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Boerne Chapter

April 2007

NICE! Plant of the Month

(Bignonia capreolata)

Trumpet shaped orange flowers on a green vine, growing against tree bark.
Image courtesy of the Aggie Horticulture Network, part of the Texas A&M University Agriculture Program

Family: Bignoniaceae (Catalpa or Trumpet-Creeper Family)

Type: Evergreen, woody vine; climbs by tendrils with flattened tips.

Natural Habitat: Usually found high climbing in trees in moist woods of eastern Texas to Florida and north to Illinois and New Jersey. Uncommon in most of its range but may be common in some regional locations.

Growth: Height to 65′ in moist areas; 10-20′ is more common in Hill Country plantings.

Preferred Site and Use: Widely used in landscapes on screens, fences or arbors.

Deer Resistance: May be browsed by deer.

Wildlife: Hummingbirds use nectar from flowers.

Light Tolerance: Dappled shade is best; full sun if given extra water and organic supplemented soil.

Flowers: usually red-orange but can be yellow; 2-3″ long tubular with 5 lobes; lighter or yellow inside; in clusters of 2-5 flowers.

Bloom Period: April – June

Fruit: Leathery, long slim pods; 4-7″ long; seeds winged.

Leaves: Evergreen, opposite, compound with 2 leaflets, elliptic or lanceolate, 1-6″ long, margins entire.

Water Requirements: Moderate; for established plant in absence of rain, water deeply once every month.

Soil Requirements: Various; organic supplementation improves performance in limestone areas; in limestone soils may take 3+ years to become established.

Maintenance: Little is required; few natural predators. Trim lightly when necessary, add compost around plant, and keep mulched. To encourage full, lush growth and lots of flowers trim back after flowering or during winter months.

Planting Instructions: Space plants 10 feet apart. Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with your fingers. If the plant is root-bound and cannot be loosened by hand, the outer roots may be cut in several places. Lift the plant by the root ball and place into the hole. Backfill hole, using soil that was dug out supplemented lightly with compost. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with your hands, but do not tamp it down. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil around, but not touching the base of the plant.

Watering Instructions: Water deeply after planting to settle soil around roots. Then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Before watering, check for soil moisture at a depth of an inch or two at the edge of the root ball. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during the cool fall and winter months. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during the fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. Second Spring and thereafter: Water deeply monthly only during periods of drought. Once established, natives will survive with little supplemental irrigation.

NICE! Tip: This evergreen vine produces a striking, heavy floral display during the Spring, but may produce scattered blooms throughout the growing season. May be propagated from fresh seeds, early summer cuttings or by layering growing stems in soil until roots form at nodes. A cultivar, ‘Tangarine Beauty,’ with abundant dark orange flowers is widely available in the nursery trade.

Look for the NICE! Plant of the Month signs and information sheets on your next visit to a participating Boerne nursery. And thank you for supporting native plants by using them in your landscapes.

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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason