Trinity Forks Chapter

Where to See

Where to See Native Plants in North Texas

The below locales in North Texas are a great way to see our native plants in demonstration gardens, parks, prairies, preserves, and other sites. Further information is available by selecting a location on the map or scrolling down to the site summaries.

Chapter Demonstration Gardens

Parks & Trails

Clark Gardens

The mission of Clark Gardens is to inspire and demonstrate the many rich horticulture and nature-based possibilities of North Texas to tourists and residents alike.

Read More »

Cross Timbers Trailhead

If you go to the left–Equestrian Trail: Experience this 6.5-mile out-and-back trail near Flower Mound, Texas. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an

Read More »

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

The 11,320-acre refuge on Lake Texoma includes shallow marshes, creeks, bottomland hardwoods, forested uplands and grasslands, that provide habitat for more than 300 species of birds and many varieties of wildlife.

Read More »

Parkhill Prairie

A 436-acre native plant preserve located in northeast Collin County. Parkhill Prairie Park features a 52-acre relic of the Blackland tall-grass prairie and provides magnificent

Read More »

Smiley-Woodfin Prairie

The 2,100-acre meadow in Lamar County is the largest section of native grassland existing in Texas. This grassland has remained uncultivated, providing an annual harvest

Read More »

Spring Creek Forest Preserve

The preserve is situated in northern Dallas County, and features old-growth bottomlandforest with a gentle, wide spring water stream that flows over a bed of solid limestone. The

Read More »

Stiff Chapel Cemetery

A two-acre Texas Historic Cemetery dating from 1847. Located in McKinney, the grounds have a wide variety of native grasses and perennials on undisturbed soil.

Read More »

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