An iconic and influential contributor to the herbal medicine community for nearly 50 years, botanical expert, renowned photographer, and best-selling author Steven Foster died recently, and unexpectedly, at the age of 64.
 
Foster is often credited with helping to popularize echinacea as it’s known today, thanks in part to his 1991 book Echinacea: Nature’s Immune Enhancer (Healing Arts Press). He contributed extensively to the development of industry companies and groups like the American Botanical Council (ABC), which offered a tribute to the Maine native who started his career in 1974 at the Sabbathday Lake, ME, Shaker’s Herb Department—America’s oldest herb business dating to 1799.
 
During his four years at the Shaker Herb Department, he managed three acres of herb gardens and produced more than 50 herbal products. Foster once said, “Everything I do now—writing, lectures, consulting, and photography—began during that time from age 17-21. Part of my job was to shadow visiting photographers working on assignment for various publications. I learned photography by watching great photographers at work.”
 
In a letter to the herbal medicine community, ABC Founder and Executive Director Mark Blumenthal said Foster was “one of the most brilliant people in the entire American and international herb community.”
 
Foster served for 22 years on ABC’s Board of Trustees, including 10 years as President of the Board. He played a significant role in the development of ABC’s peer-reviewed journal HerbalGram. He was a Contributing Editor beginning in 1986 and then an Associate Editor beginning in 1990. In addition to many articles, Foster’s photography has been published in HerbalGram throughout its history.
 
Foster was author or co-author of 21 books and hundreds of articles. He was senior author of three Peterson Field Guides, including the third edition of the Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Eastern and Central North America with James A. Duke (2014); A Field Guide to Western Medicinal Plants and Herbs with Christopher Hobbs (2002); and A Field Guide to Venomous Animals and Poisonous Plants of North America with Roger Caras (1995).
 
He was also the senior author of National Geographic’s Desk Reference to Nature’s Medicine (with Rebecca Johnson), a 2007 New York Public Library “Best of Reference.”
 
An expert on herbal literature, Foster served as editor for the first edition of the American Herbal Products Association’s Herbs of Commerce. Published in 1992, Herbs of Commerce was subsequently incorporated by reference in federal regulations.
 
In 2008, Foster received the AHPA Herbal Insight Award for furthering the knowledge and understanding of medicinal and aromatic plants through his work as a photographer, author, and consultant. His ability to “capture the elegance and intimacy of the ‘human-plant relationship’” was celebrated as “astounding,” AHPA noted.

According to a profile of Foster published in HerbalGram in 2008 (written by Kelly E. Lindner), sunrise was Foster’s favorite time of day to photograph. In the article, Foster was quoted as saying, “Who has time for hobbies? I am fortunate in that my work is my life. I love plants, books on plants, photographing plants, learning about plants, and the people associated with them. It is what I eat, sleep, and drink.”
 
At the time of his passing, Foster lived in Eureka Springs, AR. He is survived by his wife Donna along with six children and eight grandchildren.