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Native Plant Society of Texas

Accepting Grant Applications: September 1 – October 15, 2025

Craig Dalton

The Native Plant Society of Texas offers the following research grant to graduate students at Texas universities who are performing academic research related to Texas native plants and/or to the conservation and restoration of native plant habitats of Texas: Ann Miller Gonzalez Graduate Research Grant

This research grant is named in honor of an early supporter of Texas native plants. The award amount is up to $2500 for the duration of the grantee’s research project.

The Grants Committee is searching for Texas focused research projects and welcomes creative and impactful projects that further the NPSOT mission – To promote conservation, research and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example.

The grant application period will open on September 1, 2025, and close on October 15, 2025.

Grant(s) will be disbursed by February, 2026. The Grants & Scholarships Committee administers all student awards. For more information or questions about the research grant, please contact grants@npsot.org.

Apply Here

See the 2024 Ann Miller Gonzalez Graduate Research Grant recipients.

Learn more about the Ann Miller Gonzalez Graduate Research Grant.

The Native Plant Society provides research grants and scholarships to talented students every year. To donate to the Ann Miller Gonzales Graduate Research Grant or to one of the Scholarship funds, please donate here.

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