Plants

Alibates Gardens and Surrounding Grasses

NPS Photo

Wildflowers

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument offers a stunning display of wildflowers native to the Texas Panhandle. These vibrant blooms appear from spring through late fall, with late spring showcasing an especially diverse array. While visiting, explore Alibates Gardens, where you’ll find a variety of plants—many edible and useful—adding to the rich experience of this unique landscape.



Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument is home to several types of grasses found on the short grass prairie.

 

Prickly Pear

NPS Photo

Useful Plants

All plants were at one time wild. Salads, fruits, and vegetables used for meals are nothing more than domesticated plants. Plants are also used to make clothing such as a cotton shirt and probably started its life as a plant. Other plants or botanicals are used for medicinal purposes. Products made from plants to treat diseases or to maintain health are called herbal products, botanical products, or plant medicines.

In the Canadian River Valley, the prickly pear cactus dots the landscape with its signature paddle-shaped pads and vibrant yellow blooms. Resilient and striking, this native succulent thrives in the sun-soaked terrain, adding texture and bursts of color to the arid environment. Its ripe red fruit, known as “tuna,” has long been a source of food for both wildlife and people, while the plant itself stands as a symbol of survival in the rugged beauty of the Panhandle Plains.

Ethnobotany is the study of a region's plants and their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of a local culture and people.
An Ethnobotanist strives to document the local customs involving the practical uses of local flora for many aspects of life, such as plants as medicines, foods, and clothing. Many cultures have been using plants for thousands of years, including the Antelope Creek People, who lived near the Alibates Quarries.