Getting back to nature with Texas native plants, xeriscape landscaping more popular

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

Dukes with one of many plants which needs very little attention, as long as there is an adaquate water supply and good soil outdoors. -Staff photo by Taylor

October 11, 2001 -- Driving south of Cuero several miles, the scenery is pretty much the same -- ranching and farming and lots of trees. Suddenly, around the bend and on the right side of the road, you see an area which has been landscaped and planted with Texas Native and xeriscape plants. It's called "Texas Homestead Nursery & Landscaping, Inc." and offers a new look at old plants.

"We find that people are getting back to some of the older plants that everyone's grandma had. They are the older plants that a lot of people are remembering. They've (plants) been around a long time. Some are not necessarily native, but they almost should be classified as native because they're tough, they tolerate neglect, abuse, drought and heat.

"A lot of them you'll see around old abandoned homes and cemeteries. You see plants like that surviving in those kinds of conditions, those are some of the best plants," said Sandy Dukes of Cuero who owns the nursery along with her husband, Wes, who runs the landscaping crew.

The property owned by the Dukes has been in the family for over 100 years, and they run a small herd of cross-bred cattle, donkeys, along with a pot-bellied pig, dogs and cats on the 113 acres.

"I was a horticulture major in college, South West Texas University. When my husband and I got married, this is family land we're on. It all kind of ties in with the name of the nursery, Texas Homestead. This is property that his (Wes') great-grandparents founded, so we have a plaque from the State of Texas. It's been in the same family for over 100 years, so it's very, very special to him," said Dukes.

The nursery started as a small hobby to keep Dukes busy, once their third child started to school. They never dreamed it would take off like it has, but since Wes was once an Ag teacher, it all seemed to fit together.

"We just have a love of the land and a love of the outdoors, so this just made sense," she said.

While they specialize in the Texas Natives and xeriscape plants, they do carry others and grow very few themselves.

"A very select few we grow ourselves, when we find sources of seeds or cuttings. We have growers ... no one is farther away than about a two hour drive. We try to stay as local as possible," said Dukes.

She said that growers for the native plants are still not widespread and readily available. They have to find particular growers to purchase their plants, but they see that these plants are becoming more popular and more people are trying to grow them to sell to the public.

"Some of the people will look at my native plants on the floor and say, 'Well, this doesn't look real good.' Well, the native plants do not like being in containers. They are designed to be in the ground and on their own.

"A lot of them, once you get them out of containers and put them into the ground ... they take off and come into their glory," said Dukes.

Many are familiar with Lantana, and the native plants in the fields are usually light pink and yellow or orange and yellow. Growers are constantly trying to improve on the flowers for color. Saliva has over 100 types, all colors, sizes and shapes that are native, according to Dukes.

Texas Sage, native grasses and ornamental grasses are very popular as they don't require a lot of attention and can withstand severe weather conditions.

"There's lots of plants I'll still call native, but they have been developed a little bit. Half of their parentage is native, so we can still classify them as native," she added.

"For deep South Texas, and we're considered in that, a lot of our good plants have their roots out of Mexico. Anything with 'Mexican' in it's name is a good plant."

They try not to use chemicals on any of the plants and rely on letting "Nature take her course." In order to have the flowers, humming birds and butterflies, you shouldn't use pesticides, according to Dukes.

While Dukes said she loves coming to work every morning, knowing that she will be spending time out in "God's glory," she dreads the 100 degree days that can get brutal. There is no greenhouse on purpose, so that they can show people how strong the native plants really are, as long as most receive a little water if they are in containers.

"We love what we do. My husband comes home dirty and tired, but he's happy," said Dukes.