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Native Plant Society of Texas

Clear Lake Chapter

Native Pollinator Habitat Grant Program

Application Deadline: September 1 and March 1

The Clear Lake Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas awards grants to nature centers, schools, educational groups and others to help fund development and maintenance of pollinator habitats using native plants, shrubs or trees on public sites in Brazoria, Galveston or Harris Counties of Texas. Priority is given to projects located in Brazoria Co., Galveston Co., and the southeast quadrant of Harris Co.

The goals of this program are to:

  • Educate members of the Society and the public about pollinator conservation,
  • Build or restore pollinator habitats in order to support and increase pollinator populations and diversity,
  • Promote the research, conservation and utilization of native plants and plant habitats of Texas through education, outreach and example.

Education Committee

The Education Committee of the Clear Lake Chapter serves as the grant administration committee. The committee’s duties include evaluating grant applications and awarding grants. Evaluations will be based on each plan’s

  • Completeness – has every question been answered, including a garden design plan,
  • Feasibility – better to start smaller with future expansion planned,
  • Benefit to the community – which part of the community will benefit, and
  • How well the proposed project meets the program’s goals.


The Education Committee will oversee the project’s progress through periodic site visits and submitted status reports. A final project evaluation report is required. Awardees may be asked to prepare a presentation for the chapter.

Questions for the education committee can be sent at any time during the process to clear-lake-chapter@npsot.org.

Pollinator Habitat Qualities

  • Use native plants, shrubs or trees that provide nectar and pollen sources and larval host plants
  • Provide a water source
  • Are located in a sunny area or partly sunny area
  • Create large pollinator targets with clusters of native or non-invasive plants
  • Establish continuous blooms throughout the growing season
  • Plan for at least two years maintenance
  • Provide signage describing the garden project


Note: A habitat may also contain non-native nectar and pollen plants, but no invasive plants, and grant funds cannot be used to purchase non-native plants.

Amount and Source of Funds

Grants are funded by the Clear Lake Chapter. The total amount to be budgeted for this program varies from year to year. Individual grants of up to $500 may be awarded and the grantee is not required to match the amount of the grant awarded.

Approved Types of Expenditures

Funds must be used to purchase only native plants for our ecoregion or seeds for these plants. Applications will be accepted for new habitats or for improvement and maintenance of established pollinator habitats. Plants can be replaced, or native plants can be added.

Grant funds cannot be used for signage, hardscape features, barriers, soil, pesticides, amendments or any other non-plant items. Under no circumstance can NPSOT grant funds be used for Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica).

Apply for a Grant

Funded Sites

Resources

Recommended Books

Eierman, Kim. The Pollinator Victory Garden: Win the War on Pollinator Decline with Ecological Gardening: How to Attract and Support Bees, Beetles, Butterflies, Bats, and Other Pollinators. Beverly, MA: Quarry Books, 2020.

Lee-Mäder Eric. Attracting Native Pollinators: Protecting North America’s Bees and Butterflies: the Xerces Society Guide. North Adams, MA: Storey Pub., 2011.

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2016.

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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