Plants for Children’s Environments in Texas Blackland Prairie
INTRODUCTION TO The ECOREGION
The Texas Blackland Prairie* is characterized by a high degree of plant community diversity; the diversity is maintained by a system of periodic disturbances. Tallgrass prairies typically define the upland regions, while deciduous bottomland woodland and forest exist along the rivers and creeks. The Blackland Prairie is a subset of the Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem that once totaled about 198 million acres. It has been estimated that only 1% of the Blackland Prairie remains undisturbed.
The soils of the Blackland Prairie are typically clay soils that include vertisols, mollisols, and alfisols. These soils expand and contract with changing moisture levels. The climate ranges from warm temperate to subtropical and humid. Precipitation ranges from 30 to 40 inches per year.
Plants must be able to survive occasional freezes in the winter, saturated soils (often in the spring or fall), and periods of drought in the summer with temperatures consistently over 95 degrees. This limits the tree species that can be grown here without reliable irrigation. Water is one of the most important keys to success. Even native trees and perennials will need deep watering for their first two summers to be successfully established.
The provided plant list below is reliable in North Texas. Confirm growing conditions with the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Plant Database to learn about light and soil requirements.
*This list is in progress and we understand that only the Texas Blackland Prairie ecoregion is represented here.
If you have had success with plants in other Texas ecologies, please let us know by sending an email so we can include them in this list.
© GREEN SCHOOLYARDS AMERICA, AUSTIN, TEXAS
Black-eyed Susan, Dallas Texas. © ArlenKennedy, Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Hill Country, Center Point, Texas. © Arlen Kennedy Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Fast Growing Shade Trees
Mexican White Oak (Quercus polymorpha)
Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)
Caddo Maple (Acer saccharum 'Caddo')
Chinese Pistache (Pistacia chinensis)
Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
Slower Growing Shade Trees
Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
Mexican Sycamore (Platanus mexicana)
These trees are climate-appropriate for the region and easy to find in nurseries.
Trees and Plants that do well in Pots
Planting trees in pots is not recommended unless a reliable irrigation system can be established. It is extremely difficult to maintain moisture in the summer months. If this condition cannot be avoided, and irrigation is available, the trees listed as “Small Trees” can be grown in large pots.
Plants for Dividing Spaces and Screening
These are good plants for dividing spaces or screening the street. Plant these in beds, berms, or large containers. These plants are typically found in local nurseries. Larger species are going to need more root growth space, so plan on larger planters, such as concrete boxes, large metal troughs, and other containers that can be placed and not need to be moved. Smaller containers can be set on movable platforms with lockable caster wheels.
Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum)
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
Cherry Laurel (Prunus caroliniana)
Arizona Cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
Little Gem Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora ‘Little Gem’)
Nellie R. Stevens Holly (Ilex x 'Nellie R. Stevens')
Plants and Trees for Habitat and Pollinator Gardens
Whenever possible, select native plants for your area and provide good diversity of plants to promote healthy habitat for a wide range of pollinators. Avoid using chemicals of any kind in or around pollinator gardens. While there are many plants that provide pollinator habitat, the following list represents plants that perform well in schoolyard environments.
Little Bluestem, New Ulm, Texas. © Raylen Worthington, Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Pocket Prairie, Center Point, Texas. © Arlen Kennedy, Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Grasses
Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
Wildflowers
Cutleaf Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia)
Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis)
Blanketflower (Gaillardia pulchella)
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum)
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Prairie Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida var. Bipinnatifida)
Pale Leaf Yucca (Yucca pallida)
Small Trees
Texas Red Bud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis)
Oklahoma Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Oklahoma')
Chitalpa (× Chitalpa tashkentensis)
Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana)
Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria)
Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
Even’s Necklace (Sophora affinis)
Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora)
Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa)
Plants for Science or Other Curricular Projects
The Texas Blackland Prairie was once defined by an incredible diversity of grasses and wildflowers. While trees are important to provide shade to students, consider creating a pocket-prairie for students to explore. Pocket prairies can be created by transplanting grasses and wildflowers, or by seeding in the fall. Pocket Prairies can also be important stop-over points during monarch migrations.
Check out Build a Pocket Prairie from the Katy Prairie for ideas.
Pocket Prairie, Dallas, Texas. © Arlen Kennedy, Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Key Issues to Keep in Mind
Poisonous plants should not be used in children’s environments. Check with other guides if you are not sure about a certain plant.
A watering schedule must be created for the first two years to establish the trees. In particular, newly planted trees should be deeply watered once or twice a week for the first two summers. Ideally trees are planted in the fall. This allows their roots to establish during the first winter.
Avoid planting Ash trees as the Emerald Ash Borer is just entering Texas.
Pecan and Black Walnut are both successful shade trees in Texas, but are often not recommended at schools due to potential nut allergies.
Pocket Prairie, New Ulm, Texas. © Raylen Worthington, Courtesy Of Studio Outside
Make Sure to Contact
Dallas Independent School District
Coy Frazier, Director of Grounds & Athletic Fields Department
CFrazier@dallasisd.org
Resources
Trees of Texas
– Texas A&M
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center’s Plant Database
— Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Texas Tree Educational Resources
— Texas Trees Foundation
Blackland Prairie Mix
— Native American Seed
Texas Children in Nature
This organization’s mission is to "ensure equitable access and connection to nature for all children in Texas.”
North Texas Nature Rocks
— Texas Children in Nature
This resource offers suggested activities, green spaces, nature centers, and parks to visit in North Texas.
Credits
This list was compiled and curated by Gwendolyn Dora Cohen, Studio Outside, Dallas, Texas.
It was reviewed by Katie Summers, MLA, TBG Partners.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.
