The Grapevine

Williamson County Chapter Native Plant Society Newsletter

April/May 2007

Contents Upcoming Events Program Notes Club Activities/Reports A Spring to Remember Featured Plant Texas Annuals Garden Guides Resource List Club Information

It’s spring and the beginning of the first major bloom season in Texas.  We have finally gotten some rain (indeed it is raining as I write this) and the early blooming trees and shrubs are magnificient.  Just look at Agnes’ article on A Spring to Remember.  Annuals are beginning to bloom.  Texas has many species of annuals that provide color throughout the year.  The article on Texas annuals provides bloom information on 139 native annuals. This is also the time of the year for the annual Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center spring plant sale and for beginning an active year of field trips/tours scheduled by Marilyn Perz. Thanks to Susan Waitz, Marilyn Perz, Anes Plutino and David Perz for the photographs and articles and Reid Lewis and Agnes for their review of the plant and garden guide information.  As always, many thanks to Jason Spangler for his support (including responses to a mirade of questions) in placing this newsletter and the Library Garden Maintenance Guide up on our Web site.

Upcoming Events

April Meeting Program

April 12; 7:00 PM

Georgetown Public Library

Native Plant Propagation

by Billy Chovanec/Carla Haskett

Billy Chovanec and Carla Haskett will present "Native Plant Propagation Techniques -- A Few Successes and Avoiding Many Failures".  Billy is a retired Geologist and native plant hobbyist from the Central Texas area.  He became interested in Native plants while working for the Railroad Commission in Coal and Uranium Mine Reclamation.  He will share his personal experiences in the propagation of many popular (and not so popular) native plants for our area.  Carla is"a fifth-generation professional Texas gardener at Spiegelhauer Farms in Bartlett.  The first Spiegelhauer farm was established in 1882.  Today, the family specializes in small batches of cut flowers and three-season vegetables and fruits grown on a Co-Op basis."(Williamson County Sun).  Carla also writes gardening articles for the Williamson County Sun.

May Meeting Program

May 10; 7:00 PM

Georgetown Public Library

Native Cacti, Yucca and Related Plants

by Jason Spangler

Jason Spangler will speak about Native Cacti, Yucca, and Related Plants of Central Texas.  Our native cacti and yucca call our native prairies, savannas, and woodlands home, and Jason has created a presentation summarizing what he has found during his treks through central Texas.  Jason's presentation will feature photos taken by Lisa and Jason Spangler of native cacti, yucca, and related plants both in the wild and in native plant gardens and landscaping.  Come see this presentation about pointy native plants that help give central Texas its southwestern feel.

Jason Spangler is a board member and treasurer of the Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT), webmaster for the Austin and Williamson County NPSOT Chapters, and active in the Austin chapter of NPSOT.  Jason is the NPAT co-chair of the NPSOT-NPAT 2007 Joint Symposium on the Blackland and Grand Prairies and Grasslands of the Edwards Plateau.

In addition to his regular job as a software engineer, Jason is passionately devoted to helping preserve native prairies and restoring the land and our native Texas ecosystems.  Jason speaks to organizations about native Texas prairies and the need for their conservation and protection. Jason has also arranged and led prairie and native plant field trips, organized advocacy for protecting and restoring native prairie, contributed native prairie and plant articles to the newsletters of NPAT, NPSOT, and other conservation organizations, and searched for and recorded native prairie remnants.

Wolf Ranch Field Trip

Saturday; March 31; 3-5 PM

Self guided tour of trails at Wolf Ranch Shopping Center.  Meet by the fountain in the back and to the far right of the shopping center.  Left is a picture of the lovely Blackland Prairie Grassland Trail.  Marilyn and Dennis Perz will meet you and provide guidance to the trails.

Cibolo Nature Center’s 17^th Annual Mostly Native Sale

Kendall County Fair Grounds

HWY 46 in Boerne, Texas

Saturday; April 7, 9 AM to 4 PM

More than 30 nurseries and plant-related vendors will show their Hill Country roots during the 17th Annual Mostly Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 7 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Kendall County Fair Grounds on Highway 46 in Boerne.  The event is two dollars for adults and children under twelve are free, open to the public and a great alternative to the hustle and bustle of Fiesta activities.

Both experienced gardeners and novices alike will benefit from the free demonstrations and presentations held throughout the day. Topics include pruning trees and shrubs, wildscaping, building bird boxes, composting and water conservation. 

All of the vendors donate some of their proceeds to the Cibolo Nature Center located on 100 acres adjacent to the fair grounds.  The goal of the nature center is to protect greenspace through public education and conservation advocacy.  The CNC serves as a nature center for the City of Boerne and focuses its programs on education and protection of the Southern Hill Country region.

For more information or details, call the Cibolo Nature Center at (830) 249-4616 or send email to nature@cibolo.org.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Spring Plant Sale

Friday, April 13 – 1-7 PM (Members Only)

Saturday/Sunday, April 14/15 – 9 AM – 5 PM

Annual Spring Plant Sale with almost 300 species and 23,000 plants, plus seeds from Native American Seed, the Spring Plant Sale is the one-stop shop for native plant gardeners. Native plant experts will be available all day to help you make the best choice for your garden.  Artists and authors sign their works in the store.  Guided walks and talks and tips for your spring garden.

Earth Day

Saturday; April 21; 10 AM – 2 PM

Gardener’s Paradise

3600 Williams Drive; Georgetown, Texas

Come to Gardener’s Paradise to celebrate this year’s Earth Day.  Our Williamson County NPSOT Chapter will make recycled paper seed starters again this year.  Seed starters in the form of butterflies are made from recycled paper and include wildflower seeds.  When completed, they are ready to be placed in the ground where wildflowers are wanted.  The picture on the right shows Carol Nayman and Agnes Plutino making seed starters at the 2006 Earth Day celebration.

Heritage Garden Tour

Sunday; April 29; 2-4 PM

Tour the Heritage Garden located on 18 acres at 2100 Hutto Road in Georgetown, Texas.  We have identified a large area of wildflowers there and along Smith Branch where a hiking trail is being developed. Heritage Gardens was established in the Fall of 2002 so that people can visit and learn through hands on activities the benefits of gardening and exploring nature and how it promotes a healthy, active lifestyle.

Meeting Notes                                                                                         By Susan Waitz

Meeting minutes can be found on the website http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/. Copies will be available at the meeting.

February 8 Program Notes

Judy Barrett, publisher of Homegrown Magazine, gave a very informative and down-to-earth talk on "Organic Solutions to Common Gardening Problems".  Her philosophy encompasses 5 major points:

1)  Visible problems are symptoms of other underlying problems.  The biggest underlying problem to be found is the use of too much chemicals, causing imbalances in good vs. bad bugs, and in the soil biology.

2)  Weak plants are more susceptible to diseases than healthy plants.  Possible reasons for weakness:  wrong location, needs more/less water,  needs more fertility (better soil).

3)  Dead soil encourages dead plants.  Healthy soil includes earthworms, microbes, fungi, etc.  The best way to add life is by adding compost.  Any organic material will help - mulch, coffee grounds, kitchen trimmings.  Compost tea application discourages diseases and insects.

