Nature

Plants and coastal habitats

Plants make the island possible. Explore the grasses, creepers, mangroves and submerged meadows that trap sand, soften storms and shelter wildlife from the Gulf beach to the Laguna Madre.

In this guide

Explore the living island

Plants make the island possible. Explore the grasses, creepers, mangroves and submerged meadows that trap sand, soften storms and shelter wildlife from the Gulf beach to the Laguna Madre.

How to use this field guide

Choose a profile below, then follow the habitat and responsible-viewing links to understand where it fits in the island's ecology.

Useful next steps

Follow responsible wildlife viewing
Plan a birding outing
Find birding places

Explore Plants and coastal habitats

Dune grassesIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for dune grasses.Read guide
Dune creepersIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for dune creepers.Read guide
Beach succulents and forbsIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for beach succulents and forbs.Read guide
Back-dune woody plantsIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for back-dune woody plants.Read guide
Lagoon-side salt-tolerant grassesIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for lagoon-side salt-tolerant grasses.Read guide
Black mangroveIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for black mangrove.Read guide
Laguna Madre seagrassesIdentification, habitat and South Padre Island field notes for laguna madre seagrasses.Read guide