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Native Plant Society of Texas

Pines and Prairies Chapter

Native Landscaping Certification Program (NLCP)

 

Stone path through a wildflower garden.The NPSOT Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) is a series of day-long classes highlighting best practices for native plant landscaping, including wildlife habitat gardening. Please check our calendar of events to find when the next classes will be offered. 

Each class consists of an indoor training session and a plant identification session. Plants native to the local ecoregion are highlighted, and their use in the landscape is demonstrated.

Forty-five native Texas plants are recommended in each level, and five non-native plants to avoid are introduced.

Goals of the NLCP classes:

  • educate NPSOT members and the general public about the value of natives,
  • demonstrate how to use native plants in home, public and commercial landscapes and habitat restorations, and
  • provide native landscape education, CEUs, and credentials to landscape professionals, developers, and nature-oriented groups

Levels:

  • Level 1: Introduction to Native Landscapes – Class & Plant Walk
  • Level 2: Design and Development with Native Plants – Class & Plant Walk
  • Level 3: Installing and Maintaining Native Landscapes – Class & Plant Walk 
  • Level 4: Stewardship of Native Plant Communities (under development) – Class & Plant Walk Visit

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