4)  Diversity in the Garden:  Most pests are confused by a lot of different scents.  A wide variety of plants helps to confuse pests and send them elsewhere.  A diversity of critters (bugs) results in a balance - bad bugs are kept under control, but never entirely eliminated.

5)  Stress gets us all down.  The more stressed the plant, the more susceptible it will be to disease and pests - wrong location, too much heat, too much drought, etc.

Try to give new plants a strong start.  Garden Ville sells "Rocket Fuel", high in rock phosphates which get seedlings off to a fast start.  Especially good for annuals.

Other ideas:

Encourage bugs in the garden.  Repel unwanted bugs instead of killing them.  Chemicals which kill will also kill good bugs.  Planting garlic around fruit trees, roses, or anything else you want to protect will repel pests.

For fire ants, try Garden Ville's Anti-Fuego soil conditioner.  Diatec - 5, a granule with Pyrethrins also works, but will kill a lot of other things also.  Compost tea discourages bugs and can be found at many local nurseries, including Gardener's Paradise.

For Aphid control you can 1. Ignore them and work on the overall health of the plant, 2. Ignore them entirely and accept as a natural part of life, 3. Do something - Soapy water left on plant for a short while, then rinsed off or use insecticidal soap, Neem oil, or lady bugs.

For Caterpillars and worms (Army): Can use BT in liquid or powder form, but remember you will also be killing any desired butterfly caterpillars.

For Snails and Slugs:  Slug-O kills them and only them.

For Squash bugs, Stink bugs - hand pick and drop into a jar of soapy water or use Neem oil.

For fungi (black spot on roses) - Baking soda 3T to 1 gallon of water and spray on, or can use Neem Oil, sulphur "Serenade", OR, you can allow the diseased leaves to drop off and new ones will grow in their place.

For Grasshoppers - can use NOLO Bait (Or get some ducks or chickens!!)

For Fleas, grubs, ants, and ticks - Use beneficial nematodes.  They will eat the pest during the life cycle stage in the ground.

GardenVille also makes "Sea Tea" which is a good all-purpose tonic for everything in the garden.  Apply every 2 weeks for optimum results, but once a month is good.

Judy makes it clear to us that she subscribes to the "Natural" theory of gardening and believes Mother Nature - when left alone - does the best job of keeping everything in balance and allowing optimum growing conditions (as opposed to chemical intervention.)

March 8 Program Notes

Photographer Steven Schwartzman presented a slide show of his beautiful photographs of native plants taken in Central Texas throughout the year.  We were treated to imaginative, up close images of native plants such as

• Possumhaw, with brilliant red berries,
• Texabama Croton - a rare and beautiful plant with speckled leaves discovered in 1999 and found only here and in one place in Tennessee.
• The vibrant red of Red Oak leaves,
• A calcified root at Walnut Creek,
• creek froth,
• the luminous white branches of Winter Sycamores,
• dry Goldenrod with Curly brown leaves,
• dry Ragweed presenting vertical white columns amid a backdrop of the red berries of Possumhaw,
• a Marsh by Lake Creek like a spot of Louisiana,
• a prickly pear "fish",
• an intriguing view of Bushy Bluestem arcing over the water at Tejas park,
• up close view of the "character" of a tree stump in Tejas Park,
• a vibrant Plum tree in McKinney Falls state park,
• early bluebonnet blossoms,
• a dewberry bud opening,
• Red Columbine and its shadow,
• Penstemon Cobaea and Celestial Blossom,
• an Assassin bug attacking a beetle - drama caught in time,
• lovely wild orchids, rare Mountain Pinks,
• natural wood patterns on a Live Oak which look like a carving,

and many other images.  We thank Steven for sharing these wonderful images with us, which he has taken so much time, effort, and "braving of the poison ivy" to obtain.  He may be reached at serendipity@austin.rr.com.  Look for his photographs in an upcoming issue of Texas Highways magazine this fall.

Club Activities/Reports

Volunteer Day

The Birth of the Prairie Bar AKA Adventures in Prairie Maintenance

by Marilyn Perz

For those of you who missed out on the volunteer day on Saturday February 10, 2007 at Old Machu (pronounced mah coo) Cemetery near Granger Lake , you also missed out on the birth of the Prairie Bar.

After missing the turn for CR378, we finally called Scott Lenharth for directions and arrived at the locked gate blocking the gravel road leading to the prairie.  Since 9/11, Scott explained, access to the Granger Dam must be controlled by the Army Corps of Engineers.  We handed our tools and garden carts/wheelbarrows over the gate and proceded the ¼ mile along the road to the mixed but mostly Little Bluestem prairie. 

The problem for these prairies lies in the lack of natural fires and the fence lines that surround them.  Marching forward from each fence we saw native and invasive non-native trees encroaching on this small tallgrass prairie remnant.  Although this is called the Old Machu Cemetery, the cemetery has been relocated to towns like Granger and Bartlett.  In addition to a large plum thicket, many medium sized Hackberry trees have grown out into grassland. 

The ten volunteers started the daunting task of overcoming many years of woody growth.  Scott and Dennis Perz used chainsaws to remove the large trees and the rest of us used loppers/pruners to push back the plum thicket and other small trees.

Scott Lenharth cutting Hackberry

Lisa and Jason Spangler standing and Agnes Plutino in the plum thicket

Bob and Mickey Burleson were part of the work crew, and Bob’s comment was that these fence lines are anathema to any prairie.  The Burleson’s have been restoring their prairie in Temple for the past thirty years.  He tells us that the Blackland Prairies now exist in only a few small and widely scattered remnants such as this cemetery, odd field corners, and along railroad right-of-ways.  When Europeans first arrived, these climax grasslands sustained a great diversity of life; but this deep fertile soil was quickly plowed into farmland.  Replicating these prairies means duplicating them in as near a natural form as possible. While it is not possible to do in a few years what it took nature tens of thousands of years to do, the Burlesons have demonstrated that hard work and study can produce acceptable prairies which may eventually develop into climax grasslands. 

After a few hours of “Prairie Maintenance”, we all stopped for a break.  This is where the Prairie Bar was born.  I had taken some homemade granola bars along to share.  This recipe came from the Quaker Oatmeal box but has a few of my own additions (ground flaxseed meal, wheat germ, dried apricots, fresh pecans, and dried cranberries).  After our snack break, we were all rejuvenated and continued on our tasks. 

Lisa Spangler, who came up with the name, later made these bars with her own additions and modifications and takes them on her prairie explorations.  She says that when she and Jason are on the hunt for pretty prairies they don’t want to stop to eat.  But the newly named “Prairie Bar” sees them through.

PRAIRIE BARS

¾ cup brown sugar                                            1 tsp. baking soda

½ cup white sugar                                             1 tsp. cinnamon (optional)

8 oz. vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt                     ½ tsp. salt (optional)

2 egg whites                                                     3 cups oatmeal

2 Tbs. vegetable oil or apple sauce                    1 cup dried fruit, mixed fruit, raisins, dried

2 Tbs. fat free milk                                                cranberries and/or apricots

2 tsp. Vanilla                                                     Pecans, flaxseed meal, wheat germ, seeds,

1 ½ cups flour                                                       etc. – make it your own!                                            

Mix ingredients in a bowl.  Spread (greased or not to your choosing) in a 9 X 13 baking pan.  Bake at 350F for 28 – 32 minutes until golden brown.  Cut into bars.

Farewell to the Garden

By Agnes Plutino

After nine years we are turning over the maintenance of the old Georgetown Library Garden to the city.  We will still have oversight on the maintenance and Dennis Perz will be our liaison with city staff.  The site, just one half block west of the new library, is still open to the public so feel free to visit now and again and say hi to all the wonderful plants that gave the public so much pleasure for so long.  Hopefully the new maintenance crew will love the garden as much as we did.  They have been provided with a maintenance guide complete with photos of the plants.  The guide was done by Dennis and Marilyn Perz with a few photos and proof-reading from me.  (This guide has been placed on the web site or is being sent with this newsletter. Ed.)

As it turns out, the timing was perfect in the turn-over of the garden to the city.  The city contract for maintenance came due in October, 2006 and the old library shut it’s doors in December 2006.

The idea of landscaping with natives has come a long way since we started this project in 1998.  We have actually had two different designs since the garden’s inception.  Our first garden was done to showcase the wild flowers of Williamson County.  It didn’t take long for us to figure out that wild flowers are real survivors.  Left to their own devices, and even with some intervention on our part, they rapidly took over.  The garden turned out to be a bit of a jungle.  This is great on a roadside but when you are trying to convince people that they should landscape with natives, this design did not work.

So, in early 2003, we took the old garden down to the bare dirt and started from square one.  Diane Sherrill designed a homeowner friendly garden using mostly natives.  It included one old rose, The Fairy, a non-stop bloomer, and a few herbs.  Not only did this design turn out to be home-owner friendly, it was fairly “wacky-weeder” friendly.  We had an annual clean-up day every February (usually the nastiest day in the month) when a large number of volunteers would clean up, cut back, mulch and generally prepare the garden

for spring.  Other than that we relied on the “Wacky Weeders”, as we affectionately called ourselves, for the general maintenance.  On a good day that turned out to be 4 or 5 people.  What a bunch of troopers though!  Between the weekly regulars and the once a year “blitz team” we did a good job.  Well done everyone!

The garden has been a great teaching tool.  Quite often our work day would turn into a question and answer session with library patrons and sometimes, the staff.  Whenever we had seedlings or cuttings available we would share those.  I have a “Fairy” rose that Marilyn started from a cutting.  I dug Fleabane from the path and it is doing well in my garden.  Working in the garden was mostly fun and a great time to just chat about various things.  Sometimes we talked about plants, sometime kids and grand-kids, sometimes trips, sometimes NPSOT matters.  You never knew what the topic might be. I believe that the garden knew we were leaving this past year.  What a display!

Wacky Weeders at work

Everything bloomed beautifully and gave me the opportunity to get some of my best garden photos yet.  Some of the best bloomers were Coral Honeysuckle, Calylophus, Bluebonnets, Variegated Trailing Winecup, Cedar Sage, Columbine, Salvia Greggi, Prairie Fleabane, Skullcap, Prairie Verbena, Esperanza (Yellow Bells), Flame Acanthus, Mexican Mint Marigold, Turk’s Cap, Gulf Coast Muhly, and “The Fairy Rose”.  Some of these plants, such as the rose, bloomed pretty much non-stop, spring through fall.  This was with a very dry year and minimal watering on our part.

Salvia Greggii

Tecoma Stans

I have mixed emotions about giving up this project but there is plenty going on to take its place.  The city staff seems to value our opinions.  We are turning more into an advisory group instead of digging in the dirt.  This suits me just fine as I find it takes more and more effort to get up and down when weeding.  I know it is good exercise but it also gives anyone observing a good laugh.

Don’t forget the garden.  She’ll be glad for a visit from you now and again.  Farewell to the garden!

Dalea Frutescens

Georgetown Heritage Tree Ordinance

by Dennis Perz

On February 13, 2007, the City Council of Georgetown gave final approval to a revised Heritage Tree Ordinance.  This ordinance is intended to protect large native trees of species judged too valuable to lose either by direct removal or by death caused by construction or construction activity.

This ordinance becomes part of Georgetown’s Uniform Development Code (UDC) and applies only to those trees included in development projects beginning at the time of “initial application for stormwater permit, construction plans, subdivision or plat review, or site plan review concerning nonresidential and residential development sites of any size”.  This ordinance does not apply to trees on privately owned lands not currently part of a development project. (The Council may address those at a later time).

The ordinance requires the following:

1. It is unlawful to remove or prune a Heritage Tree without a permit from the city.

2. Pruning of Heritage Trees must be done under the supervision of an ISA Certified Arborist.

3. When Heritage Tree removal is permitted, a mitigation plan for planting additional trees is required.  Builders removing Heritage Trees without a permit or causing destruction of Heritage Trees by construction activities will incur financial penalties.

3. A critical Root Zone (CRZ) is defined which limits both building and pavement coverage and defines areas to be protected  during construction.

This ordinance defines a Heritage Tree as one having at least a 26” trunk diameter measured at the diameter breast height (DBH), which is 4 ½ feet above grade.  Species included are Live Oak, Post Oak, Shumard Oak, Bur Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Monterey Oak, Bald Cypress, American Elm, Cedar Elm, Pecan, Walnut, Texas Ash, and Southern Magnolia.  Specifically excluded are Hackberry, Ashe Juniper (Cedar), Chinese Tallow, and Mesquite.

The City makes an annual review of the UDC every Spring, but directed the City’s staff to make an emergency review of this ordinance and bring proposals for Council action on an emergency basis.  This was prompted by recent removal of Heritage Trees for the bank project going in at the corner of Rivery Boulevard and Williams Drive and the fried chicken restaurant built farther west on Williams drive.

The review and approval process began by presenting an ordinance draft by City Staff to the Planning and Development Board.  This Board rejected the draft by a 6-1 vote, deciding that much of the wording was too vague.  The ordinance was vigorously opposed by developers.  The draft was then taken to Council in December for a first reading.  The Council passed the first reading but recognized that the opposition was both vocal and, in most cases, raised specific and reasonable points.  A second reading, which is usually intended to lead to final approval was held in early February.  Opposition was again expressed, but at least four members of our NPSOT chapter spoke in favor of the ordinance.

The Council attempted to work through some revisions, but in the end agreed to postpone final approval pending a public meeting for more questions to be asked and answered, and more public comment to be gathered.  This was held on February 7 at the new library.  Approximately 65 people attended and many of them spoke.  The mayor and at least four council members also were present.  While no immediate revisions were permitted, written comments were collected and given to council members after this meeting.  Several NPSOT members attended, and many submitted written comments.

The following attempts to summarize the issues which came out of all of this:

BY BUILDERS:

1. Builders do not want to remove trees because removal devalues their property.  It also costs money to remove large trees.

2. Most of the time trees are removed because builders are forced to comply with other City requirements, State requirements (e.g. TXDOT), or Federal requirements (e.g. EPA).   For example, the large tree removed on the site of the bank project was mandated by City building line requirements.  The chicken restaurant project removed the Heritage Trees because of TXDOT requirements that driveway aprons onto Williams Drive (a state-owned FM road) be separated by some minimum distance - a traffic safety issue.  Other examples cited include requirements for emergency vehicle access and maneuvering room (e.g. fire trucks), handicapped accessibility, and location of underground utility easements.  One or more Heritage Trees were removed at Georgetown Village because underground utilities had to be rerouted around a previously undetected karst site.

