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Native Plant Society of Texas

Registration open for our fall symposium

NPSOT Archive

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Our fall symposium this year is in the Houston/Galveston area on October 3-5. Great native plant tours, workshops and speakers have been put together related to our theme of Conservation of Native Plants of the Texas Coastal Prairies.

Registration package details are listed at the symposium webpage.

Our headquarters hotel will be the South Shore Harbour Resort & Conference Center in League City. You will need to book hotel reservations separately at this website or phone 281-334-1000. A discounted rate is available for all rooms booked by September 12.

Following a stop or two along your route, we will see you at our welcoming reception Thursday, October 3 in League City. On Friday morning we meet in the Marina Plaza Ballroom for plenary speakers, followed by field trips in the afternoon. On Friday evening at Bill’s Bar & Burger on the Kemah Boardwalk, we will be entertained with the sailing, beach and country songs of Houston singer-guitarist Dan DeHart! Then on Saturday morning we will be back in the ballroom for more presentations  followed by our annual general membership meeting and a full slate of breakout sessions in the afternoon. On Saturday evening we will have our awards banquet. 

Students & Educators
A discounted registration rate is available to educators and students. After completing your registration, please email a photocopy of your Student/Teacher ID to state@npsot.org.

Dress Code & Preparation
Casual dress is appropriate. Wear comfortable walking or hiking shoes on field trips. To reduce the impact on the environment, we ask participants to bring a re-usable water bottle to all events! Other useful items to bring: hats, sunglasses, binoculars, GPS, bug repellant, cameras, rain gear, jackets (check the forecast). Our Saturday evening awards banquet is a prestigious event! Dress it up!

Silent Auction & Raffle
Our traditional silent auction benefits our Kate Hillhouse Scholarship and Ann Miller Gonzales Research Grant for students pursuing degrees in the study of Texas native plants. You are invited to bring an item or two for the silent auction. A beautiful member-made quilt will be offered for raffle, please purchase one or more raffle tickets!

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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