Spring 2022 landscaping classes announced

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The Native Plant Society of Texas is offering 15 classes in Spring 2022 in its popular Native Landscape Certification Program. More classes could be added later.

Click through to the class list to find a class and register.

The classes are offered for 9 different regions around the state. Although you may register for a class in any region, you will get the most benefit from a class designed for an area near you.  We are offering at least one class in each of the courses available, including Level 4 and the Landscaping for Birds class.

Classes are intended to be useful both to homeowners and professionals. Classes have an emphasis on helping students become familiar with the identification and use of specific plants native to their region.

CEUs are now offered by International Society of Arboriculture and Texas Nursery and Landscape Association. Texas Master Naturalists and Texas Master Gardeners count classes as training hours.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: wpadmin

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