Plants

Plant Species Grown

In 2007, the Center for Plant Restoration (CPR) was awarded a grant from the MDMR to grow plants for additional restoration at Deer Island. The following species and numbers were proposed to be grown in the nursery at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory:

The six objectives of this $130’000 award were to:

  • 1.Provide the DMR Coastal Preserves Program with up to 30’000 saltmarsh and dune plants for restoration of damaged natural habitats on Deer Island.

  • 2.GCRL botany will continue to collect seeds from local sources as per previous agreements.

  • 3.Seeds will be cleaned and processed using standard protocols. Germination will occur in axenic/sterile germination chambers under controlled conditions.

  • 4.Seedlings will be transferred to peat pellets or similar planting units until they are of a large enough size to transplant to gallon pots. Seedlings will be held in the greenhouse at this stage to reduce mortality and promote growth to a larger size. This may take 6-10 months depending on species.

  • 5.Once in gallon pots the plants will be held outdoors and watered on a daily basis.

  • 6.Salt-hardening to 10 ppt will be done on those plants that will be relocated to high salinity areas and initiated approx. 1 month prior to transplanting.


Links to PLANTS species descriptions

Saltmarsh habitat plant species for low, mid, and high marsh zones:

Spartina alterniflora (= Smooth Cordgrass)

Juncus roemerianus (= Black Needlerush)

Spartina patens (= Saltmarsh Hay)

These three species are the dominant plants found in Mississippi saltmarshes. They all have excellent survival in the nursery and are relatively tolerant to transplanting. Each species is the preferred plant for restoration in it’s respective zone.

Beach and dune habitat plant species for high elevation sand-berm plantings:

Panicum amarum (= Bitter Panic Grass)

Uniola paniculata (= Sea Oats)

These two species are excellent at stabilizing sand-dunes as they have fast growth rates and expand rhizomes laterally to colonize open space. They do not require frequent watering.