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Contents
Upcoming Events
Program Notes
Club Activities
Featured Plant
Texas Bulbs
Garden Guides
Resource List
Club Information
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This summer has been
pretty incredible. I figured that by this time it would be dry as a bone
and hotter than blue blazes. By the time this goes to press that may have
happened. Right now though, I am enjoying the cloudy, wet weather. The
plants that appreciate moisture look like they are on steroids. The ones
that don’t are either dead or dying. I call it “survival of the fittest”.
I try to get out for a couple of hours each day to work in the
yard/prairie. With the humidity as high as it is, that is about all I can
stand.
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In the meantime, there is plenty to keep me busy. The Georgetown city staff is working on a Conservation Subdivision Ordinance which
should go to City Council on August 28th. Put
that date on your calendar. Somehow I ended up sitting in on the task
force made up of developers, builders, land designers, surveyors, and the
chamber of commerce. I will warn you now that not all these folks are in
favor of such an ordinance. The ordinance will not be mandatory but
hopefully will offer enough incentives to entice developers and builders
into adopting such a plan. The idea is to cluster buildings, leaving much
more open space to the occupants of the property. This open space can
serve as wildlife corridors. There are at least a couple of developers in
the area already working with this concept.
Most of my time and energy has been spent on working with the
most wonderful group of volunteers any organization could possibly have.
Our chapter is the host chapter for the 2007 Joint Symposium of the Native
Plant Society of Texas and the Native Prairies Association of Texas
to be held at Sun City, October 18-21. Lynn Mann,
Volunteer Coordinator is actively seeking volunteers to either head
up or work on committees. Even if you can only do one small thing, please
contact her thru email, mann.lynn@gmail.com
or 512-863-9988. You are NEEDED!
In addition to volunteering to help, please plan on attending
all or part of the Symposium. A super lineup of Speakers and Field Trips
is planned. I attended my first symposium in 1995. It was held in Waco, and focused on the Blackland Prairie. I met many wonderful people who gave me great
guidance in restoring and maintaining my little pocket prairie.
Think about what you might have in your possession that would
make a nice Silent Auction item. Hand made items are always highly
prized. I know several of our members who are very talented in arts and crafts.
Do I need to name you? The money from the silent auction goes into a scholarship
fund. In the past our chapter has specified a certain amount of money
out of our treasury to go toward purchasing items for this auction.
Hopefully we will do this again this year.
Other items of interest connected with the Symposium are two
different photo contests, one plant specific(Dayflower or Widow’s
Tears, Commelina erecta) sponsored by the Amarillo Chapter where the
prize is $100 and a nice plaque, open to NPSOT members only, and the other
titled “Spirit of the Prairie” which is open to anyone. Ribbons will be
awarded to the winners of the “Spirit of the Prairie” contest. The purpose
of this contest is to share the beauty of the Texas prairies through
photography. More information can be obtained from the NPSOT website.
Last but not least, NPSOT members are encouraged to nominate
someone for the Benny J. Simpson Fellows Award. This award
recognizes longtime active involvement within NPSOT at the local, regional,
or state level. The only criterion is that the nominee has to have been a
member of NPSOT for at least 10 years. Since our chapter formed in 1997,
several of our members are now on the “eligible” list. Go to the NPSOT
website for a list of eligible members and also previous winners. This is
quite an honor and I urge you to vote. The deadline for the
nomination must be into the state office no later than September 1, 2007.
The announcement for the Symposium is given below. For the most
current information on the Symposium go to the website, www.NPSOT.org.
The Wildflower Center Fall Plant Sale will be held October 12, 13, & 14, 2007, the weekend prior to the State Symposium.
Since this is one of two official fund raisers for our chapter it is
extremely important for our members to help during this event. Gabriel
Valley Farms supplies us with a nice variety of super healthy plants for
the sale. Janet Church will be coordinating volunteers to
help prepare the plants for the sale and then to man the booth
for this most important event. Although she will be bringing a sign-up
sheet to the meetings, I am sure she would not be adverse to you contacting
her at: janet_church46@hotmail.com
In my spare time this summer I have been doing a bit of
reading. I read “Prairie Time” by Matt White while on vacation in Missouri earlier this summer. Now I’ve picked up two different books by Sally and Andy
Wasowski that I have had in my possession for years. One is “Requiem for a
Lawnmower”, the other is “The Landscaping Revolution”. Both of these books
are easy reads. I would recommend them to anyone who is even the least bit
interested in the conservation and preservation of our natural world. They
should be readily obtainable at your local library. If not, let me know
and we will see what we can do about getting copies into the libraries.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Stay cool, eat well, and drink
lots of liquid. We want to see you at the top of your form this Fall.
