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Protecting the Texas environment through conservation, research and utilization of native plants

Native Plant Database

Search for plants that fit your landscape by soil type, sun/shade, height, and more

Native Plants ...

Are drought-tolerant, naturally conserving our precious water resources

Provide habitat and food for birds, butterflies, bees and other wildlife

Don’t need special pampering or fertilizing

Are natural to their ecosystem

Help us maintain biological biodiversity

Buy Native Plants

Find local nurseries and growers with natives plants.

Get Free Seeds

Libraries across Texas have native plants seeds for free!

See native plants

These native places are great for seeing what plants have either been planted in attractive combinations or how native plants community associations occur naturally.  Take some time to get outside and enjoy nature and native plants!

Demonstration Gardens

Beds, gardens or Monarch Waystations maintained by Native Plant Society of Texas volunteers

Parks, Trails, and Preserves

Natural areas where you can see native plants, including parks, trails, preserves, grasslands, and gardens

Inspirational Home Gardens

Inspirational home landscaping using native plants across Texas

Classes and Native Landscape Certification

Class Descriptions

Level 1 is a prerequisite for Level 2 and for Level 3. Subsequent levels may be taken in any order. NLCP is a state-wide program, but classes focus on the

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Gardening for Monarchs

Monarch & Milkweed Resources

Learn about Monarchs Learn about the Monarch Butterfly   Learn about Milkweed Texas Parks and Wildlife Identification of Milkweeds (Illustrated Guide) Learn about Butterfly Gardens Wildflower Center guide to making

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Monarch Waystation Requirements

Monarch Waystations are places that provide all the resources necessary for monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. A Monarch Waystation needs milkweeds, nectar plants, and some kind of

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Garden Grants

Monarch Garden Grants The Native Plant Society of Texas awards small grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups and others to help fund development of Monarch demonstration gardens or Monarch Waystations

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Latest Chapter News

Local chapters across the state help promote the Native Plant Society of Texas mission while providing a social context which many members enjoy. Each chapter chooses projects according to the interests of their members, and organizes local field trips, meetings, plant sales and other events. Most chapters publish their own websites and newsletters.

New Braunfels

Creech Prairie Restoration

Drs. Robert and Melinda Creech discuss the restoration of 88 acres of family land to a Native Texas Prairie.

Academic Scholarship Registration Open Now!

Arnan Pawawongsak

Spring Symposium Registration Open Now!

The NPSOT Spring Symposium is in Austin on February 28, 2026! Registration is open through Friday, 02/27 for the virtual event! The in-person event is wait-list only.

Plant Sales are Happening Now

NPSOT Spring plant sales are underway across Texas. Get hard to find Texas natives and talk to the experts to find the perfect Texas native plants for your yard.

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason