Matt Ritter facts for kids

Matt Ritter was born on September 7, 1974, in California. He is a very knowledgeable person who loves plants and trees. He works as an author, an editor, and a professor who teaches about plants at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

Matt Ritter is especially good at studying trees that people grow. He is also an expert on a type of tree called Eucalyptus. He used to be the main editor for a science magazine called Madroño. This magazine is published by the California Botanical Society, which is a group that studies plants in California.

Matt also helps with the Official National Register of Big Trees in California. This is a list of the biggest trees in the country. He has also helped write important books about plants, like the Jepson Manual which describes California native plants, and books for the Flora of North America project.

Matt Ritter's Books

Matt Ritter has written several books about plants and even some stories. These books help people learn more about the natural world around them.

• Ritter, Matt (2005) Plants of San Luis Obispo, Their Lives and Stories, Kendall Hunt, Dubuque, IA
• Ritter, Matt (2011) A Californian’s Guide to the Trees among Us, Heyday, Berkeley, CA
• Ritter, Matt (2018) California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora, Pacific Street Publishing, San Luis Obispo, CA/Heyday, Berkeley, CA
• Ritter, Matt (2020) Rainwalkers, Pacific Street Publishing, San Luis Obispo, CA
• Ritter, Matt (2021) Something Wonderful, Pacific Street Publishing, San Luis Obispo, CA

Awards and Achievements

Matt Ritter has received many awards for his work in teaching and writing about plants. These awards show how much his efforts are appreciated.

• 2011: He received the R. W. Harris Excellence in Education Award. This award came from the International Society of Arboriculture.
• 2012: He won the Distinguished Teaching Award from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. This award recognized his excellent teaching skills.
• 2018: He earned the Excellence in Education Award from the California Urban Forests Council.
• 2018: His book California Plants: A Guide to Our Iconic Flora won a Golden Poppy Award. This award was given by the California Independent Booksellers Alliance.
• 2020: His novel Rainwalkers was a finalist for the Next Generation Indie Book Award.
• 2021: Rainwalkers was also shortlisted for the Rubery Book Award.
• 2021: His children's book Something Wonderful won the Next Generation Indie Book Award.
• 2021: Something Wonderful also won the National Outdoor Book Award.
• 2021: He received another Excellence in Education Award from the California Urban Forests Council.