3. The many questions asked by both builders and property owners pointed up the complexity of the ordinance as written and the need for all to take the time to read it carefully.

4. Many of the builders are long time residents of Georgetown and believe they have the same stake as everyone else in protecting the trees and the trees’ contribution to quality of life here.

5. The ordinance contains financial penalties for non-compliance and requires mitigation, i.e. tree replacement, where removal is approved.  Incentives would be a better way to do this.  (Our NPSOT plan to create a landscaping recognition award would be a step in this direction).

6. Once dollars are committed to a project and work begins, delays suffered quickly become very costly.

7. Building protective fences around trees is also expensive and can encumber work to be done at a construction site.

BY PROPERTY OWNERS:

1. Questions repeatedly were asked about the status of trees not in development projects.  It was pointed out that some property owners may choose to destroy their Heritage Trees prior to selling the land to developers as a way to avoid dealing with this ordinance.

BY TREE ADVOCATES:

1. At one point the critical root zone (CRZ) for heritage trees was down to five feet and then made ten feet (radially).  This was much less than the standard one foot radially for each diameter inch of girth at DBH specified for protected trees (diameters twelve inches or greater).  The final version ended with the one radial foot per inch of diameter specification.

2. Heritage Trees already having much pavement and building around them are not the same as suddenly changing the conditions of a large tree in an open field during construction.  Abrupt changes in soil compaction, root damage during excavation, root covering with foundations and pavement, significant grade changes, and general construction activity are all harmful.

3. The Council considered allowing alternative landscaping in lieu of tree mitigation, especially for low income housing.  This was judged too vague and finally dropped.

At the final reading, it was apparent that Council members “had done their homework”, made a series of clarifying amendments, and voted unanimously on all changes and final approval of the ordinance.  The ordinance appears to have strong support from current City leadership.  However, three and possibly four of the council members will be replaced in the next election.

The builders and bankers went away dissatisfied, believing this ordinance was unnecessary and that most of the cases of tree removal were driven by government requirements.  Those of us advocating for the trees believe that the big change is not in this kind of regulation but rather in the massive development and associated pressures placed on these trees.  We would do well in our vigilance to notice and document examples, both good and bad, of the fates of the trees.  We also need to recognize that we will not save every tree.  But with the help of this ordinance we should expect to save most of them.

If you have comments or questions, please direct them to Dennis Perz at 512 864 3828 or gtpecans@thegateway.net

A Spring to Remember                                                                   by Agnes Plutino

This spring promises to be “the spring to remember”.  It got off to an early start.  We’ve had decent rain.  Hopefully it will hang around awhile.  I call it “glorious”!  I’ve been out and about taking as many photos as possible.  I missed my opportunity to photograph Elbow bush.  It is easy to spot with its lime green color peeking out in the fence rows long before anything else begins to bloom.  That is the reason it is given the name “spring herald”. Unfortunately the blooms don’t last long.

A rarer and harder to spot thicket forming shrub that blooms about the same time as the Elbow bush is the Texas Almond.  If you are lucky enough to acquire one, it makes a great landscape plant.  More noticeable was the Agarita with it’s honey-colored blossoms and it’s heavenly honey scent.  If you were anywhere near one you couldn’t miss it.  The bloom and the scent last a long time.  If the pollinators did their thing and we will see lots of delicious red berries in May.  The berries are edible, a bit tart, but I think tasty.  If you are courageous enough, try harvesting the berries.  They make a very tasty jelly.  Otherwise, leave the berries to the birds.  They love them.

Not far behind were the Redbud and Plum followed by Mexican Buckeye.  The Mountain Laurel, with its grape soda scent has also been blooming.  I have noticed that the Swallowtail Butterflies really like the Mountain laurel as well as the Redbud. Another insect-attracting bush is the Aromatic Sumac.  It’s common name is skunk bush.  I have never noticed a foul odor but there has to be something going on to attract so many different insects.  This is another plant that takes on a lime green appearance as it buds out. Texas Barberry (Barberry Swayseii), a close relative of the Agarita blooms about a month behind the Agarita.  This is good as it keeps that wonderful honey scent in the air even longer.

Blanco Crabapple, Yaupon, Possumhaw, and Anacacho Orchid Tree are beginning to bloom.  Perhaps as you read this they will still be putting on a show for you.  A small shrub that should be blooming soon is Ceanothus (New Jersey Tea).  This is another native that although probably hard to find in the nursery trade is definitely worth having your landscape.

As I write this, all the spring forbs, both annual and perennial, are either blooming or will be blooming shortly.  The earliest bloomer was the Windflower.  Early on, I spotted Ranuculus, Corydalis, Bladderpod, Varigated Trailing Winecup, and Spiderwort.  All these wonderful plants have been closely followed by the Indian Paintbrush, Bluebonnets, Englemann Daisy, Lindheimer Daisy, and Blue-eyed Grass.  By the time you read this the Penstemons should be in full bloom. I feel I’m only skimming the surface.  You must get out and check the spring bloom for yourself.  Don’t forget the camera!

Anyone who knows me knows that about every year about this time I get anxiety attacks.  These attacks are brought on by the City, County, and State’s roadside maintenance practices.  The worst offender seems to be the County.  They insist on using herbicides on a routine and widespread basis.  All sorts of reasons are given for this practice.  In my opinion none of them are valid.  What I would like to see our membership do is, on an individual basis, contact their County commissioner and request that they do away with the use of herbicides.  You might mention that they could ease up on the mowing.  Think of all the money saved on equipment, gas, chemicals and salaries if roadside maintenance practices were managed carefully.  You can find their phone numbers at www.wilco.org or in your phone book.

Have a Happy Spring!

Texas Annuals

It’s spring and thoughts turn to annuals, specifically Texas native annuals.  Everyone likes bluebonnets, but there is so much more.  The following list isn’t complete, but it’s enough to get a feel for the rich diversity of annuals in every region of our state and the large number of annuals that appear throughout the year, so you can plan succession plantings.  Pictures of these or similar annuals can be found in Reference 1.  This guide also provides more plant and habitat information.

Most of the annuals are not commercially available.  Those that are available are mostly obtained by propagating seed.  There are a few plants at local nurseries and more plants at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center spring sale.

For most annuals, you can broadcast seed at the time the plant normally goes to seed or spread the seed in the fall.  The most important thing is to make sure the seed is in contact with the soil.  In small areas, this can be done by raking the soil and pressing or raking the seed in after it is sown.  For larger areas, mechanical methods can be used.  Most seed should never be buried more than twice their diameter and small seeds should not be buried at all.  Seeds with a hard coat can be scarified to increase propagation the first year; otherwise germination of these seeds may be delayed for a year or more.  However, scarification is not usually recommended if the seed will not receive water during dry periods.

The soil should match that of the native range of the wildflower.  Those from eastern Texas will need richer soil; those from central Texas do better in lean clay or limestone soils.  Most of the central Texas annuals do best in full sun and should not be over watered.  They also should not be fertilized unless your soil is significantly less fertile than the local native soil.  Mulch is not needed but, if used, should match that of the native habitat.

