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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

    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