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Native Plant Society of Texas

Big Bend Chapter

NOTICE – Program Cancellations

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[from Dallas Baxter]

Hi all – The Big Bend Chapter is suspending the remainder of the program year, including the Plant Sale. We know that staying away from others is the best way to avoid contracting Coronavirus, and we want to encourage members to stay home, limit outside contact and, well, work in your garden as the spring weather presents itself by leaps and bounds.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that in the fall we will offer all of the programs we aren’t doing in March and April. So you won’t miss the herbarium, the hike to see the plants among the Novaculite or the Plant Sale, which will now be in September.

This virus is scary, and we must do what we can to avoid contracting it – what better than to stay home and catch up on all the things we’ve been wanting to do!

Wishing you health in the weeks ahead. You’ll hear from us between now and fall – and wash those hands!

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: billarmstrong

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