Table of Texas Annuals

TX = Distribution within Texas (C = Central Texas, EP = Edwards Plateau);  H = Height (maximum or range);  Bloom color/period: Color given in bloom period box (W = Dec/Jan/Feb; Sp = Mar/Apr/May; Su = Jun/Jul/Aug; F = Sep/Oct/Nov);  S/P = Seed available from Native American Seed, Sweet Briar Nursery or other internet sources/Plants available at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Spring 2007 plant sale.

Name	TX	H	Bloom Color/Period				S/P	Comments
			W	Sp	Su	F
Abronia angustifolia (Purple sand verbena, Narrow leaf sand verbena)	SW	4-20”						Numerous fragrant flowers to ¾” with 5 petal like sepals congested in rounded cluster at ends of branches, usually closing by noon. Dry sand.
Agalinis edwardsiana (Plateau false foxglove, Plateau agalinis)	EP	16-32”					S	5 petal tubular flowers ¾-1 1/8” in loose elongated clusters. Thin soil and adobe on limestone hills.
Agalinis heterophylla (Prairie false foxglove, Prairie agalinis)	E	2’					S	5 petal tubular flowers 1-1 1/8”, lobes as long or longer than tube in loose cluster. Moist sandy or rocky soils
Agalinis purpurea (Purple false foxglove, Purple gerardia)	E	4’						5 petal tubular flowers 1-1 1/8” from upper leaf axils. Moist sandy soils. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Amblyolepis setigera (Huisache daisy)	NC/S/ E/EP/ W	4-20”					S	Terminal daisy flower to 1.5” across. Sandy loam, limestone, chalk soils.
Amphiachyris dracunculoides (False annual broomweed)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ W	16-28”						Up to ¾” terminal daisy flowers. Large areas in sandy, clay, gravel and rocky soils. Deer resistant.
Aphanostephus skirrhobasis (Arkansas lazy daisy (dosedaisy))	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	20”					P	Daisy flower ¾-1 3/8” across. Opens about mid-day. Sandy soils.
Argemone albiflora (White (bluestem) prickly poppy)	C/N/E/ EP	2-5’					S/P	6 petal solitary flower to 4”. Sandy or gravelly soil. Sought by honeybees. Deer resistant. Prickly. Attracts honeybees.
Argemone sanguinea (Red (rose) prickly poppy)	S/SE/ EP/SW	4’						4-6 petal 2 3/8-3 ½” flower in crowded terminal clusters. Large colonies in various but typically sandy soil.
Astragalus leptocarpus (Slim pod vetch)	C/N/S/ E	6-14”						Several 5 petal flowers to ½” with erect banner, white center spot, congested in short round terminal clusters. Abundant in various soils.
Baileya multiradiata (Desert marigold)	SW	8-12”					S	Terminal daisy flower 1.5-1.75” across. Clay, sandy or rocky dry soils. Often on sides of road.
Bidens aristosa (Tickseed sunflower)	C/N/E	1-5’					S	Daisy flowers to 2” across on long stalk. Moist sandy soils. Barbed seeds.
Bifora americana (Prairie bishop)	C/N/S/ E/EP	8-30”						5 petal ¼” flower in flat clusters. Sandy, clay or limestone soils.
Boerhavia purpurascens (Purple spiderling)	SW	8-20”						Globe like clusters of 3-5 petal like sepals to 3/16” long at end of stalks. Dry, gravel soils.
Brazoria truncate var. pulcherrima (Centerville brazos mint, Sand Brazoria)	EC	2’						Several 5 petal tubular flowers to 1” in terminal spike. Large masses in deep sandy soils.
Cakile lanceolata (Sea rocket, Coastal searocket)	Coast	28”						¾” 4 petal flowers in cluster tip. Sandy soils at water edge.
Callirhoe, leiocarpa (Annual winecup, Tall poppymallow)	C/S/E/ EP/W	3’					S	Solitary 5 petal flowers up to 2” forming a cup. Prairies, roadsides and wooded areas.
Calylophus berlandieri (Berlandier’s sundrops, Square bud day primrose)	C/S/E/ EP/W	4-20”					P	4 large wrinkled petal flowers to 2” across. Flowers open during day. Sand or rocky soils.
Castilleja indivisa (Texas paintbrush)	C/N/S/ E/EP	16”					S	Whitish flowers within larger conspicuous bracts in terminal cluster. Moist sandy loam soil. Plant with grasses.
Centaurea americana (American basket flower)	All	1.5-5’					S	Solitary thistle like flower 1 ½-3 1/8” across. Common in sand or clayey loam.
Centaurium beyrichii (Mountain pink)	NC/EP	1’					S/P	Numerous 5 petal flowers to ¾” in clusters at ends or in forks of branches. Gravel or rocky limestone soils.
Chamaecrista (Cassia) fasciculata (Partridge pea)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	1-5’					S/P	5 unequal petals to 1 ½”, upper 4 petals have red spot. Sandy soils. Attracts butterflies.
Chrysopsis pilosa (Soft golden aster)	C/N/S/ E	1-2’						Solitary daisy flower to 1 1/8” across. Dry sandy soils. Attracts birds.
Cirsium horridulum (Yellow thistle)	C/N/S/ E	1-5.5’						Thistle flower 1 5/8-3 1/8” across. Sand, gravel or loamy soil. Invasive. Deer resistant.
Cleome serrulata (Bee spiderflower, Rocky mountain bee plant)	NW	8-60”					S/P	Many unpleasant smelling 4 unequal petal flowers to ½” long in dense terminal cluster. Sandy soils. Attracts bees.
Conopholis alpina (Alpine squawroot (Mountain cankerroot)	EP/SW	10”						Numerous 5 petal flowers to ¾”, united at base in curved tubular shape, in terminal spike. Common in rich tree leaf litter.
Coreopsis basalis (Goldenmane tickseed)	C/S/E/ NE/ EP	8-16”					S	Daisy flower 1 3/8-2” across, sometimes red brown in center. Sand or limestone soils.
Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains coreopsis)	All	1-4’					S/P	Daisy flower to 1 1/8” across, usually with red brown center. Various, usually moist soils.
Corydalis aurea (Scrambled eggs, Golden corydalis)	NC/W	2’						4 petal 1/2-3/4” flowers, upper petal arching in front. Fine cut foliage. Sand or gravel soils.
Corydalis curvisiliqua (Curvepod corydalis)	C/EP/ SW	16”						4 petal 1 3/16-1 7/16” flowers, upper petal elongated. Disturbed and sandy soil. May be sold as scrambled eggs.
Corydalis micrantha (Smallflower (Southern) corydalis)	C/N/S/ E/EP	2’						4 petal to 5/8” flowers, upper petal longest. Large areas in sand or clay soils.
Cryptantha crassisepala (Thicksepal cryptanth)	W	6”						Sprawling plant. 5 petal flower up to ¼” across. Dry deep sands.
Cuscuta cuspidata (Cusp dodder)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW							Parasitic vine. 5 petal flower up to ¼” long in loose clusters. Cherokee used for yellow dye.
Descurainia pinnata (Green tansy mustard)	C/S/E/ EP/W	32”						4 petal flowers to 3/16” in small end cluster. Sand or calcareous soils.
