Austin Chapter

NPSOT Spring Symposium 2023

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Registration Open!

The Native Plant Society of Texas 2023 Spring Symposium is coming to Austin, Texas!

When: Saturday, February 25

Where: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, South Austin, TX

This year’s event will take place at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in South Austin on Saturday February 25. The cost is $50 for NPSOT and LBJWC members and $65 for non-members. A light breakfast, box lunch, and full access to the Wildflower Center gardens is included for all registrants. Doors open for check-in at 8 am.

Our featured presenters include:

  • David Bezanson, The Nature Conservancy, “Conservation Projects 2023”
  • Ricky Linex, Native Plant Society of Texas, “Riparian Vegetation – Creekside Tour”
  • Charlotte Reemts, The Nature Conservancy, “Dealing with KR Bluestem and Other Invasive Plants”
  • Laurel Treviño Murphy, Jha Lab, University of Texas, “Native Bees, Plants, and Habitats”
  • Roger Sanderson, Naturalist, Horticulturalist, “Native Texas Hummingbird Plants”

Tours of the Wildflower Center gardens will follow the presentations.

Download the Symposium Agenda.

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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