North Texas Giving Day – Early Giving Starts

Help us cultivate a greener, healthier North Texas! The Collin County Chapter of NPSOT is taking part in North Texas Giving Day – early giving starts August 28 and Giving Day is September 18. Your donation to our chapter directly supports our vital work in promoting native plant conservation, educating our community, and restoring critical […]

Collin County September Meeting – Native Seed Collection & Processing Workshop

Carol Clark will lead a hands-on workshop on native seed collection and processing. Learn the principles of ethical, efficient, and useful native plant seed collection, processing and storage. We will cover shortcuts, processing techniques, dangers and pitfalls involved in collecting and storing native seeds. Try it yourself during the hands-on time. Our meetings are open […]

North Texas Giving Day

Help us cultivate a greener, healthier North Texas! The Collin County Chapter of NPSOT is taking part in North Texas Giving Day on September 18. Your donation to our chapter directly supports our vital work in promoting native plant conservation, educating our community, and restoring critical habitats. Learn more about North Texas Giving Day and […]

Collin County October Meeting – Drought-tolerant Native Texas Plants

Presentation by Randy Pensabene Randy will guide us through the native plants and practices that will help turn your yard from a typical high-water, non-native landscape into a beautiful, low-water, drought-tolerant native Texas landscape. Our meetings are open to the public and you can join us in person at the Heard Museum’s Laughlin Hall, via […]

Collin County November Meeting – Native Texas Plant Show & Tell

Our annual Native Texas Plant Show & Tell program will be on Tuesday, November 4. Members and other attendees are encouraged to show pictures and tell about their favorite native Texas plants. It can be: We're Looking for Show & Tellers! This is your chance to share your photos and stories. Everyone is invited to present. […]

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason