Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for

Wildlife TAMU Nature Guides Edition

Kelly Conrad SimonTexas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

Reading the LandReading the Land

Wildlife RespondWildlife Respondto Plantsto Plants

Environment Environment Responds Responds to Plantsto Plants

Plants RespondPlants Respondto Wildlifeto Wildlife

Plants Respond Plants Respond to Environment to Environment

Habitat?

Habitat?

Habitat?

Habitat basics

• Food• Water • Shelter

– Adults– Nesting

Think Ecosystem!

“Tradition?”

Reward:

Caterpillars = Butterflies

Remember…?

Key to Success

Emulate nature

• Variety– Heterogeneous

versus Homogenous

• Layering

Food

Oak species

• Small mammals, birds• Food and shelter

Mexican Plum

• Early nectar• White to pink flowers• Shade tolerant• Small ornamental

Texas Redbud

• Early bloom• Seeds and nectar• Small tree• Different varieties

Cherry Laurel

• Evergreen• Hedge or small tree• Early nectar• Fruit

Agarita

• Evergreen• Like holly• Early nectar, sweet-

smelling• Edible fruit• Good shelter

Turk’s Cap

Likes shade Hummingbirds! Butterflies! Apple-like fruit

Chili Pequin

• Early sun or shade• Hot peppers!• Birds adore• Keep small

Coral Honeysuckle

• “Evergreen” vine• Hummingbirds!• Well-mannered• Coral-colored fruit• 3 years to establish

Scarlet sage

• Annual (sets seeds)• Hummingbirds!• Shade tolerant• Birds (seeds)• Can be groundcover

Lindheimer Muhly

• Seeds (birds, small mammals)

• Nesting material• Nesting area

© Bluestem Nursery, 817-478-6202

Why not exotics?

• Needy– Require chemicals– Require supplemental

water– Require vigilance

• Weedy– Rapid reproduction– No natural controls– Take over habitat

Why not exotics?

© Rob and Ann Simpsonwww.agpix.com/snphotos

Water

• Fresh, clean• Accessible• Shallow• Vegetation

Shelter

• Weather, predators• Roost, nest

Shelter: Cavities

© John Davis, TPWD

Shelter: Cavities

Habitat is:

• Food• Water• Shelter

Texas Wildscapes

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