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Native Plant Society of Texas

You’re invited to our spring symposium!

NPSOT Archive

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Come and join us on April 26 for a festive spring outing at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin–a day filled with entertaining and educational talks, book signings and strolls through the beautiful gardens in their full glory.

Members Garden at Wildflower CenterFeatured speaker in the morning will be Dr. Doug Tallamy, well-known author of Bringing Nature Home and professor at the University of Delaware.

The Spring Symposium program will also include presentations by Matt Turner, author of Remarkable Plants of Texas and Mark Klym and Jason Singhurst of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. More information about the speakers is available here.

Cost of the day-long adventure is only $50 for members of the Native Plant Society or Wildflower Center ($55 for non-members) through April 18. The price will go up to $65 after April 18 or at the door. Lunch and a light breakfast is included.

Contact our State Office for questions.

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**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: julieallen

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