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
Drought tolerant grass with little need for mowing for Hill Country of Texas
November 17, 2011 - What grass would you recommend for the hill country of Texas that is drought tolerant and does not need frequent mowing?
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Native xeric grasses for Colorado
June 24, 2010 - Tired of mowing - replacing western exposure full sun lawn with native xeric grass. Please explain the pros and cons of Bouteloua Gracilis (Blue Grama) and Bouteloua Dactyloides Bella (Bella Blue Gra...
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Cottage-style landscaping for Chesapeake VA
August 02, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plant staff,
I recently moved into a cottage style home that has a poured concrete/paver patio. I am trying to come up with ideas for plantings that would 1. give me a bit of privacy,...
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Plants for small shady area with clay soil
August 09, 2011 - Many people have space between the sidewalk and the street in front of their homes. In that space in front of our house is a growing maple that provides a lot of shade.
The space is very dry, with...
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Native plants to provide nitrogen for compost in Houston
March 27, 2010 - I leave my clippings on the lawn so I don't have enough 'green' for my compost.
I'd like to plant an unobtrusive area with some native that I can mow on a monthly basis. The area is in partial...
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