The Houston-based Regional Access to Native Seed Mix Coalition (RANSM) recently joined forces with Houston Wilderness at Adair Park in Houston to announce the availability of the new Southeast Texas Native Seed Mix, which has been developed to improve resilience and combat storm and drought impact among plant life.
RANSM is composed of area elected officials, business and economic development leaders, governmental entities, regional landowners, public health advocates, statewide growers and seed scientists, including the Texas Native Seeds Program out of Texas A&M Kingsville and the Natural Resources Conservation Services.
The mix of 12 native seeds, six of which are currently accessible on the market, are scientifically determined to yield a set of grasses and flowering plants that, together, combine a turf-style landscape that can be used in place of non-native grasses throughout the region, including large and small green spaces, the regional banks of bayous, creeks and rivers, residential and commercial lawns, grass medians and rights-of-way.
“The staff at the Texas Native Seeds Program of Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M Kingsville, in conjunction with regional partners and the NRCS Plant Material Centers in Texas, are pleased to see the growing demand for locally adapted native species for use in the Greater Houston, Harris County and the 13-county Gulf Coast Region,” Texas Native Seeds Program Director Dr. Tony Falk said. “The path forward will include identifying additional species adapted to the region and collaboration with the RANSM Coalition members to provide continuous access to commercially available, locally adapted native species.”
The 13 counties in the Southeast Texas Native Seed Mix region include Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties.
Species in the mix will provide high survivability against the region’s environmental stresses, as well as providing multiple ecosystem services, such as erosion control enhanced water absorption, enhanced air and water quality, reduction in asthma-causing pollens and improved habitats for wildlife, pollinators and people.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.