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Native Plant Society of Texas

Fredericksburg Chapter

Native Plants That Help Soak Up the Rain: May 28, 2024

View Shannon Brown’s May 26, 2024 presentation

Sound on this presentation begins at minute 6:30.

Is precious rainwater running off your property and into the neighbor’s yard? Do you have a low spot that gets flooded every time it rains? Have you installed a rain garden, berms and swales to capture rainwater and help it sink into the soil on your land? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, come find out which native plants do best in rain gardens here in Central Texas at the next meeting of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT), Fredericksburg Chapter on May 28 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Halle.

“It’s very exciting to see more people interested in revitalizing our Texas waterways and natural habitat by installing a rain garden in their small yards or larger properties,” said Shannon Brown, speaker at the Fredericksburg May chapter meeting, and founder of Ecosystem Regeneration Artisans (ERA) Landscapes. “Rain gardens and native plant landscapes have different growing habits and care needs than traditional plants and lawns, and it’s important to plant the right natives so they’ll thrive and require less work.”

Brown founded ERA Landscapes to unite talented land stewards on projects that realize the vision of creating healthy ecological communities. From apartment makeovers with plants that remove air toxins to wildlife management on large-acreage ranches, Shannon and her team create projects focused on earth care and people care. Their gardens use native plants to provide wildlife habitat for pollinators and birds, incorporate perennial food crops for human consumption, and often involve mechanisms to harvest rainwater to capture it into the soil before it runs off, becomes polluted and contributes to flooding.

“Shannon has a great knowledge base when it comes to installing and maintaining rain gardens in Central Texas,” said Deborah Simmons, president of the Fredericksburg chapter of NPSOT. “We’re excited to have her back as our speaker this month.” Rainscapes Save Water, Shannon’s 2021 presentation is available on the chapter’s YouTube channel.

Three months later.

The Fredericksburg NPSOT chapter holds its monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of the month at St. Joseph’s Halle (212 W. San Antonio St., Fredericksburg). Friends, new and old, get together with snacks at 6:30. A short business meeting starts at 7 p.m. and introduces the speaker. The public is invited to attend in person or via online streaming (www.youtube.com/@fredericksburgtexasnativeg4884)

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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