Austin Chapter

NICE Partner Program

Photo Credit: Claire Sorenso

Purpose

The NICE Native Plant Partner program is a collaboration between the Native Plant Society of Texas and local nurseries around the state to offer native plants that are right for the local environment. NICE stands for Natives Improve and Conserve Environments.

Texas is a large, diverse state and plants that work for one region may not always be the best choice in a different region. NICE Partner committees, run by our local chapters, highlight native plants of the month or the season in cooperation with participating local nurseries and wholesalers in order to assure availability. The Native Plant Society chapter then helps promote native plants sales to the public by providing signs and plant information at the point of sale, advertising on its website and assisting with onsite plant sale events.

Why Plant Natives In Your Yard?

Save Water: Native plants are drought-tolerant, naturally conserving our precious water resources. 

Support Wildlife: Native plants bring back critical habitat to our urban and suburban landscapes that provide food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Reduce Chemical Use: Native plants don’t need pesticides or fertilizers.

Best Adapted to the Local Region: Native plants evolved to thrive in local climate and soils. 

Are Beautiful: We do not need to sacrifice beauty in our landscapes when growing native plants.

NPSOT Native Plant Database

Click here to search for plants by Texas region, season, and other attributes that fit your landscape.

 Volunteer Opportunities

  • Recruit partner nurseries
  • Participate in onsite events to promote native plants with nursery partners
  • Publicity: Chapter Social Media, Newspaper articles, posters and signs, t-shirts and buttons
  • Sign up here to help us with upcoming NICE events

Austin Chapter Native Plant Partner Nurseries

Associated Chapters: Austin
3601 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX 78746, USA
Associated Chapters: Austin
601 W Pecan St, Pflugerville, TX 78660, USA
Associated Chapters: Austin
801 Tillery St, Austin, TX 78702, USA

Additional NICE Partner Nurseries in Central Texas

93 Nursery and Landscaping Supply

Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
5300 West Farm To Market 93, Temple, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Fredericksburg
1834 Junction Highway, Kerrville, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Lindheimer
1150 Farm to Market Road 2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133, USA
Associated Chapters: Lindheimer
San Marcos, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
1220 North Main Street, Belton, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Fredericksburg
1107 North Llano Street, Fredericksburg, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
1315 W Ave O, Belton, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Fredericksburg
13439 South Ranch Road 783, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA
Associated Chapters: Guadalupe
100 Elm Grove Road, Seguin, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
1101 Hwy 190, Nolanville, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Boerne
32005 Interstate 10, Boerne, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Guadalupe, Hill Country
103 Center Point Road, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Associated Chapters: Lindheimer, Boerne
768 FM2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133, USA
Associated Chapters: Hill Country
14210 Ranch Rd 12, Wimberley, TX 78676, USA
Associated Chapters: Guadalupe
3011 US 90, Seguin, TX 78155, USA
Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
303 Leander Rd #8401, Georgetown, TX 78626, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Boerne, Fredericksburg
13417 Texas 16, Medina, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Fredericksburg
4256 Medina Hwy, Kerrville, TX 78028, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Fredericksburg
604 Jefferson St, Kerrville, Texas, USA
Associated Chapters: Lindheimer, Boerne, San Antonio
101 South St, Converse, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Lindheimer, Boerne
22201 TX-46, Bulverde, TX 78163, USA
Associated Chapters: Kerrville, Boerne
109 Farm to Market Road 473, Comfort, TX 78013, USA
Associated Chapters: Boerne, San Antonio
7600 Eckhert Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Associated Chapters: Tonkawa
Briggs, TX, USA

For statewide nurseries look at our statewide NICE partners page.

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