Fredericksburg Chapter

Feb. 27: “Native Seed Selection and Planting Tips”

 

Cates came to Native American Seed as an intern after graduating from college in Sherman, TX. He’s got a remarkable knack for looking at problems as “challenges” to be met, and the kind of willingness to learn that is a priceless asset in a business full of the unexpected and unpredictable. Cates’ many years of growing native plants and experience restoring native ecosystems across Texas will provide invaluable insight at the upcoming meeting.

 

“Native American Seed is a tremendous resource for our region and they have been a great supporter of our chapter,” noted Deborah Simmons, President of the Fredericksburg Chapter of NPSOT. “They donated seeds to our re-seeding effort at Cross Mountain and provide catalogs to us that are full of great pictures and information about native seeds and plants.”

The chapter holds its monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph’s Halle (212 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg).

  • Social time begins at 6:30 p.m.
  • Meeting and speaker is at 7 p.m.

The public is invited to attend in person and via Zoom. More information is online at Facebook , Instagram .
Native American Seed is online at https://seedsource.com.

 

Holly Simonette

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