Sustainable Color Using Natives Dr Cynthia Mc Kenney

Sustainable Color Using Natives Dr. Cynthia Mc. Kenney Texas Tech University http: //www. pssc. ttu. edu/faculty_pages/cmckenney. php

Changing Status of Natives 2

Benefits Unusual growth habit Recognition Old fashion favorites Tolerant Reclamation Attracts pollinators Ratibida columnifera -Mexican Hat 3

Objectives Identify wildflowers with landscape potential Evaluate their suitability for commercial production Select for desirable plant characteristics Watch for inferior Esperanza, Yellow Bells 4

Commercial Performance Packs / pots Cultural management Propagation issues Ease of harvest Shipping 5

Selection Criteria Time and length of bloom Bright color Good height Good size population to harvest from Seed is ripe Not protected / permissions Oenothera elata - Trumpet Day Primrose 6

Methods Tagged Collected GIS Technology for passport data Reported associated plant communities and soil 7

Collection Range Northern High Plains Southern High Plains Rolling Plains Edwards Plateau 8

Steps Germination Field establishment Trial and rated top selections Repeat until no outcrossing PVP or trademark release 9

Field Establishment

Harvest

Salinity Tolerance

Consumer Demand / Liabilities Have to have curb appeal! Compact growth Flowering Poisonous Short life span Weedy out of color Oenothera rhombipetala Four Point Evening Primrose Oxytropis lambertii Purple Loco 13

Currently “In Fashion” Herbal market (but not this species) Low maintenance Environmentall y appropriate with concerns for pollinators and drought Echinacea purpurea, Black Sampson 14

Improved Natives Good performance Nice addition to the color palette Frequently stress tolerant Retain the genetics we are. Rudbeckia hirta ‘Denver Daisy’, All American Sele 15 looking for

Plant Improvement - Flowers Melampodium leucanthum – Blackfoot Daisy ‘Raider Amethyst 16

Color Intensity and Foliage Density Glandularia bipinnitifida – Prairie Verbena ‘Raider Amethyst’ 17

Compact Growth Habit Salvia farinacea - Mealy Sage ‘Raider Amethyst 18

Front of the Border Zinnia grandiflora– Plains Zinnia

Still Under Development Oenothera elata– Hooker’s Evening Primrose Ratibida columnifera– Mexican Hat

Perennial with Multiple Stems Ipomopsis rubra– Standing Cypress

Fragrance Smells like chocolate on a warm day Doesn’t smell like kitty litter! Also called Texas Green Eyes Not a dense plant Berlandiera lyrata – Chocolate Daisy 22

Still Under Development Oenothera brachycarpa– Short-Fruit Evening Primrose Calylophus hartwegii– Western Primrose

Woody Native Color Hesperaloe parviflora– Pink Yucca Salvia greggii– Autumn Sage

Shade Tolerant Malvaviscus drummondii – Turk’s Cap