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

2. Changing Status of Natives 2

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

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

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

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

7. Methods TaggedCollected GIS Technology for passport data Reported associated plant communities and soil 7

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

9. Steps Germination Field establishment Trial and rated top selections Repeat until no outcrossing PVP or trademark release Avg 5-7 years 9

10. Field Establishment

11. Harvest

12. Salinity Tolerance

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. Front of the Border Zinnia grandiflora – Plains Zinnia

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

21. Perennial with Multiple Stems Ipomopsis rubra – Standing Cypress

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

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

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

25. Shade Tolerant Malvaviscus drummondii – Turk’s Cap