North Central Chapter

NICE Fall 2023 Plant of the Season

Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): Ornamental Grass for Shade
Description: Inland Sea Oats is a low-maintenance grass that thrives in the shade. It is a clump forming, perennial grass that grows between 2-4 feet tall. It has large,
drooping seed heads with a chevron pattern. Its slender arching branches have blue-green leaves that resemble bamboo. Inland Sea Oats provides year-round interest. Green during the spring and summer, the seed heads turn to light golden brown in the fall and early winter. The leaves turn bronze during the winter and may be
bright yellow gold in sunnier sites. Inland Sea Oats is not the same plant as Sea Oats (Uniola paniculate) which grows in sand dunes along subtropical coastal areas.

To learn more view: Inland Sea Oats plant information sheet

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