Diodia teres (Poor Joe)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	2’						Slender 4 petal tubular flowers with wide spreading lobes to ¼ long and 3/8” across in leaf axils. Common in dry usually poor sandy soil.
Dracopis amplexicaulis (Clasping coneflower)	C/N/E/ EP/ NW	12-28”					S	Daisy flower to 2” with drooping petals, usually with red brown near center and raised disk. Large colonies in low, moist, usually clay soils.
Eriogonum abertianum (Albert’s wild buckwheat)	SW	20”						1/8-3/16” flower w/petal like sepals clustered in cup at tip of branches. Sand, gravel, or rocky limestone or saline soils.
Eriogonum annuum (Annual (wild) buckwheat)	All	1-3’						¼” flowers with 6 sepals in flat terminal clusters. Pink rare. Extensive in sandy/gravelly soils.
Eriogonum multiflorum (Heart sepal wild buckwheat)	C/N/S/ E/EP	2-3’						¼” flowers with 6 sepals in stalked clusters. Sandy/gravelly soils.
Erodium texanum (Texas storksbill)	C/S/E/ EP/W	Lo						Wide flaring 5 petal flower to 1” in clusters from leaf axils. Rocky or sandy calcareous soils.
Eryngium leavenworthii (Leavenworth eryngo)	C/EP/ SW	20-40”					S/P	Minute flowers mingled with small, spiny bracts tightly congested in elongated terminal head like cluster. Clay, sand, or limestone soils.
Eschscholzia californica (California golden poppy)	SW	16”						4 petal flower to 1 1/8”-2 3/8” across at tips of long stalks. Large colonies in dry rocky limestone soil.
Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum (Texas bluebell)	C/NW	2’					S	Solitary 2-4” 5 petal flowers. Moist sand, loam or clayey soils.
Euphorbia bicolor (Snow on the prairie)	C/N/E	40”						Variegated leaves. Minute flowers in 5 petal like cup shaped structure. Large colonies in hard clay soils.
Euphorbia marginata (Snow on the mountain)	N/S/ EP/W	12-40”					S	Variegated leaves. Minute flowers in 5 petal like cup shaped structure. Clay, limestone, calcareous soils.
Euphorbia roemeriana (Romer’s spurge)	EP	1’						Cluster of tiny flowers in green cup like structure. Rich, moist, calcareous soils.
Froelichia floridana (Cottonweed, Field snakecotton)	All	1-6’						Flowers ¼” tube; clustered on a spike. Large colonies in sandy/ disturbed areas.
Gaillardia amblyodon (Maroon blanketflower, Red gaillardia)		12-20”						Solitary daisy flower to 2” across at terminal end sometimes into fall. Large masses in deep sandy soil.
Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel, Indian blanket)	All	1-2’					S/P	Daisy flower, 1 5/8-2 1/8” across, tipped with yellow, brown disk. Sand or clay soils.
Geranium carolinianum (Carolina geranium)	All	20”						5 petal flower to ½”. Various dry or moist soils. Weedy.
Glottidium vesicarium (Bagpod)	C/N/S/ E/EP	8’						Bushy. Pea like flowers to 3/8” long, often tinged with pink or red. Common in seasonally moist soils.
Grindelia papposa (Spanish gold, Saw leaf daisy)	C/N/S/ EP/W	20-60”						Daisy flowers to 1 ¾” congested near top of stem. Large areas in calcareous or clay soils.
Helenium amarum (Bitter sneezeweed)	All	4-20”						Bitter aromatic plant. Daisy flower to 1” with brown disk. Various soils. Deer resistant.
Helianthus annuus (Annual (Common) sunflower)	All	10’					S	Daisy flower to 6” across with red or purple disk. Clay to heavy sand. Wildlife food source.
Helianthus argophyllis (Silverleaf sunflower)	S/E	12’					P	Daisy flower to 4” across with dark disk. Silver foliage. Deep loose sand.
Heliotropium convolvulaceum (Phlox (Fragrant) heliotrope)	N/EP/ W	4-20”						Fragrant morning glory like flowers to 1” open in afternoon & close in AM. Deep sandy soils.
Heteranthera limosa (Mud plantain)	C/S/E/ NC/ EP	10”						6 petal like segments to 1 3/8”; closes by noon. Clay, mud, shallow water.
Heterotheca subaxillaris (Golden aster)	All	6’						Daisy flower 5/8-1” at end of stalk. Large areas in mostly sandy soils. Deer resistant.
Houstonia micrantha (Southern (small) bluet)	C/N/S/ E, EP	1-4 ¾”						Slender tube flower to 1/16” across w/4 spreading lobes at end of stalk. Large areas in sandy soils.
Hymenopappus artemisiifolius (Woolly white)	C/N/S/ E	1.5-3’						½” fragrant flowers with rose disk in cluster head. Forms large colonies on sandy soils
Ipomoea imperati (Beach morning glory)	Coast							Vine to 20’. Morning glory flower 1 ¾-2 ¾” long. Deep sand.
Ipomopsis aggregata (Skyrocket gilia)	SW	6’					S	Numerous 5 petal tubular flowers with pointed lobes scattered along upper part of stem. Widely scattered in dry sand or rocky igneous soils.
Ipomopsis longiflora (Flaxflower gilia, Pale trumpets)	W	2’						5 petal flowers to 1” across. Sand/sandy loam. Easy to grow.
Jacquemontia tamnifolia (Hairy cluster vine)	C/E	7’						5 petal ½-3/4” flowers in numerous terminal clusters. Moist sandy soils.
Kallstroemia parviflora (Warty caltrop)	C/S/ EP/W	40”						Solitary 5 petal flower to ½”  Various soils. Weedy. Seeds eaten by birds.
Krigia caespitosa (Weedy dwarf dandelion)	C/N/S/ E/EP	2-16”						Many daisy flowers ½-7/8” across. Dry sand, clay, or rocky soils. Early pollen source.
Lesquerella gracilis (Lax bladderpod, Cloth of gold)	C/N/E/ EP	20”						Numerous 4 petal flower to ¾” across in terminal cluster. Large areas in sand or calcareous soil. Larva plant for falcate orangetip butterfly.
Lindheimera texana (Texas yellow star)	C/N/S/ EP/ SW	20”					S/P	Solitary 5 petal flower ¾-1 1/8” across at tips of stems. Heavy clay soils.
Linum berlandieri (Berlandier’s yellow flax, Stiff stem flax)	All	8-20”						5 petal flowers to 1 1/8” across, often with red brown markings. Various soils.
Linum rigidum (Yellow flax, Orange flax)	NW	8-20”					S	5 petal 13/16-1 1/3” flower in loose, elongated cluster. Gravelly or sandy soil.
Linum sulcatum (Grooved flax, Yellow prairie flax)	C/NE/E	8-20”						5 petal flowers to 3/4” across in loose stalked clusters at end. Flowers open early and last one day. Sand or gravelly soils.
Lupinus concinnus (Elegant (Annual) lupine)	SW	1 5/8-6”						5 petal flower to ¾” long with upright banner and white basal spot in loose terminal clusters. Sand, clay, gravel or rocky soil.
Lupinus harvardii (Big bend bluebonnet)	SW	32”						Numerous 5 petal flowers to 3/8” long with upright banner and cream basal spot in slender terminal spike. Gravel, fine talus or alluvial soils.
Lupinus subcarnosus (Sandyland bluebonnet)	C/S/E	6-16”						5 petal flower to ½ ” long with upright banner and white basal spot in loosely congested terminal clusters. Loose deep sandy soil.
Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet)	C/N/E/ EP	6-16”					S	Many 5 petal flower to ½ ” long with upright banner and white basal spot in dense pointed terminal clusters. Gravel, sand, sandy clay, or calcareous soils.
Machaeranthera canescens var. glabra (Hoary tansyaster, Sand goldenweed)	W	40”						Many up to 2” daisy like flowers with yellow center. Dry, deep sandy soils.
Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Takhoka daisy, Tansy aster)	EP/W	4-16”					S	Solitary 1-2.5” daisy flower with yellow disk at stalk tip. Sandy soils.
Malvastrum coromandelianum (Three lobe false mallow)	S/EP	40”						5 petal wide spreading flowers to ¾”. Various soils in coast prairies and wet areas. Weedy species.
Minuartia drummondii (Drummond’s stitchwort, Sandwort)	C/N/E/ EP	8”						5 petal flowers to 1 1/8” across. Large colonies in sandy soils. Often found with other annuals.
Mitreola petiolata (Lax hornpod)	C/S/E/ EP	2.5’						5 petal ¼” flowers in clusters. Moist soil or shallow water
Monarda citriodora (Lemon mint)	All	32”					S	Numerous tubular 5 petal ½-3/4” flowers w/ curved upper lip and 3 lobed lower lip in whorls around stem. Sand, loam or rocky soil. Deer resistant.
Nama hispidum (Bristly nama, Sand bell)	C/S/E/ EP/W	4-20”						Short tube 5 petal flower to ½” in small clusters in upper leaf axils. Small clumps in sand or gravelly soils.
Nemophila phacelioides (Baby blue eyes)	C/E/EP	2’					P	Solitary short tube 5 petal flower to 1 3/8” with white basal spot in leaf axils or stem tip. Sand or clay soils.
Nicotiana repanda (Fiddle leaf tobacco)	C/S/E/ EP/ SW	3’						5 lobed tubular flower to 2.5” long and 1 3/8” wide. Moist soils. Deer resistant.
Nuttallanthus texanus (Texas toadflax)	All	28”					P	5 petal flowers ½-7/8” w/short upper lip and spreading 2 lobe lower lip in elongated terminal cluster. Dry sandy soil. Attracts bees, moths, butterflies; larval plant for buckeye butterfly.
Oenothera engelmannii (Engelmann’s evening primrose)	W	32”						4 petal up to 1 ¼” solitary flower opens near sunset and close by noon. Deep sands.
Oenothera laciniata (Cut leaf evening primrose)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	32”					S	4 petal 3/8-1 3/8” solitary flower opens near sunset. Sandy waste areas.
Oenothera rhombipetala (Fourpoint evening primrose)	N	40”					S	4 petal 1-1 ½” flowers, opening near sunset, in loose spike. Sandy waste areas.
Oenothera triloba (Stemless evening primrose)	C/S/ NW	8”						4 large wrinkled petal flowers to 3” across. Flowers open at sunset, close about noon. Clay or calcareous soils.
Packera tampicana (Great plains ragwort, Cut leaf groundsel)	C/N/S/ E/EP	18-20”						Daisy flower to ¾” across in terminal cluster. Large colonies in clay or heavy loam soils.
Palafoxia callosa (Small palafoxia)	C/S/EP	20”						Solitary daisy flower to 5/8” at terminal end. Common in calcareous soils. Invasive.
Palafoxia hookeriana (Sand (Hooker’s) palafoxia)	C/S/E	2-4’					P	Daisy flowers to 1 3/8” forming loose cluster at terminal end. Deep, dry sandy soils.
Palafoxia rosea (Rose palafoxia)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	1-2’						Deeply lobed daisy to 5/8” forming loose cluster at terminal ends. Sandy soils. Attracts butterflies.
Palafoxia sphacelata (Othake, Rayed palafoxia)	NC/W	2’						Daisy flower to 1” forming loose cluster at terminal ends. Sand or sandy limestone soils.
Parthenium hysterophorus (Ragweed parthenium, False ragweed)	All	12-40”						3/16” flowers in small head in all habitats. Abundant pollen = major hay fever plant.
Pectis angustifolia (Lemon scent)	C/S/ EP/W	4-8”						Aromatic. Daisy flower to ½” across. Solid stands in dry sand or calcareous soils.
Phacelia congesta (Blue curls, Phacelia)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ W	40”					S/P	Many 5 petal flowers to 3/8” across with protruding stamens in coiled clusters that uncurl as buds develop. Sand, gravel, or rocky soils.
Phacelia integrifolia (Gypsum phacelia (blue curls))	W	28”						Many 5 petal flowers to ¼” across with protruding stamens loosely congested in coiled clusters that uncurl as flowers open. Dry rocky or sandy soils.
Phacelia patuliflora (Sand (Purple) phacelia)	C/N/S/ EP	1’						Several 5 petal flowers to 1” across with white basal spot in loose cluster that unfurls as flowers open. Sandy soils.
Phlox cuspidata (Pointed phlox)	C/N/S/ E	2 3/8-6”						Numerous 5 petal ½ - ¾ “ tubular flower, spreading flat at rim, in terminal cluster. Large colonies in sand or loamy soils.
Phlox drummondii (Drummond’s phlox)	C/N/S/ E/EP	4-20”					S/P	Numerous 5 petal flowers to 1” w/slender tube that flares and spreads wide, congested into loose terminal clusters. Various but common in sandy soils.
Pluchea camphorata (Camphor weed)	C/N/E/ EP	5’						Numerous aromatic daisy flowers to 5/16” high crowded in large showy clusters. Moist soils in fresh or brackish areas.
Pluchea odorata var. odorata (Marsh fleabane)	All	1-3’					S/P	Tubular flowers to 3/16” across crowded in stalked flat top cluster. Rich, moist or wet soils. Attracts bees and butterflies.
Polanisia dodecandra (Clammyweed)	All	2’					S/P	4 petal flowers w/purple stamens to 3/8” across in elongated clusters. Sandy or gravelly soils.
Polygonum lapathifolium (Curly top smartweed)	All	6’						Numerous flowers to 1/8” with 4-5 petal like sepals congested in elongated cluster at end. Common in moist or muddy soils or shallow water.
Polytaenia nuttallii (Prairie parsley)	C/N/E	3’						5 petal flowers to ¼” in small clusters. Sandy loam/clay. Can use foliage & seeds like dill.
Portulaca pilosa (Chisme, Shaggy portulaca)	All	6”						Two to eight up to ½” 5 petal flowers in dense cluster, open in bright sunlight. Large colonies in clay, sand, or gravelly soils.
Portulaca umbraticola (Wing pod purslane)	All	1’						Few to several 4-6 petal flowers to ¾” across in terminal cluster. Various, especially sand and clay soils.
Proboscidea louisianica (Devil’s claw)	All	1-3’						5 petal tubular flower spotted with pink/lavender to 2 3/8”. Sandy soil. Fruit capsule tipped by long, curved beak.
