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Native Plant Society of Texas

Introducing a natives in schools project

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Educating school children about native plants and plant habitats can create life-long native plant enthusiasts and inspire some to choose careers in native plant conservation, research, or landscaping.

The Native Plant Society of Texas is creating the Natives in Schools Committee to:

  • Determine the best way to introduce a native plants curriculum to public and private schools in Texas.
  • Develop a native plants curriculum that adheres to TEA requirements for the target grade level.
  • Develop a sustainable, state-supported program that chapters can enact at the local level.
  • Apply for and implement grants to fund the program, with full support from Society staff.

We are seeking members with a background in elementary education to join the committee. We would like participation from each of our chapters. We plan to spend the rest of August recruiting members and to have our first committee meeting over Zoom in September.

If you would like to help, please contact Kimber Kaushik.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: kimberkaushik

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