Join / Renew / Gift Donate Shop Member Portal Language

Search
npsot_bluebonnet_full_color

Native Plant Society of Texas

Year End News and Events

Craig Dalton

The Native Plant Society of Texas is grateful for your dedication to native plants in 2023.

    • Our Native Plant Database – organized by ecoregion – is a vital new resource for native plant enthusiasts.

    • Our Texas Native Plant Week collaboration with H-E-B distributed 9,600 native plants into local communities.

    • Our I-35 Monarch Waystations educated thousands of travelers about the importance of native plants for wildlife.

    Thanks to all of our members, volunteers, staff, state board directors and other leaders of the Native Plant Society of Texas. You made it possible to educate the public about the resilience of native plants and their importance to our everyday lives.

    And, thanks to you for your donations which make it possible for us to do this very important work.

    Warmest regards and best wishes for 2024!

    Donate to the Native Plant Society Today

    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