The Native Plant Nursery at the Back Bay Science Center is a collaborative undertaking of the California Coastal Commission and the Newport Bay Conservancy. What started in 2000 as a single greenhouse and a small potting area has grown to include an irrigated, shade-covered area with potting tables to accommodate up to 3,600 one-gallon pots at one time. Plants such as mulefat, buckwheat and sunflower are grown from seeds collected at the Bay. These local plants are then used by community volunteers to restore native habitat.

The California Coastal Commission and the Newport Bay Conservancy are extremely grateful to State Street IMS Global Philanthropy and Outreach for a generous grant that allowed the shade structure to be built.