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Native Plant Society of Texas

Big Bend Chapter

Strategic Plan 2019-2024

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[from Dallas Baxter]

The Native Plant Society of Texas’ 2019-2024 Strategic Plan has been completed and is now available for download in PDF in both the illustrated and text only forms. The Planning and Development committee deserves a round of applause as do all the NPSOT members who contributed with suggestions.

The mission of the Native Plant Society of Texas is to promote research, conservation and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach and example. A growing membership helps us to further this mission, while enabling members to learn more about the value of native plants in our ecosystem. The Society is an important voice for native plants in Texas. If you are not already a member, please consider joining this dynamic organization.

To join, please see the Join/Renew/Give page on the statewide site. From here you will be able to apply via the online form or print out an application that you can mail in. If you wish to join the Big Bend Chapter of the Society specifically, please choose Big Bend from the “Chapter Affiliation” dropdown menu on the online form, or write it on the print form where it requests, “Please choose a primary chapter affiliation.”

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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