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Who We Are

Yellow butterfly on purple flower, Phlox pilosa

 

Phlox pilosa, Marilyn Blanton, Cross Timbers

Our Mission

The mission of the Native Plant Society of Texas is to promote conservation, research and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach, and example.

Our Vision

We want all Texans to value native plants, native habitats and healthy ecosystems as essential to the well-being of living things and to our quality of life. Our vision is a future where native habitats are managed as critically beneficial natural assets, and where residential and commercial developments employ sustainable designs that preserve and promote native habitats.

Our more than 30 chapters across Texas further the mission of the Society at the community level, sponsoring educational speakers, field trips, workshops, on such subjects as plant identification, propagation and landscaping, work in demonstration gardens and many other types of projects.

Our People

Texas is one of the most biologically diverse states, with over 5,000 species of native plants. The Native Plant Society of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with more than 30 chapters across Texas that work to further its mission to promote research, conservation, and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas. As a community-based environmental conservation organization, NPSOT honors and celebrates the equally remarkable diversity of our communities and our unique ecoregion. By promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and leadership, we hope to expand our membership to advance the Society’s mission through education, outreach, and example.

Texas es uno de los estados con mayor diversidad biológica, con más de 5000 especies de plantas nativas. La sociedad de plantas nativas de Texas es una corporación sin fines de lucro 501(c)(3) con más de 30 capítulos en todo Texas que trabajan para avanzar su misión de promover la investigación, conservación y utilización de plantas nativas y las hábitats de plantas de Texas. Como organización comunitaria de conservación del medio ambiente, NPSOT honra y celebra la diversidad igualmente notable de nuestras comunidades y nuestra ecorregión única. Al promover la equidad, la diversidad y la inclusión en nuestro trabajo y en liderazgo, esperamos expandir nuestra membresía para avanzar la misión la sociedad a través de la educación, la divulgación y el ejemplo.

About the Society

The Native Plant Society of Texas is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, funded by membership dues, individual and corporate contributions, and foundation grants and run by volunteers.

The Society was founded in 1981 in Denton, following organizational efforts begun by Carroll Abbott and others. The late Ann Miller Gonzalez, wrote about the founding of the Society.

To learn more about Carroll Abbott and the early native plant movement in Texas, see Mr. Texas Bluebonnet – the Carroll Abbott Story.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. 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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason