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Native Plant Society of Texas

Consider Hosting a NPSOT Fall Symposium Watch Party!

NPSOT Archive

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Of course we would love to see you in-person at our 2022 NPSOT Fall Symposium. But if you are not able to come, considering hosting a fall symposium watch party!   

Fall Symposium is just around the corner and we have a fabulous list of informative speakers lined up featuring the Trans-Pecos region.  We understand that not everyone can travel to Alpine, TX so we are excited to be able to present the sessions live via Zoom, so more of our members can be part of the fun. We are asking our chapters and members who cannot attend in-person to consider hosting local watch parties. Online registration is only $40 per person for members and $60 per person for Non-members.  Each attendee can register online for the virtual symposium registration but enjoy the viewing experience together!

Invite your NPSOT friends over to watch: Presentations are scheduled from 9:00 am-12:00 noon on Friday, September 23rd and 9:00 am -4:30 pm on Saturday, September 24th, with the awards banquet from 6:45 pm to 9:30 pm that evening. (see https://www.npsot.org/wp/fall-symposium/schedule/ for the complete Schedule).   

Or did you mean to join in person, but haven’t registered yet? In-person  registration is filling and ends Sept. 12th, so please register soon and secure your lodging to join us in person in Alpine! 

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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