Post Oak Chapter-Native Plant Society of Texas

07/21/2026

Branched or Aggieland Gayfeather (Liatris cymosa) is endemic to the Brazos Valley.
Asteraceae-Sunflower Family.
BRTC Trail/Schob Nature Preserve TAMU, College Station.
July 21, 2026.

07/18/2026

Pink-scale Blazing Star (Liatris hesperelegans) formerly known as Elegant Gayfeather.
Asteraceae-Sunflower Family.
Lick Creek Park, College Station, Brazos County.
July 18, 2026.

Elegant Gay Feather (Liatris elegans) was split into four different species in 2021 (reference below). L. elegans is east of the Mississippi River with L. hesperelegans in Louisiana & east Texas, Bridges' gayfeather (L. bridgesii) in east central to central Texas, and Carrizo gayfeather (L. carrizana) in central to south Texas. Brazos County is in the transition zone from L. hesperelegans to L. Bridgesii. It is possible that this population is actually the pink form of Bridges' gayfeather (herbarium specimens need to be evaluated).

Regardless whether it is pink-scale or Bridges' it is a beautiful stand of Liatris in Lick Creek Park!

Nesom, G.L. 2021. The Liatris elegans group (Astereae): Taxonomic review. Phytoneuron 2021-32: 1–40. Published 5 July
2021. ISSN 2153 733X

06/27/2026

Texas bluebells (Eustoma russellianum).
Gentianaceae-Gentian Family.
Independence, Washington County, Texas.
June 27, 2026.

06/24/2026

06/07/2026

The Texas bluebells (Eustoma russellianum) are just beginning to bloom.
Gentianaceae-Gentian Family.
Grimes & Washington Counties.
May 5th & 7th, 2026.

06/04/2026

The standing cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) is blooming so you know it's hot outside! It is a member of the Phlox Family-Polemoniaceae.

Brazos County. June 4, 2026.

05/28/2026

Devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa) has the largest compound leaves of any native plant in North America. It is a large shrub (15-20 ft.) with prickles on the stem, petioles & leaflets. It is a member of the Araliaceae or Ginseng Family. The leaves on this plant were 4-5 feet long.

Lick Creek Park, College Station. May 28, 2026.

05/21/2026

It's a great year for American basketflower (Plectocephalus americanus)! Asteraceae-Sunflower Family. Burleson County.
May 21, 2026.

05/17/2026

Wildflowers at Lick Creek Park in College Station.
May 17, 2026.

05/12/2026

Coral Bean (Erythrina herbaceae). Fabaceae-Legume Family.
Walker County. May 12, 2026.

A prescribed burn has temporarily reduced the number of blooming coral bean plants in one of our favorite sections of the Sam Houston National Forest. Look closely at the photos though and you can see vigorous new growth and new blooms coming on.