Appendices & Glossary - Botanical Research Institute of Texas

NATIVE PLANTS IMPORTANT TO WILDLIFE IN EAST TEXAS/APPENDIX NINETEEN
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VEGETATION TYPE/SPECIES COMMON NAME SEASON OF AVAILABILITY
VINES SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER
Berchemia scandens SUPPLEJACK; RATTANVINE X X X X
Bignonia capreolata CROSSVINE X X X X
Campsis radicans TRUMPET-CREEPER, COMMON X X
Gelsemium sempervirens JESSAMINE, CAROLINA X X X X
Smilax spp. GREENBRIARS X X X X
Rubus spp. DEWBERRIES; BLACKBERRIES X X X X
Vitis spp. GRAPES X X X
GRASSES
Dichanthelium spp. ROSETTE GRASSES X X
SPECIES SELECTION
A. SELECTION OF PREFERRED NATIVE PLANTS IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
1) Emphasize native plant species that occur locally, i.e., in the area. Mast producers, especially a
diversity of oaks, walnut, hickories, persimmon, and plums are examples. They are important
food and cover plants.
2) Weedy, invader native species should not be emphasized (e.g., ash, cottonwood, pine, sycamore,
and willow). In general, such species have great capacity for natural dispersal and are adapted
to disturbed soil sites.
3) Oaks, walnuts, and hickories should be planted as saplings because they have limited capacity
for dispersal. In contrast, trees, shrubs, and woody vines with winged or fleshy fruits are
dispersed by wind or animals. Thus, these plants can be provided more sparingly.
4) Native plants are adapted to the local environment and will persist through periods of environmental
stress. Most exotic plants cannot similarly persist and are also overrated as wildlife
food and cover. However, a few exotic species can establish themselves by out-competing
native plants. They then become serious persistent pests, difficult if not impossible to control
or eradicate. Therefore, exotic species should not be planted.
B. DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS OF NATIVE PLANTS
Native plants should possess as many of the following characteristics as possible.
1) Thrive under specific climatic and soil conditions.
2) Compete with other plant species occurring in these conditions.
3) Cover as much area as possible. Desirable characteristics include spreading by stolons, runners,
or rhizomes; forming thickets, mats, or coppices; rooting from decumbent or declining
branches, or forming root shoots (suckers).
4) Produce fertility-enriching litter with high water holding capacity.
5) Inexpensive, readily available form local sites or nurseries, and easy to propagate and maintain.
6) Rapid-growing and long-lived.
7) Possess hardy characteristics such as resistance or adaptability to grazing or browsing,
drought, fire, shade, insect damage, and diseases; and growing rapidly on soils with a wide
range of fertility and chemical characteristics.
8) Produce dense foliage (deciduous and evergreen), stems, or thorns, preferably close to the
ground.
9) Produce seasonally abundant shoots, leaves, buds, and fruits that have high nutritive value
for many species of wildlife.
10) Produce annual, persistent fruits that have high seed germination ratios.