Just moved into a house with a yard? Chances are, once you get settled you’ll want to head outside, survey the grounds, and decide how to make it yours.
Should you plant flowers? Add some shrubs? Trees maybe (do you have more shade than sun?) Or vice versa. The decisions may seem overwhelming but here’s how you can simplify the process: go with Texas native plants.
“In most metropolitan areas, the natural associations of indigenous plants remain only in preserved sanctuaries,” writes George O. Miller, the author of Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas. “Why can’t our neighborhoods represent the natural plant diversity that occurs in nature and that existed before our houses were built?”
Indeed, increased urbanization has meant fewer natural habitats available for wildlife in and around San Antonio. By planting and restoring native vegetation, declining numbers of native lizards, birds, and other wildlife can likewise benefit and rebound.
What’s more, native plants once they’re established, require less water and attention. They’re already adapted to San Antonio’s climate and are more apt to survive drought. Plus, because native plants survived on their own long before humans arrived, they don’t require fertilizers or pesticides either.
When making selections for your yard, keep these factors in mind. Look for plants that will perform well in Zone 8 (Texas Map of Hardiness Zones.) Try to match a plant’s habitat requirements as closely as possible within your yard. Red columbine, for example, prefers moist, shady spots while Blackfoot daisies thrive in full sun. Also, plant for seasonal variety and color – some natives bloom in the Spring, others in the Fall.
Besides adding color and beauty to your yard, native plants draw native wildlife, which can be educational and lots of fun. For instance, the leaves of passion flower vines feed ravenous Gulf fritillary butterflies. Green anoles (a lizard species) love to lurk among the thick leaves of Turk’s cap. Hummingbirds feed on the flowers of salvias, flame acanthus, crossvine, heartleaf hibiscus, and other plants.
You can do even more to make your yard wildlife-friendly. Set out bird feeders and you’ll attract northern cardinals, tufted titmice, chickadees, and other birds. Place birdbaths around your yard as well, In the Spring, hang hummingbird feeders (boil and cool one part sugar, four parts water, no food coloring necessary
Check out Watersaver Lane at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. The six themed landscapes ranging from a traditional manicured lawn to a free-growing Wildscapes help visitors visualize using different plants in their own yards.
