By Emmy Ulmschneider
and Debbie Roland
Master Gardeners
I have been visiting Tallgrass Prairie country. The plant species are not the same as in our area, but I can identify relatives of the plants I grow. One very common plant is Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium.
When I started becoming interested in native plants, Rattlesnake Master was one of the first plants I tried growing and I have loved it ever since. Back then, I did not know it was not a native plant to our area and it did not survive. I have learned so much since then!
We have come a long way in our knowledge about native plants and the importance they have in creating habitat which in turn supports the tangible and intangible resources we all depend upon. And it was a joy to me to visit an urban area that is actively creating habitat. Everywhere I visited, I saw private and public gardens built around native plants. Some gardens just had a few natives mixed in with more traditional landscape plants and some were full of regional native plants and information about them. Many of the plants along the heavily shaded parts of the street were plants I recognized from my Midwest childhood such as violets, wild ginger, and Solomon’s seal but gardens in the sunny areas had tallgrass prairie natives: asters, sunflowers, and of course prairie grasses.
Previously we have written about our native prairies and the importance of creating habitat. And every year there are more online resources, how to’s, plants, and programs available to do just that. Most of our Midland urban yards have few native plants and the trend is to install rock landscapes or turf. But rock landscapes, like turf lawns, have their downsides. What if instead of a sea of green turf or black stone in our urban areas, we started to incorporate regional native plants bringing color and life back into our landscapes? And there are so many local, state, and national resources to help do just that.
Locally, In Midland, Windlands Park, Centennial Park and Cimarron Gardens, feature native plants. On the wilder side, Sibley Nature Center has a garden as well as trails through natural landscape as does the I-20 Wildlife Preserve. The preserve also features three planted gardens.
In Odessa, check out the beautiful native garden at the Ector County Extension Office and the native plantings at the Ector County Coliseum.
And for great information and plant lists, try these:
Homegrown National Park: Hear Doug Tallamy and get on the map!
- General information: https://homegrownnationalpark.org
National Wildlife Federation: A long-time information staple
- General information: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-For-Wildlife.aspx
- Plant information: https://nativeplantfinder.nwf.org
Native Plant Society of Texas: Information geared to Texas
- General information: https://www.npsot.org
Pollinator Partnership: From bees to butterflies
- General information: https://www.pollinator.org
- Plant information: Great ecoregional planting guides, check out Chihuahuan Desert and Southwest Plateau region: https://www.pollinator.org/guides
Xerces Society: Information on creating and maintaining habitat
- General information: https://xerces.org
- Plant information: Start with their Pollinator Conservation page. Check out both the Chihuahuan Desert and the Southern Plains regions.
Whatever your interest is from a desire to become engaged, create a place of beauty and peace, or just to learn, the first step is to get started! So, get out there and garden!
If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 498-4071 or in Midland at 686-4700. Additional information, and our blog for access to past articles, is available at westtexasgardening.org. Click on “Resources.”
