Plants & People
Plantas y Gente
Native or indigenous plants are those that occur naturally in a particular region, or ecosystem. They have existed for centuries supporting life, increasing biodiversity, and
playing an important role in soil and water conservation.
Texas is one of the most biologically diverse states, with over 5,000 native plants and 10 ecoregions that range from the arid High Plains to the lush Gulf Coast. However, at least 41 of its plant species have been listed as threatened or endangered. Habitat destruction, fragmentation and the loss of genetic diversity due to land clearing are among the many threats to our native plant species.
The graphic includes the following Texas wildflowers that are recognized as endangered plant species.
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Texas poppymallow, Callirhoe scabriuscula
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Comanche Peak prairie clover, Dalea reverchonii
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Puzzle sunflower, Helianthus paradoxus
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Big red sage, Salvia penstemonoides
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Bracted twistflower, Streptanthus bracteatus
The Zapata bladderpod is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family that is found in Zapata and Starr Counties has been listed as endangered since 1999. The prostrate milkweed - a native plant crucial for
the survival of monarch butterflies - was added to the endangered species list in 2023.
The well-being of native plants is one way to measure the overall health of the environment. The extinction of native species serves as a warning of disruption to our natural ecosystems.
PlantArte native plant art contest & exhibit
PlantArte is a celebration of native plants through botanical art, originally offered in 2024 by Arte Sana's Plants & People, Plantas y Gente project in collaboration with local, state, and national native plant and environmental groups.
Through the PlantArte handmade native plant art contest and online exhibit, participating artists are helping prevent Plant Awareness Disparity (or plant blindness) and raising awareness of the role of native plants in preserving the biodiversity of our many ecoregions.
This first year promoting PlantArte as a national native plant art contest, 60% of the art submissions came from Texas and we received art from additional states like Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York, thanks to the promo support from our wonderful PlantArte Partners.
The PlantArte Goals
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To channel the power of art to build awareness of the importance of native plants.
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To promote native plant advocacy by empowering diverse communities to support conservation and restoration efforts.
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To honor the ancestral roots and shared ecoregions that connect plants and people.
The PlantArte Themes
PlantArte participants are asked to select one art theme that either inspired, or best describes their work.
The top three native plant art themes for art submitted for PlantArte 2025:
Plants & Critters 42%
Wildflowers 26%
Resilience 19%
PlantArte artist affiliations with native plant societies or groups:
Native Plant Society of Texas 43%
Other native plant group 20%
Independent artist 37%
The group affiliations listed by 2025 PlantArte participants:
New Braunfels Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
North Central Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
Pines & Prairies Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
San Antonio Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
Wild Ones, Illinois Prairie Chapter
Wild Ones, Front Range Chapter
Williamson County Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
Rio Grande Valley Chapter, Native Plant Society of Texas
A heartfelt gracias to those nonprofit partners that faced many additional challenges to their critical environmental advocacy work, and their efforts to amplify the voices of vulnerable frontline communities, for a more just, sustainable future.
The PlantArte contest welcomes diverse art mediums, as long as the plant art is handmade or handcrafted. As you will see, the 2025 PlantArte exhibit includes artwork created with quite a few art mediums by professional artists, self-taught artists, and many native plant advocates ages 16 to 77!
Congratulations to the 2025 PlantArte native plant art contest winners, and thanks to all the artists who shared their work for the exhibit to help promote native plant awareness and advocacy.
Learn more about steps we all can take to protect our environment, with the interactive online PlantArte Native Plant Pledge, or el Compromiso de plantas nativas.
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Do I have to be a member of a native plant society or garden club to participate?No, this is a community contest that is open to all adults and teens (with parental permission).
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Are plant photos or digital works allowed?No, this is a handmade art competition.
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What constitutes “handmade” art?For the PlantArte competition both handmade and handcrafted works are welcome. Handmade refers to items that are crafted entirely by hand, using no machinery or automation in the production process. Handcrafted items are made by hand, but with the use of some tools or machinery. Examples might include the use of a wood burner or a tattoo machine used to replicate an original design drawn by hand. When it comes to embroidery, only hand embroidery is acceptable. Please make sure to read the PlantArte Rules & Guidelines before completing and submitting your art form.
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If I am not sure whether the plant I want to depict is a native plant to my region where can I learn more about native plants in my region?The interactive PlantArte Native Plant Pledge includes: A link to the Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Database in the first action step. A link to the Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists in the third action step provided on the Xerces Society website.
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Where can I find my state’s native plant society or group?The North American Native Plant Society includes a list of Native Plant Societies in Canada and the USA. You can also find Wild Ones Chapters in 36 states.
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What criteria will be used to determine which art is included in the 2025 PlantArte gallery?The highest rated works of art will be added to the 2025 PlantArte gallery of native plant art. All art submitted will be scored by a panel of PlantArte art judges on the following: Quality of artistic composition and design based on the art theme. Creativity, originality and overall clarity of the depicted art theme. Quality of the artist statement regarding their art, related to the PlantArte goals. PlantArte goals: To channel the power of art to build awareness of the importance of native plants. To promote native plant advocacy by empowering diverse communities to support conservation and restoration efforts. To honor the ancestral roots and shared ecoregions that connect plants and people. Special attention should also be paid to the quality of the photo of your artwork; lighting, focus, angle, and the size (between 800 KB and 2 MB) should higlight the quality of your work without any background distractions. Please make sure to read the PlantArte Rules & Guidelines before completing and submitting your art form.
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If acceped for the art gallery, can I have both my online shop or social media account and a local or state native plant group website listed with my art?Yes absolutely! The PlantArte art exhibit is meant to be educational and help connect communities with their local native plant resources.
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Do I have to pay $10 for each art submission?No. Only one art processing fee is required per participating artist, and this can cover up to two art entries (with a separate application form for each). This is a self-funded collaboration and 100% of the fee will go towards the PlantArte contest and exhibit, that are part of Arte Sana’s Plants & People, Plantas y Gente project. Arte Sana is a national 501c3 nonprofit based in Texas, founded in 2001. If your fee is paid with a shared or authorized use of a loved one’s credit card, please make sure to forward the receipt from the same email address used for your art submission form. This will help prevent a delay in your art being scored. Pay your one-time art fee now.
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Can the art submission fee be reduced or waived?Yes, those for whom the art processing fee poses a hardship and obstacle for their participation, can email a request for a $5 reduced or a waived fee to: plant.gente@gmail.com