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Native Plant Society of Texas

Fredericksburg Chapter

Texas Mountain Laurel ~ a N.I.C.E. Winter Wonder

Suggesting a flowering tree for a winter selection when most of the country is in a state of snow and ice may seem counter-intuitive. However, this is the best time of the year to plant a tree on the Edwards Plateau. A temperate sun encourages the roots of young plants to become established, and spring rains are just around the corner. And the Texas Mountain Laurel beckons.

Texas Mountain Laurel, often sold as Sophora secundifloras, definitely defies winter and throws the window open for spring. Heady cascades of grape scented blossoms drape against a backdrop of shiny dark green foliage from the end of February into early April. A small multi-trunked evergreen it will fit in an entry courtyard or help screen an undesirable view when grown. A slightly alkaline soil serves it well
 
Typically Texas Mountain Laurel is found on slopes, between 1,000 and 5,000 feet in south-central and western Texas, New Mexico, and southward in Mexico to San Luis Potosí. It is a drought-tolerant tree that thrives in hot summers with plenty of bright sunlight.  An added incentive: deer put this plant at the very bottom of their list of palatable  plants.

Six local nurseries are featuring this N.I.C.E. Plant of the Season.

 

  • Blue Oak Trading Company, 1834 Junction Highway, Kerrville, 830-315-2583
  • Natives of Texas, 4256 Medina Highway, Kerrville, 830-896-2169
  • Plant Haus 2, 604 Jefferson Street, Kerrville, 830-792-4444
  • The Gardens at The Ridge, 13439 S. Ranch Road 783 (Harper Rd.), Kerrville, 830-896-0430
  • Friendly Natives, 1107 N. Llano Street, Fredericksburg, 830-997-6288
  • Medina Garden Nursery, 13417 TX Highway 16, Medina, 830-589-2771

 

Look for the “NICE Plant of the Season” logo stake: (As you explore, you’ll find other beautiful Native plants also.)

 

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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