Natively yours,
Agnes Plutino
President Elect
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Susan Waitz for program notes, Dennis and Marilyn
Perz for the club activities information and photographs, Reid Lewis for
his review of the featured plant, bulb and garden guide information, and
the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center for our featured plant photos. As
always, many thanks to Jason Spangler and our new assistant web master
Linda Hasting for their support in placing this newsletter on our Web site.
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Note
Chapter Tee Shirts can be re-ordered. The Blue embroidered logo
polo shirts ($18) and the stone blue “Grow Natives” tee ($10) must be each
ordered in minimal lots of 24. If any of you are interested in ordering
either of these shirts, let me know as I have started an order list…Marilyn
Perz…512-864-3828 or dmperz@thegateway.net
Upcoming Events
August Meeting
August 9; 7:00 PM
Georgetown Public Library
Native Dried
Flower/Plant Arranging
by Getty Hughes
Betty Hughes is a member of the Sequin NPSOT Chapter and led the
group who made the arrangements for the San Antonio Symposium. She will give
a hands-on demonstration of how to create beautiful arrangements using dried
native plants. Bring plant parts, seed pods, dried grasses and any other
native plant parts that can be incorporated into interesting arrangements. Betty
will also bring materials with her. Bring your own container or basket in
which to make an arrangement. The chapter will provide Styrofoam bases.
September Meeting
September 13; 7:00 PM
Sun City Pavilion
Soil Analysis by
Jon Brandt
Jon Brandt is a licensed professional geoscientist. He will
compare native soils to the urban soils that are becoming more prevalent in Williamson County and the surrounding areas. Soil relationships, including biology,
composition and geography, which influence the establishment of native plants
will be discussed. A quick introduction the Web Soil Survey will also be
included.
Those who are interested can bring a soil sample (about a cup)
from your yard or garden to test. After the presentation, you will be able
to determine the pH and estimate the calcium carbonate content of your soil
and your results will be interpreted.
UP THE CHISHOLM TRAIL
The Williamson County Historical Museum is sponsoring a 2007 “Up
the Chisholm Trail” event on Saturday September 29 from noon-8pm around the
square in Georgetown.
The event will follow in the tradition started by trail drivers
in Williamson County in the 1860s. The father of the Longhorn Chisholm
Trail, Peter Preston Ackley, coined the phrase” Up the Chisholm Trail”.
Ackley was a famous trail driver who made his first trip up the trail to Kansas as a teenager in 1878. Ackley spearheaded the trail marking movement in the 1930s
in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, with the goal of placing a “Going up the Chisholm Trail” marker in every county that the trail passed through. One of these
historically significant trail markers still stands at the southwest corner
of the Williamson County courthouse on the square in Georgetown.
An authentic chuck wagon cook-off, trail drive (with live
longhorns), activities for children, BBQ, and live entertainment are part of
the day’s activities.
The Williamson County Chapter of NPSOT will take part in this
event by demonstrating the hands-on production of Prairie Wildflower recycled
paper seed starters in the children’s booth area. Please sign up for a two
hour session at our NPSOT meeting on August 9 or contact Marilyn 864-3828 or dmperz@thegateway.net
Native Tree Class
The Native Trees of Central Texas and Their Associated Plant
Communities class to be held on Sept 27 (7-9PM) and field trip on Sept 29 (9-11AM), still has openings. Heather Brewer (Urban Forester, City of
Georgetown, Bill Carr (The Nature Conservancy), and Jason Spangler (Native
Prairies Association of Texas-NPAT) will be providing valuable information. The
registration fee is $15 for NPSOT-NPAT members and $20 for non-members. To
register, contact Marilyn Perz (512-864-3828), dmperz@thegateway.net
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Meeting
Notes
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Meeting minutes can be found on the website http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/.
