Evaluation of two watering regimes on three species of containerized native Texas woody ornamental plants

Some species of native plants offer much to the consumer of the southwestern United States in the form of drought and cold tolerance, and aesthetic appeal. However, native plants are not marketed extensively by nurseries in Texas due to problems such as high mortality rates in the nursery. This study compared the effects of 2 handwatering regimes of different frequencies on 3 woody ornamentals currently marketed as drought-tolerant native Texas plants. Containerized specimens of Sophora secundiflora. Platanus mexicana. And Acer rubrum drummondii. were held under simulated nursery conditions for 406 days, from May 16,1986, through July 4,1987. Parameters measured included a visual rating, height, caliper, root dry weight, top fresh weight, and plant mortality. Results indicated that Sophora maintained a higher visual rating on the low regime, although caliper was lower on the low regime. No differences between regimes existed for the other parameters for this species. Platanus responded negatively to the low frequency watering regime indicated by a higher mortality rate, and lower visual rating, top fresh weight, and caliper. Acer also responded negatively when treated with the low frequency watering regime evidenced by lower visual rating, top fresh weight, root dry weight, and caliper.