Using Native Shrubs in Your Landscapetexaswater.tamu.edu/conference/feb05/owens.pdf · © Keith Owens Rainwater Harvesting – Capturing Nature’s Best for your Landscape © Keith

© Keith Owens

Rainwater Harvesting – Capturing Nature’s Best for your Landscape http://texaswater.tamu.edu

© Keith Owens© Keith Owens

Using Native Shrubs Using Native Shrubs in Your Landscapein Your Landscape

M. Keith OwensM. Keith OwensProfessorProfessor

Texas Agricultural Experiment StationTexas Agricultural Experiment StationUvalde, TXUvalde, TX



Desert WillowGuajillo

Red Bud

Pink Mimosa

Cactus


Benefits of Using Native PlantsBenefits of Using Native Plants

Adapted to regionAdapted to regionResistant to most insects and soil Resistant to most insects and soil pathogenspathogensSlow growing but low water useSlow growing but low water use


Desirable AttributesDesirable Attributes

Easy establishmentEasy establishmentShowy flowers, foliage, or barkShowy flowers, foliage, or bark


© Keith Owens



Desirable AttributesDesirable Attributes

Easy establishmentEasy establishmentShowy flowers or foliageShowy flowers or foliageDefined growth formDefined growth form

Low ground coverLow ground coverMedium multiMedium multi--stemstemTreeTree--likelike


Nursery StockNursery Stock

Esperanza

Mexican sage

Wooly butterfly bush

Wild olive


Nursery StockNursery Stock

12 species12 speciesIn either 1 or 2.5 gallon potsIn either 1 or 2.5 gallon potsLysimeterLysimeter approach to determine approach to determine water requirementswater requirements

Plants were weighed dailyPlants were weighed dailyKnown amounts (wt) of water were Known amounts (wt) of water were addedaddedExact water use and evaporation Exact water use and evaporation calculatedcalculated


Gallons per Day0.00 0.05 0.10 0.15 0.20 0.25

Woolly Butterfly BushDwarf Yaupon HollyPurple SageMexican Bush SageMexican Mint MarigoldAutumn SageEsperanzaLantana

Evergreen SumacMountain LaurelWild OliveCrape Myrtle

Water Use of Nursery StockWater Use of Nursery Stock8 oz cup of coffee


Field Field testingtesting


Texas persimmonTexas persimmon((DiospyrosDiospyros texanatexana))

Tree up to 25’ tallTree up to 25’ tallGrows in partial shade Grows in partial shade or full sunlightor full sunlightNeeds a well drained Needs a well drained soilsoilVery drought resistantVery drought resistant

© Keith Owens


© Keith Owens© Keith Owens © Keith Owens© Keith Owens

Purple sagePurple sage((LeucophyllumLeucophyllum frutescensfrutescens))

Texas Texas SilverleafSilverleafCenizoCenizoTexas RangerTexas RangerBarometer BushBarometer BushSizeSize

33--6’ tall6’ tall22--5’ wide5’ wide


Purple sagePurple sage((LeucophyllumLeucophyllum frutescensfrutescens))

Well drained soilsWell drained soilsCan be over Can be over wateredwatered

Full sunlightFull sunlightFlowers are used Flowers are used by bees and by bees and butterfliesbutterflies



LantanaLantana(Lantana (Lantana horridahorrida))

Moderate to rapid Moderate to rapid growthgrowthWell drained soilsWell drained soilsStrong odorStrong odorFlowers Flowers –– red, yellow, red, yellow, white, orangewhite, orangeAttracts hummingbird, Attracts hummingbird, butterfliesbutterfliesBerries are poisonousBerries are poisonous


© Keith Owens



Evergreen sumacEvergreen sumac((RhusRhus virensvirens))

12’ tall, 15’ wide12’ tall, 15’ widePartial shade to full Partial shade to full sunsunRed berries attract Red berries attract birdsbirdsDeer resistant?Deer resistant?Used as asthma Used as asthma relieverelieve



Mountain LaurelMountain Laurel((SophoraSophora secundiflorasecundiflora))

10’, up to 50’ tall10’, up to 50’ tallEvergreenEvergreenMultiMulti--stemmedstemmedTolerates heat, Tolerates heat, freezing and windfreezing and wind


Berries look like M&Ms but are poisonous


Crape MyrtleCrape Myrtle

Introduced plant for Introduced plant for comparisoncomparisonFull sun Full sun –– Shade will Shade will limit floweringlimit floweringFlowers up to 120 Flowers up to 120 daysdaysMultiMulti--stemmed tree or stemmed tree or bushbush


© Keith Owens



SpeciesSpecies

How much water do they use?

What soil depth supplies the water?


Water Use EstimatesWater Use Estimates

Sap flow estimates by Sap flow estimates by heat balance techniqueheat balance technique

Recorded 5 times last Recorded 5 times last growing seasongrowing seasonRecorded for 7 days at Recorded for 7 days at each trialeach trialPlants were drip Plants were drip irrigatedirrigated


0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

Gra

ms

of W

ater

Use

d pe

r gra

m o

f Lea

f Mat

eria

l per

Day

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

M a y 1 7 J u n e 1 3 Ju ly 2 5 A u g u s t 2 70

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

M a y 1 7 Ju n e 1 3 J u ly 2 5 A u g u s t 2 70

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

0

2 0

4 0

6 0

8 0

C e n iz o

M o u n ta in L a u re l

L a n ta n a

S u m a c

T e xa s P e rs im m o n

C ra p e M yrtle


SpeciesSpecies

How much water do they use?

What soil depth supplies the water?


Profile ProbeProfile Probe

Volumetric water contentVolumetric water contentDepthsDepths

10,20,30,40,60,100 cm10,20,30,40,60,100 cm


August 27

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

% Volume

Dep

th

C. Myrtle Texas P. Ceniza Lantana E. Sumac M. Laurel

Soil Water Extraction Patterns

© Keith Owens



http://uvalde.tamu.edu/ornamental/


http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/

Documents

Using Native Shrubs in Your Landscapetexaswater.tamu.edu/conference/feb05/owens.pdf · © Keith Owens Rainwater Harvesting – Capturing Nature’s Best for your Landscape © Keith