June 14 Program
Notes
By Susan Waitz
Bill Carr, botanist with The Nature Conservancy of Texas since
1996, presented "Invasive Plants" at our June meeting. Bill works
with private landowners providing conservation easements to the Nature
Conservancy. He is also the author of "An Annotated List of the Flora
of Travis County, Texas" and a co-author of a book on the rare plants of
Texas to be published by Texas A&M University Press in Fall 2007.
Texas is home to over 6000 species of plants, 80% estimated to be
native. "Invasive" refers more to behavior than nativity. Some
native species are considered invasive because they colonize large areas
usually due to overgrazing. There are three terms for invasive species: Inventive
- introduced but not established; Escaped - cultivated and occasionally
straying but not persistent; and Naturalized - fully established in the wild.
Some invasive plants will grow only on disturbed habitats. Those
that invade late succession areas are the greatest threat, as they displace
established natives. "Noxious weeds" is a government term for
exotics that invade crop fields or waterways, causing economic problems to
control.
The "Lucky Thirteen" list of invasive plants:
- Giant Cane - an Old World native planted along
highways for erosion control. Grow up to 30 feet tall. Displace
Natives by occupying habitat.
- King Ranch Blue Stem - introduced as a forage grass,
dominates open areas, threatens dozens of rare species (fish-hook
cactus).
- Bermuda Grass - Native of Africa and Eurasia, introduced as a forage grass, major hay grass. Invades deep sand environments,
displacing dozens of native species. Also major threat to
"pot-hole" ponds and other seasonal wetlands and rare species
like Mexican Mudbabies.
- Deep-Rooted Sedge- South American Native invading the
Coastal Plains and Woodlands, spread by mowers and construction
equipment.
- Kleberg Bluestem - Native of Africa, India, introduced forage grass and Highway Right of Way grass.
- Buffelgrass - native of Africa, India, introduced forage grass, cattle like it, blooms year round. Is still actively seeded.
Extreme invasive in South Texas, particularly on shallow soils, culms
stand throughout season in 2-3 ft high dense stands, shutting out light
for other species.
- Tall Fescue - Native of Europe, introduced forage
grass in 44 states. Serious threat to native tallgrass prairies in North Texas. Rhizomatous Cultivars are used as lawn and turf grasses.
- Guinea Grass- Native of Africa. One of the most highly
esteemed forage grasses in the world. Was not supposed to be cold hardy
here, but it is growing here. 3' tall, dense, very aggressive, quickly
proliferating, completely replaces ground cover area in subtropical
thorn scrub and Mesquite woodlands.
- Woody Plants - primarily seen in urban areas or river
Corridors:
- Large Leaf Privets:
- L. Japonicum - Japanese Privet, native of Korea and Japan, now all over the U.S.
- L. Lucidum - Glossy Privet, native of Korea and Japan, now in SE U.S. and California.
- Small Leaf Privets:
- L. Quihoui - Native of China, now in SE U.S.
- L. Sinense - China native, now all over the U.S. Looks similar to native Elbow Bush (W. Forestiere)
- Japanese Honeysuckle - Native of Japan and Korea, now all over the US except the far north.
- Nandina Domestica - Sacred Bamboo - native of Asia, India, seriously invasive in the SE U.S. Easily spread by seed by birds.
- McCartney Rose - native of China. Introduced as an
ornamental and hedge. Likes sandy loam. Easily spread as the stems
root and the fertile seeds are spread by animals and birds. 500,000
acres of Texas rangeland was infested in 1960's. Very difficult to
control.
- Chinese Tallow - Native of China, Japan, now in SE U.S. and California. Seeds were mailed to a Doctor in Georgia by Ben Franklin in
1772. The USDA Foreign Plant Introduction Division subsidized plantings
of this tree for soap and candle production. Some of these Tallow farms
were located near Houston. The Tallow trees completely replace Native
Forests and convert open areas to Woodland.
Summary: Invasives share the common traits of rapid growth,
massive and highly fertile seed production, long flowering season, effective
seed dispersal, allelopathy (poison the soil or otherwise ruin growing
conditions for other plants), and have a history of widespread deliberate
planting.
