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Native Plant Society of Texas

Boerne Chapter

March Chapter Meeting – Tuesday, Mar 7, 2023, Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium, 6:00pm Social Time; 6:45pm Announcements, 7:00pm Presentation

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March Chapter Meeting – Tuesday, Mar 7, 2023, Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium, 6:00pm Social Time; 6:45pm
Note the new time for the start time, to provide more time for socializing.
Announcements, 7:00pm Presentation
Topic: Jumpstart Your Native Garden – Do you want to start gardening with more Texas native plants? Just a few small changes to what you are growing can make a big impact in terms of supporting more insects, birds, and other wildlife. You can support more insects and wildlife, one plant at a time. 
Presenter: Haeley Giambalvo  –  While becoming a Texas Master Naturalist in 2020, Haeley developed a passion for growing native plants that support insects and wildlife. Now she wants to tell everyone about the benefits of native plants.  Haeley serves on the boards of the Alamo Area Master Naturalists and the NPSOT San Antonio Chapter. She volunteers with fellow plant-loving friends to maintain native plant demonstration gardens around town. 
 

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: mbrown

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