Ratibida columnifera- Mexican Hat
Also known as Prairie Coneflower, this perennial also comes with yellow petals instead of the orange, brown, and yellow petals shown here. In their native environment, they can form large colonies, sometimes interspersed with similarly colored Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel. Whether seen singly or en masse, it is singularly and strikingly sttractive. It is drought tolerant and can grow in a wide variety of soil types.
Rudbeckia hirta – Blackeyed Susan
Two of these wildflowers have shown up in my garden this year, most likely sown by birds. Not surprising, since it is one of the most widespread native plants in North America, native across Canada and the U.S. westward to New Mexico. It can grow in many light conditions, from sun to shade, but apparently doesn’t like calcareous or alkaline soils. It propagates itself easily by reseeding and can become aggressive if not faced with competition. It also has been widely used for medicinal as well as aesthetic purposes. What’s not to like about this cheery ornamental? For more information and links to more information than you can imagine, check out the entry at the NPIN plants database.
Rudbeckia hirta – Blackeyed Susan
leaves and flower
Penstemon tenuis – Brazos Penstemon
Peucetia viridans, the green lynx spider, hangs out on one of the purple, bell-shaped blossoms of the Brazos or Gulf Coast Penstemon. The flowers grow on spikes reaching a mere foot to foot and a half in height. They thrive in moist soil and sun and partial shade, in both clay and sandy loam soils. Native to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, it can handle poor drainage. A good choice for a perennial garden, it can easily reseed itself and spread through the garden. It is attractive to hummingbirds and nectar feeding insects, which apparently also attracts predators like the spider shown above. Also known as Sharp sepal Beardtongue, the blooms begin in March and continue through June.
Lupinus texensis – Texas Bluebonnet
The earliest blooms on my Bluebonnets have gone to seed, leaving behind these pods with five visible bulges indicating the fruit inside. Compare with this view taken in March of this year:
Lupinus texensis – Texas Bluebonnet
One can clearly see that the flowers have turned to fruit. Later it will become dessicated, turning brown. If you aren’t aware of the life cycle of the bluebonnet, it will then appear to be a weed, in violation of Home Owners Association rules almost everywhere. Then it will open, expelling the seeds forcefully and sowing the Bluebonnets of the future.
Pavonia lasiopetala – Rock Rose
Also known as Rose Pavonia, Rose Mallow, and simply Pavonia, this small shrub is a member of the Mallow family. It blooms from April through November, and got started blooming a little earlier this year in March. Its pink flowers remind you of Hibiscus, but unlike its cousin the Swamp Rose Mallow (found in swamps and ditches), this is found in rocky areas (thus the monicker “Rock Rose”) and slopes in woodlands and at the edge of thickets.
Also known by the scientific name of Pavonia wrightii, Rock Rose is a perennial shrub, with oblong alternating leaves, as seen here. It is drought tolerant and cold tolerant, and can handle full sun to partial shade conditions. It attracts butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds and is a good choice for a perennial garden, providing blooms throughout the summer.
Oxalis dillenii – Slender Yellow Woodsorrel
TUESDAY – MARCH 19, 2013
From:Buda, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic:Problem Plants, Turf
Title: How to control Yellow Woodsorrel in Habiturf?
Answered by: Joe MarcusQUESTION:
Last year we planted Habiturf in our front lawn and prepared the ground as directed with organic compost. This year we have an infestation of low growing yellow oxalis which we believe came in with the compost as we have not had this before. What do you recommend as a control? as weeding will not get all of it and the areas are large. We are considering using an herbicide knowing it will knock out our grass but then we will reseed.
ANSWER:
Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis stricta, and Slender Yellow Wood Sorrel, Oxalis dillenii, both North American natives, are often unwanted visitors in lawns, especially newly-establish or unhealthy lawns. As your lawn matures and develops a denser stand of grass, broadleaf weeds like Wood Sorrel will be less of an issue. Promoting healthy grass growth will eventually pay off in reduced weed infestation.
There are broadleaf herbicides labeled for use on oxalis. These chemicals are specific to dicot weeds and will not kill grasses and other monocots if used properly. We take neither a pro nor con stance on garden chemicals, but only urge those choosing to use them to do so in a manner that is safest for them and the environment and to strictly adhere to label directions.
Other than hand weeding, we know of no effective organic control for Oxalis species.
In the words of Lennon & McCartney, how about “Let it be”?
This is a golden opportunity to change from turf to wildflowers.
Oxalis dillenii – Slender Yellow Woodsorrel
Glandularia bipinnatifida – Prairie Verbena
Also known as Dakota Mock Vervain, these low-lying forbs start blooming in March and continue through December. They are attractive to butterflies as well as people, and are drought tolerant. Appropriate in the wildflower meadow as well as butterfly or ornamental garden.
Bignonia capreolata – Crossvine
The Crossvine is blooming, draped across the Eastern Redbud, and it seems to be handling the drought with less stress than the Redbud. The blooming period is from March through May. It attracts hummingbirds (if there happen to be any in the suburban desert) and butterflies that feed on the nectar. Which reminds me – I saw my first Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) of the season over the weekend (Saturday to be exact). Oddly enough, it was feeding on the Texas Mountain Laurel Sophora secundiflora, but apparently not long enough for me to grab the camera, Also spotted a couple of Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) butterflies yesterday and did grab my camera, but the creature wouldn’t settle down long enough for me to get a shot. So here’s the Bignonia capreolata instead.
Lupinus texensis – Texas Bluebonnet
While most instances of the state flower in my yard are still scrawny and small rosettes thanks to the continuing drought in Central Texas, this example has started to put out blossoms in the area between the curb and the sidewalk. Conversations with other native plant advocates have indicated that some bluebonnets have been putting out new blossoms for a couple of weeks now.
The normal bloom period of this annual is from March through May, so it appears to be right on schedule this year. It is especially attractive to native bees and is frequented by butterflies as well. It serves as a larval host for the Hairstreak and Elfin butterflies.
bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 