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Native Plant Society of Texas

2023 Online Spring Symposium Registration

Renata Lucia

Field of tall red blooms
Standing Cypress by Meg Inglis

Our Spring Symposium in-person registration has reached capacity! The Society is excited to make this event available to you ONLINE through Zoom. Registration is only $25 for Society and Wildflower Center members and $35 for non-members. Registration closes Thursday, February 23rd at midnight. Recordings of the presentations will be made available to symposium registrants (in-person and online) about a week after the event. Looking forward to seeing you!

Register for the Online Event

Our featured presenters include:

  • David Bezanson, The Nature Conservancy, “Conservation Projects 2023”
  • Ricky Linex, Native Plant Society of Texas, “Riparian Vegetation – Creekside Tour”
  • Charlotte Reemts, The Nature Conservancy, “Dealing with KR Bluestem and Other Invasive Plants”
  • Laurel Treviño Murphy, Jha Lab, University of Texas, “Native Bees, Plants, and Habitats”
  • Roger Sanderson, Naturalist, Horticulturalist, “Native Texas Hummingbird Plants”

Download the Symposium Agenda.

Bees on a cluster of pink blossoms on a gray branch in the forest
Texas Redbud by Keenan Smith

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