ut austin tour

family: Rosacae (Rose)
duration: perennial
blooms: white/pink blossoms & red/purple edible fruit in Feb – Apr
native to: Missouri to Kansas, northeast to north central Texas
growing conditions: low water, dappled shade, dry/moist soil
common locations: thin woods, river bottoms, prairies
supports: 

• bees 

• butterflies 

• birds 

• mammals 

• Tiger Swallowtail butterfly & Cecropia moth larvae

threats:

• borer insects

• extreme cold

fun fact: forget Groundhog Day—the flowering of the Mexican plum is considered to mark the end of winter in Texas!

available for purchase at: Moon Valley Nurseries

sources: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas Trees Foundation

family: Fabaceae (Pea)
duration: annual
blooms: white/blue blossoms in Mar – May
native to: Louisiana to west Texas, north central Mexico
growing conditions: low water, sunny, dry soil
common locations: prairies, open fields, roadsides
supports: 

• bees

• butterflies

• Hairstreak & Elfin butterfly larvae

threats:

• bastard cabbage (funny, we know)

• extreme drought

fun fact: the Lupinus texensis is just one of six Lupinus species designated as the State Flower of Texas! "Lupinus" + "texensis" also translates to "Texas Lupine," yet another name for the common bluebonnet (others include Buffalo Clover and Wolf Flower).

available for purchase at: Barton Springs Nursery

sources: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas Invasives Database

family: Fabaceae (Pea)
duration: perennial
blooms: blue/purple blossoms & red beans in Feb – Apr
native to: southern New Mexico, south & central Texas, north central Mexico
common locations: brushy slopes, open plains, limestone-rich soil ranges
growing conditions: low/medium water, partial shade, dry soil
supports: 

• bees

• butterflies

• hummingbirds

• erosion-susceptible landscapes

threats:

• genista caterpillar

• extreme drought

fun fact: the mountain laurel beans are highly toxic, but when boiled into a reduction have been used medicinally as ear drops! (EcoEducators does NOT recommend such practice and thus will not be held liable for this plant's misuse.)

available for purchase at: Shoal Creek Nursery

sources: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

family: Cactaceae (Cactus)
duration: perennial
blooms: red/orange/yellow/green fruits in Mar – June
native to: Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
common locations: well-drained, non-desert soil ranges
growing conditions: low water, partial shade, dry soil
supports:

• cochineal scale

• deer

• bees

threats:

• cactus moth

fun facts: there are over 200 species of prickly pear cacti under the Opuntia classification! Additionally, both the pads (nopales) and fruit (tunas) are edible—nopales are extremely common in Latin American cuisine!

available for purchase at: Austin Tree Installation

sources: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, University of Texas at Austin College of Natural Sciences