Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - January 06, 2012
From: Palacios, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Lists, Trees, Wildflowers
Title: Trees and wildflowers for Matagorda County, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My family has a fish farm in Palacios, Matagorda county. I would like to plant trees and wild flowers on the property. Can you suggest the appropriate kind that can withstand the salt water around and the constant sea breeze. Thanks.ANSWER:
First of all, I urge you to look at our Texas–South Recommended list. These plants are: "Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in South Texas." To determine their salt tolerance, there are a couple of resources:
- List 1: Salt Tolerant Plants for East Central Florida, from Rockledge Gardens. This list contains many plants that are not native and some that are native to Florida but not to Matagorda County, Texas. However, if you compare the plants from our Texas–South Recommended list and find them on the Florida list, you will know the salt tolerance for the plant that grows in your county.
- List 2: Landscape Plant Lists for Salt Tolerance Assessment from Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. This list contains many non-native plants. This publication also lists the spray resistance of plants. You can determine if a plant of interest is native by searching for it (use the scientific name) in our Native Plant Database.
Now here are some choices for you—many are on the Texas-South Recommended list; but, if not, they are plants that have been reported growing in or near Matagorda County. The designations for List 1 are: Moderate Salt Tolerance or High Salt Tolerance. The designations for List 2 are: Sensistive, Moderately Sensitive, Moderately Tolerant, Tolerant, and Highly Tolerant.
TREES:
Acacia farnesiana (Huisache) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Cordia boissieri (Mexican olive) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1) or Moderately Sensitive (2)
Quercus virginiana (Coastal live oak) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sabal mexicana (Mexican palm) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sophora tomentosa (Yellow necklacepod) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite) Tolerant (2)
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) Tolerant (2)
Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust) Tolerant (2)
SHRUBS:
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1) and Tolerant (2)
Malpighia glabra (Acerola) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Parkinsonia aculeata (Retama) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto) High Salt Tolerance (1)
HERBS—WILDFLOWERS:
Coreopsis tinctoria var. tinctoria (Golden tickseed) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Kosteletzkya virginica (Virginia saltmarsh mallow) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Opuntia spp. (prickly pear cactus) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Phlox drummondii ssp. drummondii (Annual phlox) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Here are photos of some of the above from our Image Gallery:
From the Image Gallery
More Wildflowers Questions
Growing Mountain Laurel in Georgia
May 28, 2011 - While in Texas a few months ago I saw your beautiful Sophora Secundiflora blooming and decided to bring one home to Gainesville, GA and try my luck. I have not planted it yet and it is doing well in ...
view the full question and answer
Native Texas Plants for a Terrarium
October 08, 2014 - I have a 55-gallon aquarium that I would like to make into a terrarium. Are there any Texas native plants that would do well in the limited artificial light of the tank? The plants should be of varyin...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets in Colorado mountains
April 21, 2007 - Will Bluebonnets grow up in Colorado in the mountains?
view the full question and answer
Twist-leaf Yucca flowering in Burnet County, TX.
June 16, 2015 - I recently moved to Burnet County and our property is full of twist leaf yuccas which are now blooming, but not all are blooming.
Why do some twist leaf yuccas bloom and others don't? Are they m...
view the full question and answer
What is wrong with the bluebonnets?
April 04, 2008 - This doesn't seem to be a very good year for bluebonnets. What's up with that?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |