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Native Plant Society of Texas

Fall landscaping classes announced

NPSOT Archive

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The Society is offering classes in native plant landscaping to the public this fall in San Antonio and in the Fort Worth area.

Classes are offered for beginners and for more experienced gardeners. They are designed to be of benefit to a broad spectrum of students, from homeowners looking to landscape the backyard to professionals who want to know more about using native plants on the job.

Learn more about the San Antonio classes here and the Fort Worth classes here. A more advanced class will be announced for the Fort Worth area later in the fall.

The classes were developed by the Native Landscape Certification Program and taught by local members of the community. Students learn the identification of Texas natives, their place in the local ecosystem and the conditions which will allow them to thrive in a landscape.  The program started in San Antonio and expanded to the Dallas Fort Worth area last spring.

The Society expects to offer classes in additional areas in response to demand. Each class is tailored to fit the ecosystem in which it is offered.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: Bill Hopkins

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