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Native Plant Society of Texas

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Native Plants in Houston: Building a Local Supply Chain for a Growing Market – March 20

March 20 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Matt Stahman will discuss the state of local native plant supplies, the markets for those supplies, and the need and formation of a supply chain for future markets for native plants and native plant materials.

About the Speaker

Matt serves as a Regulatory Director for Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) where he specializes in wetlands and endangered species related ecological restoration projects, especially those associated with mitigation, and is a registered Professional Wetland Scientist and past president of the Society of Wetland Scientists South Central Chapter (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama) as well as a Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner through the Society for Ecological Restoration.

Throughout his career, he has worked on the design, permitting, project management, construction, and monitoring of multiple ecological restoration projects, including wetland mitigation banks and consolidated mitigation areas. He has 30 years of experience in Clean Water Act permitting and mitigation, Endangered Species Act consultations, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental impact assessments, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) filings, and obtaining various other federal, state, and local environmental permits. Matt has worked throughout the United States, providing environmental compliance consulting for various industries including oil and gas, public transportation, telecommunications, electric utility, coal mining, and land development. In his spare time, he works evenings and weekends for his mom, who started Stahman Native Plants in 2024, to develop supplies for native plant hay and other materials for the Houston area.

Our monthly chapter meetings are held on every 3rd Thursday, January – November. Our meetings are free and open to the public thanks to our members and sponsors.

The presentation will start at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks.

Houston Arboretum and Nature Center

610 Entrance (preferred)
120 W Loop N Fwy
Houston, TX 77024

Woodway Entrance
4501 Woodway Drive
Houston, TX 77024

Meetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing.

Register to Attend via Zoom

Return to Houston Chapter Page

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason