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Native Plant Society of Texas

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Why Native Plants? – April 17

April 17 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Join us at our April chapter meeting where we take a fun look at the who, what, where, when, why, and how of native plants. We will grow your native plant vocabulary, cultivate some knowledge, and sow some seeds for the change we want to see in the world. Whether you are a native plant novice or a wildscaping whiz, this will be a great chance to ask questions all the questions you may have been afraid to ask before. If you stump the board member presenters, we can poll the crowd or add things to our list of future presentation topics!

One of our goals this year is to grow our membership, and this is a great opportunity to bring a friend, spouse, grandchild, or whoever wants to learn more about native plants.

About the Speakers – Doreen Gallevo and Josh Kelly

Doreen has been a board member for the Houston Chapter since 2023, and was elected chapter president this year. She has been a hard core native plant gardener for seven years, and is passionate about all ecological services plants provide like supporting declining invertebrate populations, flood mitigation, cooling, and carbon capture. Having completed NPSOT’s Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP), she is now engaging in native landscape design projects. Containing well over 100 native species, her yard is registered as a National Wildlife Federation habitat, Houston Audubon bird-friendly space, Texas Pocket Prairie, and Homegrown National Park.

Josh is a native Houstonian and recently became our chapter vice president. He is a commercial landscape construction project manager and is determined to change how our landscape industry functions from the inside. In his spare time, he can be found botanizing in prairies or volunteering his time on native landscaping projects. He loves not only Texas native plants, but also Texas critters, like longhorns and the majestic raptors he has rescued from prairies. He even likes non-native bees, who he helped tend as a teen/young adult with his father and brothers.

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

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

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