Proboscidea louisianica ssp. Fragrans (Fragrant devil’s claw)	S/SW	2’						Strong smelling foliage. 5 petal tubular flower to 2 3/8”. Sand, gravel, or clay soil. Fruit capsule tipped by long, curved beak.
Ptilimnium nuttallii (Mock bishop’s weed)	C/N/S/ E/EP	1-2’						5 petal ¼” flowers in terminal cluster. Large colonies in moist sand or silt. Black swallowtail butterfly larval plant.
Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus (Texas dandelion, Desert chicory)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	8-24”						Zinnia like flower to 2” across. Dry clay or sandy loam. Fruit tipped w/feathery bristles.
Rafinesquia neomexicana (New Mexico Plume-seed)	SW	6-20”						Grayish green with 1-1.5” daisy flower. Name from flat fruit with long hairs. Sandy/rocky soils.
Rayjacksonia phyllocephala (Camphor daisy)	S	40”						Solitary or few daisy flowers to 1 5/8” across clasped by leaves. Common in sand, saline or brackish soils.
Rubeckia hirta (Black (brown) eyed susan)	C/N/S/ E/EP	1-3’					S/P	Daisy flower to 2.5” across with raised brown disk. Various but mostly sandy soil.
Sabatia campestris (Meadow pink)	C/N/S/ E/EP	20”						Solitary 5 petal flowers to 2” across, united at base, with yellow anthers. Large colonies in various dry or moist soils.
Scutellaria drummondii (Drummond’s skullcap)	C/S/E/ EP	8-12”						5 petal flower to ½” long with short upper lip and 3 lobed lower lip, white spot dotted with purple on middle lobe, in upper leaf axils. Various soils.
Sedum nuttallianum (Yellow stonecrop)	C/EP	2-3”						Numerous 5 petal flowers to 5/16” in leaf axils. Sprawls. Deep sand or shallow clay soil.
Selenia dissecta (Texas selenia)	SW	Lo						Mound of 4 petal 1” flowers. Deep moist sandy soils. Erect seed pods.
Selenia jonesii (Jones selenia)	S/EP/ NW	1’						4 petal flowers to ½” across in loose terminal cluster. Moist sand, gravel, or calcareous soils. Moon shaped seeds.
Senecio ampullaceus (Texas Groundsel (ragwort))	C/N/S/ E/EP	1-3’						Daisy flower to 1 ¼” in cluster with same length stalks. Locally abundant in deep sandy soils.
Solanum rostratum (Buffalo bur)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ W	16-32”						Few to several 5 petal united at base flower to 1” in small terminal clusters. Various soils.
Stachys drummondii (Drummond’s hedgenettle, Pink mint)	S/SE	3’						Terminal spikes of 5 petal tubular flowers,lower lip twice size of upper. Large colonies in sand, gravel, or clayey soils. Attracts bees.
Streptanthus platycarpus (Broad pod jewelflower)	EP/SW	12-40”						Urn shaped flowers 4 sepals to 1 ¼” across openly spaced in terminal spike. Dry sand or gravel calcareous soils.
Strophostyles leiosperma (Smoothseed wild bean)	C/N/E/ EP	40”						Vine. 5 petal flower with upright banner and spreading wings. Various soils but usually sand.
Symphyotrichum divaricatum (Southern annual saltmarsh aster)	All	40”						5/8” daisy flower with yellow disk. Moist soils. Common in lawns.
Thelesperma burridgeanum (Burridge green thread)	S	12-28”						Daisy flower to 1 ½” with large brown center and brown center disk. Sandy soils.
Thelesperma filifolium (Greenthread)	C/S/E/ W/EP	30”					S/P	Daisy flower to 1 ½-2” with brown disk. Dry sand, clay, or calcareous soils. Extensive in wet years.
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. pentachaeta (Common dogweed, Parralena)	NC/S/ E/EP/ W	4-8”						Strong scented. Daisy flower to 5/16” at end of long stalk. Dry calcareous or chalk soils. Deer resistant.
Thymophylla tenuiloba var. tenuiloba (Bristle leaf)	C/S/E/ EP/ NW	4-12”						Strong scented. Daisy flower to 1 1/8” across. Sand, loamy, calcareous soils or granite gravel. Deer resistant.
Tinantia anomala (Widowstears, False dayflower)	NC/EP/ SE	2’					P	3 petal flowers to 1.5”, lower petal greenish white, in elongating terminal cluster. Extensive colonies in moist, shaded sand, caliche, or limestone gravel.
Trichostema dichotomum (Blue curls, Forked blue curls)	NE/E	40”						Short tub 5 petal flower to 5/8” w/4 lobed upper lip and much longer 1 lobe lower lip in clusters from leaf axils. Dry to moist sandy soils.
Triodanis coloradensis (Colorado venus’ looking glass)	NC/EP	2’						Solitary 5 lobed sepal tube flower to ¾” in upper leaf axils. Dry, rocky soils.
Triodanis perfoliata (Clasping venus’s looking glass)	All	2’						5 petal flower to ¾” one to several in cluster forming slender terminal spike. Dry, poor, usually sandy soils.
Valerianella radiata (Beaked (Woods) corn salad)	C/N/E	6-20”						Numerous 5 petal flowers to 1/16” in rounded terminal cluster. Extensive masses in moist soils.
Verbesina encelioides (Cowpen daisy, Golden crown beard)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ W	4-36”					S/P	Solitary daisy flowers 13/16-2” across. Frequent, usually in sandy soil. Deer resistant.
Viola bicolor (Field pansy)	C/N/E	8”						5 petal flowers to 1” across, upper 2 petals erect, lower petal with dark markings, pale yellow or white at base. Large areas in sandy soils.
Warnockia scutellariodes (Prairie Brazos mint)	C/SE/ EP	1½’						5 petal tubular flower to 5/8”, dotted with purple in 6” terminal spike. Extensive colonies in dry or moist heavy sand, clay, or calcareous soils.
Xanthisma texanum (Texas sleepy daisy)	C/N/S/ E/EP/ NW	8-30”						Solitary daisy flowers to 1 ½”. Open mid AM and close late PM. Dry sand or gravel soils.

References:

1. Ajilvsgi, Geyata, “Wildflowers of Texas,” Shearer Publishing, Revised edition, 2002.
2. Correll, Donovan Stewart and Marshall Conring Johnston, “Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas,” University of Texas at Dallas, 4^th Printing, 1996.
3. Diggs, George M., Jr., Barney L. Lipscomb, and Robert J. O’Kennon, “Shinners and Mahler’s Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas,” Botanical Research Institute of Texas, 2^nd printing, 2000.
4. Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski, “Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region,” Lone Star Books,” 2^nd Edition, 1997.
5. Integrated Taxonomic Information System, http://www.itis.gov/
6. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, http://www.wildflower.org/
7. Native American Seed Company, http://www.seedsource.com/
8. Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed, http://www.nativeplantandseed.com/
9. Sweet Briar Nursery, http://homepages.vvm.com/~reid/sweet.htm