Texas Native Plant Week

As water becomes scarce due to ongoing drought conditions, we are facing another problem – the loss of native plants and habitats. Our native grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs, which support habitats for wildlife, are destroyed by the constant and progressive building on land supporting our native Texas heritage.

It is of utmost importance that we restore the native plant species serving as the primary elements needed for the ecosystem restoration due to excessive loss of habitats.

The importance of native plants lies in the benefits they offer:

• Provide food sources (seeds, nuts, nectar and fruits for birds, bats, pollinating insects and butterflies)
• Attract insects for birds to consume
• Provide habitats for birds, wildlife and larval host plants for butterflies

Additional benefits include:

• Requires less maintenance compared to introduced species
• Tolerates and resists local diseases, pests, and lack of water
• Protects the soil with long root systems
• Protects water quality by controlling soil erosion
• Minimizes the use of fertilizers and pesticides
• Costs less and delivers more benefits
• Conserves valuable water
• Unlikely to become invasive
• Low lawn maintenance with our native buffalo grass
• Adds beauty to the landscape
• Preserves our natural heritage to share with our children and their children

Although we promote Texas Native Plant Week the third week of October, it is vital to promote native plants and habitats all year long. A native landscape habitat works in harmony with all its surroundings giving us a sense of community across our state.