Invasive plants are still being planted by the TXDOT on Highway
Right of Ways. Lobby your state Legislator for changes in TXDOT planting
choices.
An interesting book on the subject of Invasive plants: "The
Song of The Dodo" by David Quammen.
July 12 Election and
Brainstorm Session
While members enjoyed snacks and desserts, the following officers
and club postions were selected for the new year beginning the middle of August.
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President
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Agnes Plutino
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Past President
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Phyllis Dolich
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Secretary
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Kay Sanders
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Treasure
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Kathy Galloway
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Program
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Walt Henderson
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Field Trips
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Roz and Bob Fisher
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Membership
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Kathy Mitchamore
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Volunteer Coordinator
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Janet Church
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Historian
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Billye Adams
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Heritage Gardens
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Marilyn Perz
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Web Master
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Jason Spangler
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Newsletter
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Janice Charnley
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Dennis Perz conducted a brainstorm session with Walt Henderson
recording the results. Ideas discussed for upcoming programs included
various types of Texas plants and plant identification to pollinators,
habitat stewardship, and organic garden information. Also generated were
ideas for local field trips and fundable projects. Ideas for fundable
projects primarily concentrated on information and educational opportunities
from book donations to landscaping comparison plots. Aspects of the Grapevine
newsletter were discussed including content and distribution. All of these
items will be reviewed at the officer’s meeting in August.
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Club
Activities
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First Award for
Excellence in Native Landscaping
By Dennis Perz
On Tuesday, July 31 at 10 AM, the Williamson County chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas recognized Wolf Ranch Town Center in Georgetown for their use of native plants and the preservation of dozens of native
trees in landscape design for the center. The Wolf Ranch shopping center is
owned and operated by Simon Property Group, the largest shopping mall
developer in the country headquartered in Indianapolis. The award was presented
to Simon Property Group, and its design, landscaping and maintenance
contractors, in a presentation and plaque dedication held near the large live
oak on the plaza. These contractors include landscape designer TBG Partners,
operations contractor UNICCO and Native Land Design landscape maintenance.
Phyllis Dolich and
Agnes Plutino with award recipients Bill Reed, Dean Domingo, and Miguel Vite
The genesis of the award was the debate over the City of Georgetown’s heritage tree ordinance. The ordinance contained lots of penalties, and not
many incentives. So, the society agreed to do something positive to recognize
businesses in Williamson County that exemplified good landscape design by
using native plants and protecting native trees. The Dennis and Marilyn Perz
and Agnes Plutino toured Wolf Ranch Town Center in February. Dennis then
developed an award process using input from Sue Weissman and Walt Henderson
and the club voted overwhelmingly in May to name the center and Simon
Property Group as the first award recipient.
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When Simon and their lead architectural firm, Hodges and
Associates, laid out the site, they started by first identifying the
varieties and locations of the existing live oaks and pecans that they
wanted to keep. They then proceeded to arrange the buildings, roads,
parking lots, and landscape beds to preserve these trees. In effect, they
followed the intent of the heritage tree ordinance a few years before it
was passed by City Council. Simon also deeded 17 acres of land fronting on
the South San Gabriel River to the City of Georgetown.
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The award recognizes the use of native plant species at Wolf
Ranch, including Chilopsis linearis (Desert willow), Opuntia engelmannii (Prickly
pear cactus), Salvia greggii (Autumn sage), and Malvaviscus arboreus (Turk’s
cap). Non-native invasive plants like wax-leaf ligustrums were avoided.
Native grasses such as Muhlenbergia lindheimeri (Lindheimer muhly) grass and Muhlenbergia
reverchonii (Seep muhly) grass are left uncut, and the use of heavy mulch
minimizes the need for herbicides. The automated irrigation system is now
operated manually allowing operations personnel to decide daily water usage
based on plant condition and soil moisture.
In developing the award program, it was found that the Georgetown planning department encourages the use of native varieties in new developments
and uses native plants in landscaping at new city facilities. It also
promotes the use of native species since they tend to be drought-tolerant and
require less water. According to Glenn Dishong, Georgetown water services
director, the city hopes to delay the expansion of water treatment plants
through water conservation. Significant support was also provided by Keith
Hutchinson of the Georgetown Public Information Office in developing media
communications.
