After the University of California Davis has processed your payment, sometime between two to four weeks, you will be sent a tax deductible donation acknowledgement from the The Regents of the University of California, Davis and a separate welcome email or letter from the Davis Botanical Society.