Horticultural Use of Native Plants in South Texas - Caesar Kleberg ...
Horticultural Use of Native Plants in South Texas - Caesar Kleberg ...
Horticultural Use of Native Plants in South Texas - Caesar Kleberg ...
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<strong>Horticultural</strong> <strong>Use</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Native</strong> <strong>Plants</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Texas</strong><br />
Forrest S. Smith<br />
Coord<strong>in</strong>ator<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Native</strong>s<br />
<strong>Caesar</strong> <strong>Kleberg</strong> Wildlife Research Institute<br />
<strong>Texas</strong> A&M University‐K<strong>in</strong>gsville
What is <strong>South</strong> <strong>Texas</strong><br />
<strong>Native</strong>s<br />
“An <strong>in</strong>itiative to develop and promote native<br />
plants for restoration and reclamation <strong>of</strong><br />
habitats on private and public lands.”<br />
Why is STN needed<br />
• Biological value <strong>of</strong> native plants<br />
•Economic value <strong>of</strong> native plants<br />
•Ecosystem stability & biodiversity<br />
•Restoration and mitigation <strong>of</strong> disturbances<br />
•Lack <strong>of</strong> adapted native seed<br />
•Exotic species concerns<br />
Who is STN<br />
•<strong>Caesar</strong> <strong>Kleberg</strong> Wildlife Research Institute<br />
•USDA NRCS E. “Kika” de la Garza PMC<br />
•<strong>Texas</strong> Agrilife Research<br />
•Rio Farms, Inc.<br />
•Commercial Seed Dealers<br />
•Private Landowners <strong>of</strong> south <strong>Texas</strong>
Project Goals<br />
• Provide regionally adapted,<br />
commercially available seed<br />
sources <strong>of</strong> native plants<br />
• Develop effective restoration and<br />
mitigation methods for south<br />
<strong>Texas</strong><br />
• F<strong>in</strong>d ways to diversify exotic grass<br />
dom<strong>in</strong>ated areas for wildlife<br />
benefit<br />
• Provide leadership for region<br />
wide collaborative efforts<br />
• Provide support and direction <strong>in</strong><br />
efforts to use native plants to<br />
solve natural resources<br />
management concerns<br />
• Provide agencies such as TxDOT<br />
with native plant options for<br />
roadside revegetation<br />
• Provide landowners with tools<br />
needed to create more<br />
productive wildlife habitat, and<br />
restore damaged habitats
<strong>Native</strong> plants for ornamental use<br />
• Why<br />
– Aesthetic value<br />
– Utilitarian<br />
– Dom<strong>in</strong>ionistic<br />
– Moralistic<br />
– Negativistic<br />
– Symbolic<br />
– Naturalistic<br />
– Scientific<br />
Taken from Hewitt, 2002‐Big Game<br />
Management
Grasses<br />
•Traditionally underused <strong>in</strong> landscapes<br />
<strong>in</strong> south <strong>Texas</strong><br />
•Extremely drought tolerant<br />
•Production cost low<br />
•Easy to grow<br />
•Require seasonal management<br />
•Benefit poll<strong>in</strong>ators<br />
•Many produce seed eaten by wildlife<br />
•Provide nest<strong>in</strong>g material to birds<br />
•Provide nest<strong>in</strong>g, loaf<strong>in</strong>g, and escape<br />
cover to wildlife<br />
•Common uses<br />
•Mass plant<strong>in</strong>gs<br />
•Specimen<br />
•Screen<strong>in</strong>g cover<br />
•Accents<br />
•Xeriscapes<br />
•Borders and backdrop areas<br />
•Interest & conversation<br />
•Color<br />
•Shape
P<strong>in</strong>k<br />
pappusgrass
Pla<strong>in</strong>s bristlegrass
Arizona cottontop
Hairy grama
Hooded<br />
w<strong>in</strong>dmillgrass
Forbs and Flower<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>Plants</strong><br />
•Butterflies<br />
•Bees<br />
•Flowers<br />
•Diversity<br />
•Beatification<br />
•Low ma<strong>in</strong>tenance<br />
•Drought tolerant<br />
•<strong>Use</strong>s<br />
•Butterfly habitat<br />
•Color<br />
•Specimens<br />
•Masses<br />
•Interest<br />
•Functional landscapes
Orange<br />
zexmenia
Clammyweed
Challenges<br />
•Poor availability<br />
•Demand<br />
•Expertise<br />
•Negative perceptions<br />
•Aesthetics<br />
•Functionally<br />
•Education<br />
•Market<strong>in</strong>g efforts lack<strong>in</strong>g<br />
•Poor education <strong>of</strong> general public<br />
•Sell the experience, not necessarily<br />
the product!<br />
•Teach through the market<br />
•Until native plants are available <strong>in</strong><br />
the places where most consumers<br />
shop they will not be used<br />
•Ecological value<br />
•Reduce the possible use, or spread<br />
or future <strong>in</strong>vasive species
Sideoats Grama<br />
The State Grass <strong>of</strong> <strong>Texas</strong><br />
Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) is a native grass found<br />
throughout <strong>Texas</strong>. This selection orig<strong>in</strong>ates from a native stand<br />
deep <strong>in</strong> the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> brush country. Best used as a focal<br />
po<strong>in</strong>t, this drought hardy native provides yearlong <strong>in</strong>terest, and<br />
is easily recognized as a <strong>Texas</strong> icon. Sideoats grama will provide<br />
a nectar source for skipper butterflies and is excellent habitat for<br />
wildlife. At the end <strong>of</strong> the grow<strong>in</strong>g season trim it to the groundfor<br />
years to come, this <strong>Texas</strong> native will come back with vigor,<br />
and br<strong>in</strong>g back a part <strong>of</strong> our <strong>Texas</strong> heritage-our native plants!<br />
Enjoy and remember, easy on the water!<br />
A portion <strong>of</strong> the sales <strong>of</strong> this product help “keep <strong>Texas</strong> native”<br />
by support<strong>in</strong>g the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Native</strong>s project, for more<br />
<strong>in</strong>formation please visit: www. <strong>South</strong>texasnatives.org<br />
YOUR<br />
LOGO<br />
HERE!
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