By aligning with those in the community that are already
promoting the use of native plants, the society hopes to broaden the message
about the advantages of native plants. Any chapter member can nominate a commercial or
public landscape throughout Williamson County for recognition. Contact Dennis
Perz at 864-3828 for more information.
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Featured
Plant
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Salvia Regla (Mountain Sage)
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Photo from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website
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Salvia regla is an ornamental deciduous shrub or subshrub
native to rocky wooded slopes and canyons of the Chisos Mountains within Big Bend National Park and a large area in Mexico from Coahuila and Durango to Oaxaca. It has been called the Queen of the Chisos Mountains. Average rainfall
over most of this area is less than 12” with the greatest rainfall
occurring in July and August. Volcanic action is responsible for most of
the mass of the Chisos Mountains. Soils are primarily basic.
Mountain sage is a many branched, deer resistant shrub that
grows to 6.5 feet high and about 4-5 feet in width over several years with
garden conditions. The stems and woody
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branches are smooth or have short hairs. It has medium green
with a slight grey tint, triangular leaves up to 2” high and wide. These
leaves are deeply veined and scalloped on the edges. When crushed the
leaves smell like mint. Bright red to orange red, 1 to 1.5” long, tubular
flowers with two lips appear from July to October or until frost in warm
protected areas. This bloom period corresponds to the fall migration of
several species of hummingbirds and is an important food source for them.
The flowers occur in leaf axils or in a short elongated cluster at the end
of the stems. Flowers are seldom followed by seed in the garden.
This is a wonderful plant for the garden or in pots. It is
winter hardy to 20-10°F and root hardy to 0°F. If it is well protected or
the winter is mild, this plant may retain some of it’s leaves. If it goes
dormant, the leaves may not appear until late spring. S. regla does best
when it receives morning sun and afternoon shade. However, it can grow in
dappled shade. The soil should be well drained and slightly acid to
slightly alkaline. It will do best in rocky or sandy soil but it is
adaptable to other soils. Note that the plants will last only 4-5 years or
less in heavy, rich soil. Once it is established, it only needs occasional
deep watering during long periods of drought. Fertilizer is generally not
needed. Pruning recommendations vary. Some state that this shrub should
only be lightly pruned during it’s active growing period and do not
recommend heavy
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pruning when it is dormant as it will affect the bloom for the
next year. Others recommend that it be cut back each winter to encourage
bushy growth.
Mountain sage is most easily grown from either softwood tip
cuttings or semi-hardwood cuttings taken from the base. Application of a
rooting hormone improves rooting which should occur within three weeks.
The rooted cutting can then be planted into separate containers or placed
directly into the ground. If potted, make sure the soil drains well, avoid
overhead watering and give sufficient room between the plants to assure
good air circulation.
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Photo from Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website
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Recommended companion plants include those that will do well
with the same dry part shade growing conditions. Try pairing this plant
with others that extend the blooming period such as the small flowering
tree Ungnadia speciosa (Mexican buckeye), shrub Pavonia lasiopetala
(Rockrose), and perennials Manfreda variegata (Manfreda),
and Salvia roemeriana (Cedar sage). Companion plants that bloom at the
same time include Senna roemeriana (Two-leaf senna) and Ageratina
havanensis (White mistflower).
The last few years, S. regla has been available at local
nurseries especially in late summer and fall. Fall is also a good time to
visit Big Bend to see Mountain sage in it’s native habitat.
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References:
1. Correll, Donovan
Stewart and Marshall Conring Johnston, “Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas,” University of Texas at Dallas, 4th Printing, 1996.
2. Clebsch, Betsy, “A
Book of Salvias,” Timber Press, 1997.
3. Wasowski, Sally and
Andy Wasowski, “Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region,” Lone
Star Books,” 2nd Edition, 1997.
4. Nokes, Jill, “How to
Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest,” Revised and Updated
Edition, University of Texas Press, 2001.
5. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, http://www.wildflower.org/
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Texas Bulbs
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Generally, a bulb refers to a swollen underground rootstock that
stores food and is used for propagation. A true bulb is defined as an
underground leaf bud with thickened scales or coats. However, the term is
often applied to corms, rhizomes and tubers. A corm is a short, bulblike,
underground stem. While bulbs may grow and increase in size over several
years, corms completely replace themselves each year, often forming new corms
atop the shriveled old corm.
Rhizomes and tubers are similar to each other. A rhizome is an
underground stem or rootstock, with nodes and scales; tubers are thicken,
solid, short underground stem, with nodes, scales, and many buds. This article
will address only bulbs and corms, not rhizomes or tubers.
Bulbs and Corms
Exp (Exposure): S=Sun, PS=Part Shade, Sh=Shade
Bloom Period: Spr=Spring, Sum=Summer
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Name
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Exp
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H
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Bloom
Color
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Bloom
Period
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Comments
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Allium canadense var. canadense (Meadow garlic)
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S/ PS
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8-24”
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White or pink
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Mar-May
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Many flowers in dense cluster; flower often replaced by
bulbils. Sandy open woods to roadsides. Invasive.
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Allium canadense var. ecristatum (Meadow garlic)
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S
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6-12”
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Deep pink
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Mar-Apr
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Endemic. 5-25 fragrant flowers in umbel. Central coastal
prairie. Good in damp conditions.
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Allium canadense var. fraseri (Fraser meadow garlic)
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S/ PS
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8-20”
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White, rarely pink
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Apr-May
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10-50 fragrant flowers in umbel. Sandy/rocky soil in woods/
prairies. Some in this variety w/larger flowers called Unofficial name A.
texanum.
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Allium canadense var. hyacinthoides (Hyacinth meadow garlic)
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S-Sh
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6-12”
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Pink, rose, laven-der
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Mar-Apr
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25-60 hyacinth scented flowers in umbel. Gray-green leaves.
Calcareous prairie or sandy soil,
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Allium canadense var. mobilense (Meadow garlic)
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S/ PS
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4-12”
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Pink, lilac, rarely white
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Apr-May
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15-50 fragrant flowers in umbel. Usually sandy/rocky soils in
woods to prairies. Does well in moist loam. Unofficial name A. zenobiae.
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Allium cernuum (Nodding onion)
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S/ PS
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4-30”
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Pink, lilac or white
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Jul-Oct
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8-35 flowers in umbel. Trans-Pecos mts. in moist locations.
Three varieties; two, cernuum and neomexicanum, in Texas.
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Allium coryi (Yellow flower onion)
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S/ PS
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4-12”
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Yellow, gold
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Apr-May
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Endemic. 10-25 flowers, sometimes tinged with red, in umbel.
Rocky slopes/plains in Trans-Pecos mts.
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Allium drummondii (Drummond’s onion)
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S
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3-12”
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Wine, pink, white
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Mar-May
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10-25 flowers in umbel. Plains, hill, prairies, usually
limestone soils. Dry to damp.
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Allium elmendorfii (Elmendorf’s onion)
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S/ PS
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6-16”
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White to pinkish
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Mar-Apr
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Endemic. 10-30 hyacinth scented flowers in umbel. Sandy soils in mid to south Texas. Best in acidic soils.
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Allium geyeri var. geyeri (Geyer’s onion)
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S/ PS
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4-20”
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White to pink
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Jul
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10-25 flowers in umbel. Moist open slopes, meadows or stream
banks in Guadalupe Mts.
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Allium glandulosum (Gland onion)
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S
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8-12”
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Pink
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Jul-Sep
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Bulbs on rhizome. 5-15 flowers with purple or pink mid vein in
umbel. Dry grassy slopes of Trans-Pecos Mts. Unofficial name A. rhizomatum.
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Allium kunthii (Kunth’s onion)
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S
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6-12”
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White or pink
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Jul-Sep
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5-20 flowers with reddish midrib in umbel. Dry rocky hills and
mts; usually limestone soil.
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Allium macropetalum (Large flower onion)
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S
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2-8”
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Pink
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Mar-May
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10-20 flowers with deeper pink or reddish midrib in umbel. Desert
plains and hills in Trans-Pecos.
