Native Plants

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Wednesday - February 25, 2015
From: Grand Prairie, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Water Gardens, Problem Plants, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Plants to replace Phragmites australis (Common reed) in Cedar Ridge Preserve
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the DFW area and volunteer at a preserve (Cedar Ridge). We are constantly battling the common reed, Phragmites australis, around the pond. I am wondering what should be growing around it and if you know where such plants can be sourced. Thanks.ANSWER:
Below are some native plants that grow in wet soils and are shown to occur in Dallas County by the USDA Plants Database that should grow well in the same area as the Phragmites australis (Common reed). All of these are commerically available.
GRASSES AND GRASS-LIKE SPECIES
Andropogon glomeratus (Bushy bluestem)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Eleocharis palustris (Common spikerush)
Carex blanda (Eastern woodland sedge)
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge)
Schoenoplectus californicus (California bulrush)
AQUATIC AND SEMI-AQUATIC HERBAL PLANTS
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)
Dyschoriste linearis (Snake herb)
Equisetum hyemale (Scouringrush horsetail)
Justicia americana (American water-willow)
Pontederia cordata (Pickerelweed)
To find these plants I recommend searching in our National Suppliers Directory. To search for nurseries or seed companies in your area, first click on the "List All Suppliers" link. When the list comes up, then put "Dallas Texas" in the Enter Search Location slot to get a list of Texas native plant suppliers.
Some of the aquatics are going to be more difficult to find. I recommend that you contact the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) chapters near you to see if they have ideas about resources for these particular plants in your area. Here are the webpages for some of those that are near you:
Collin County Chapter of NPSOT
Cross Timbers Chapter (Weatherford) of NPSOT
North Central Texas Chapter of NPSOT
Trinity Forks Chapter (Denton) of NPSOT
Pond societies such as the North Texas Water Garden Society might be able lead you to sources for aquatic natives.
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
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Need Native Cover Crop in Seguin, TX
October 11, 2010 - Is there a native winter cover crop that would control erosion until spring vegetation takes over?
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Bioswale in Orange CA
September 08, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I'm looking for plants for a bio-swale in Southern California. Do you have any suggestions for plants that do well in water but can also can handle long dry summers?
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Need plants to replace cedars on a 40 degree slope in Boerne, TX.
August 28, 2012 - My backyard is a roughly 40 degree slope that is covered with cedars. The slope is basically all rock, what can I grow here to replace the cedar which drink too much water. I would still like the area...
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Replacing junipers on slope with wildlife garden
October 23, 2008 - Gradual replacement of Juniper with natives?
We have a 10 foot deep slope with less than a 45 degree angle that is all covered with old, overgrown Juniper. It does not appear to serve any purpose ...
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