Endangered Plants
The Wildflower Center partners with the Center for Plant Conservation, other conservation organizations, academia, private landowners, and state and federal agencies to perform conservation research on rare and endangered plant species in Texas.
Not only do we work toward conserving species through seed collection and research, our greenhouses also temporarily house endangered plants. Roughly 60 endangered Tobusch fishhook cacti (Ancistrocactus tobuschii), for instance, were salvaged from construction sites in 2012 for eventual repatriation into suitable wild habitat. During such plants’ stay at the Center, important information on flowering and growing habits is collected, and research findings help inform future management and recovery efforts for these particular species.
In 2013 to 2014, the Wildflower Center also administered a competitive award program in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to benefit four endangered species: black-capped vireo, Navasota ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes parksii), Texas prairie dawn (Hymenoxys texana) and Tobusch fishhook cactus. To date, seven organizations have received awards totaling $501,426 for conservation research and acquisition of habitat for these federally endangered species.
The Wildflower Center is responsible for managing the conservation of several federally listed species in Texas:
- Callirhoe scabriuscula (Texas poppymallow)
- Croton alabamensis var. texensis (Texabama croton)
- Dalea reverchonii (Comanche Peak prairie clover)
- Helianthus paradoxus (puzzle sunflower)
- Quercus hinckleyi (Hinckley oak)
- Salvia penstemonoides (big red sage)
- Streptanthus bracteatus (bracted twistflower)
- Styrax platanifolius ssp. texanus (Texas snowbell, pictured above)
- Zizania texana (Texas wildrice)
DIG DEEPER
Center Conservationists to the Rescue!
Wildflower Center Provides Temporary Home to Endangered Cacti
LOCATION
Based at the Wildflower Center
PROJECT DATES
- Ongoing