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Allium perdulce var. perdulce (Plains onion)
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S
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4-8”
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Deep rose
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Mar-Apr
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5-25 clove scented flowers in umbel. Flowers age to purple. Sandy soil in NC Texas plains.
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Allium perdulce var. sperryi (Sperry’s onion)
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S
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4-8”
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White, pale pink
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Mar
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Endemic. 5-20 flowers with deep pink midrib in umbel. Rocky
slopes in the Trans-Pecos.
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Allium runyonii (Runyon’s onion)
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S/ PS
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4-18”
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White w. pink midrib
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Mar
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Endemic. 10-25 flowers in umbel. Flowers age to pink. Sandy soils in Rio Grande plains.
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Allium stellatum (Autumn onion)
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S
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8-20”
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Purple pink
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Oct
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9-40 flowers in umbel. Prairies, rocky hills, dry slopes, often
on calcareous soil in N Texas.
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Alophia drummondii (Propeller flower)
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S/ PS
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6-18”
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Violet w/white and purple
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Mar-May (fall)
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3 large and 3 small petals. Large petal violet with white
spotted with purple base. Small petals purple. Clay or sandy soil in
grasslands and prairies in S. Texas.
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Androstephium caeruleum (Blue funnel lily)
|
S
|
To 10”
|
Lt blue - violet purple
|
Feb-May
|
1-6 flowers in umbel; 6 stamens/flower in a narrow funnel.
Grassy slopes, sandy hills, gypsum soils; NC Texas.
|
|
Arisaema dracontium (Green dragon)
|
PS-Sh
|
6-36”
|
Green
|
May-Jun
|
Green palmate leaf encloses spathe with 5-6” long spadix,
followed by spikes of red berries in fall. Dry to moist woods, thickets,
bottoms.
|
|
Arisaema triphyllum (Jack in the pulpit)
|
PS-Sh
|
18-48”
|
Green/ purple, green, purple
|
May-Jun
|
3 subspecies in Texas. Spathe with spadix followed by spikes of
red berries in fall. Wet woods, swamps, bogs.
|
|
Camassia angusta (Prairie hyacinth)
|
S/ PS
|
To 30”
|
Lt blue-lilac
|
Mid-late Spr
|
¾” wide flowers in spikes with 3-20 (or more) persistent bracts
underneath the blooming flowers. Dry or moist prairies.
|
|
Camassia scilloides (Wild hyacinth)
|
S/ PS
|
To 30”
|
Pale blue-lilac
|
Mar-May
|
Flowers in spikes with 0-2 deciduous bracts underneath the
flowers of its stalks. Sandy or rocky soils..
|
|
Cooperia drummondii (Evening rainlily)
|
S/ PS
|
12-18”
|
White/ pink tinted outside
|
May-Sep
|
Fragrant single flowers open in the evening typically after
rain. Sandy/rocky, usually calcareous soils
|
|
Cooperia jonesii (Jones’ rainlily)
|
S/ PS
|
6-12”
|
Pale yellow
|
Jul-Oct
|
Endemic. Fragrant single flowers open in the evening typically after
rain. Sandy loam, Texas coast.
|
|
Cooperia pedunculata (Giant Prairie lily)
|
S-Sh
|
12-18”
|
White turning pink
|
Mar-Aug
|
Fragrant single flowers open in the evening typically after
rain. Rocky/sandy soils in prairies to open woods.
|
|
Cooperia smallii (Small’s rainlily)
|
S/ PS
|
6-12”
|
Lemon yellow
|
Sep-Oct
|
Endemic. Fragrant single flowers open in the evening typically
after rain. Sandy loam, Texas coast.
|
|
Cooperia traubii (Traub’s rainlily)
|
S/ PS
|
12-18”
|
White, white tinged w/pink
|
Jul-Nov
|
Endemic. Fragrant single flowers open in the evening typically
after rain. Moist ground of coastal prairies.
|
|
Crinum americanum (Seven sisters)
|
S/ PS
|
To 3’
|
White
|
May-Nov
|
4-8 spidery flowers. Swamps, mashes, stream banks. Does well in
a garden pond.
|
|
Echeandia chandleri (Chandler’s craglily)
|
S/ PS
|
To 4’
|
| |
