Global, collaborative large-plot networks such as the Forest Global Earth Observatory (ForestGEO) network have revolutionized our ability to observe, interpret, and predict changes in forested ecosystems. However, all ForestGEO plot plant census protocols are still limited to woody species. Herbaceous plants have varying degrees of anatomical, physiological, and competitive differences from woody plants, and they have different life-history strategies from those of trees. Given that herbaceous plants form a large component of the genetic, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of forests, this major knowledge gap limits a comprehensive understanding of forest biodiversity, dynamics, and ecosystem function. Here, a recently developed standardized herb census protocol will integrate herbaceous plant surveys directly into existing tree census networks. The proposed project implements the herb census protocol in the Harvard Forest MegaPlot, providing the first temperate site and large-scale validation dataset for the protocol. Like the ForestGEO tree monitoring projects, the forest herb protocol facilitates answering an unprecedented spatiotemporal scale of ecological questions.