Woody Plants and Wildlife: Brush Sculpting in South Texas and The

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Woody Plants and Wildlife Brush Sculpting in South Texas and the Edwards Plateau

Robert K. Lyons, Tim F. Ginnett and Richard B. Taylor*

ur perspective is changing on the value of brush or woody plants. When Texas rangeland was used primarily for livestock, managing brush meant eradicatiOng it, or at least removing certain unwanted species. Now rangeland owners are shifting to multiple use, which includes managing for wildlife, recreation and aesthetic value. Accordingly, our view of woody plants has changed to one that values these plants in appropriate amounts for wildlife and other benefits.

The essential elements of wildlife habitat include food, cover and water. Because woody plants provide some or all of these requirements, managing these plants is important. Woody plants provide food in the form of leaves, flowers, pollen, nectar, mast and fruit. Some woody plants also provide cover, which protects and shelters wildlife from predators and inclement weather. The kind and amount of cover required varies among wildlife species. Many birds also use these plants for nesting, nighttime roosting and daytime loafing. Plants such as cacti even provide water.

*Assistant Professor and Extension Range Specialist, and Assistant Professor, Texas A&M University, The Texas A&M University System; Wildlife Biologist, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Loc. Food Cover Water SE Species TP Forage Mast Fruit Protection Nesting Roosting P Agarito, desert holly, Mahonia trifoliolata ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F o B F Allthorn, Koeberlinia spinosa ✔ ✔ i o o B F o B F Amargosa, Castela texana ✔ ✔ i i o F B Anaqua, Ehretia anacua ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Blackbrush, Acacia rigidula ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Blackcherry, Prunus serotina ✔ i o B F B F B F o B F o B F Brasil, Condalia hookeri ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o B F B F B F B F Catclaw acacia, Acacia greggii ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F B F B F Catclaw mimosa, Mimosa spp. ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F Cedar elm, Ulmus crassifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F o B F o B F Cenizo, purple sage, Leucophyllum frutescens✔ ✔ b i B F B Coma, Bumelia celastrinum ✔ i i o B F o B F B F B F Coyotillo, Karwinskia humboldtiana ✔ ✔ o B F Creosotebush, Larrea tridentata ✔ ✔ b o o Desert yaupon, Schaefferia cuneifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F Elbowbush, Forestiera pubescens ✔ b i i o B F o B F Ephedra, Ephedra spp. ✔ ✔ i o B F o Evergreen sumac, Rhus virens ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F Feather dalea, Dalea formosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F Flameleaf sumac, Rhus glabra ✔ i i o B F o B F Four-wing saltbrush, Atriplex canescens ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o Fragrant mimosa, Mimosa borealis ✔ b i o B F o B F Granjeno, spiny hackberry, Celtis pallida ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F B F B B F o B F Greenbrier, Smilax spp. ✔ ✔ i o B F

Green condalia, Condalia viridis ✔ i o B F B F B F B F Guajillo, Acacia berlandieri ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F Guayacan, Guaiacum angustifolium ✔ ✔ b i B F o B F B B Gum bumelia, Bumelia lanuginosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Hercules’-club pricklyash, Zanthoxylum clava-hercules ✔ i o B F B F B F B F Hogplum, Colubrina texensis ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F F Honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Hoptree, Ptelea spp. ✔ i o B F B F B F Huisache, Acacia smallii ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F B F B F Juniper, Juniperus spp. ✔ i o B o B F B B Knife-leaf condalia, Condalia spathulata ✔ i o B F o B F Lantana, Lantana spp. ✔ ✔ b B F o Lime prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum fagara ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Littleleaf sumac, Rhus microphylla ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F B B Lotebush, Ziziphus obtusifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F o F B Mexican buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F B F B F Mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora ✔ ✔ b B F Narrowleaf forestiera, Forestiera angustifolia✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F Netleaf hackberry, Celtis reticulata ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Oaks, Quercus spp. ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F o B F B F Palo verde, Parkinsonia texana ✔ b i o i o B F o F B B Pecan, Carya illinoensis ✔ ✔ i o B F o B F o B F o B F Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans ✔ ✔ i B F Possum-haw holly, Ilex decidua ✔ i o B F B F B B Pricklypear cactus, Opuntia spp. ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o F o F i o B F Redbud, Cercis canadensis ✔ b i B F B F B F Retama, Parkinsonia aculeata ✔ ✔ b i i o B F B Loc. Food Cover Water SE Species TP Forage Mast Fruit Protection Nesting Roosting P Agarito, desert holly, Mahonia trifoliolata ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F o B F Allthorn, Koeberlinia spinosa ✔ ✔ i o o B F o B F Amargosa, Castela texana ✔ ✔ i i o F B Anaqua, Ehretia anacua ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Blackbrush, Acacia rigidula ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Blackcherry, Prunus serotina ✔ i o B F B F B F o B F o B F Brasil, Condalia hookeri ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o B F B F B F B F Catclaw acacia, Acacia greggii ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F B F B F Catclaw mimosa, Mimosa spp. ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F Cedar elm, Ulmus crassifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F o B F o B F Cenizo, purple sage, Leucophyllum frutescens✔ ✔ b i B F B Coma, Bumelia celastrinum ✔ i i o B F o B F B F B F Coyotillo, Karwinskia humboldtiana ✔ ✔ o B F Creosotebush, Larrea tridentata ✔ ✔ b o o Desert yaupon, Schaefferia cuneifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F Elbowbush, Forestiera pubescens ✔ b i i o B F o B F Ephedra, Ephedra spp. ✔ ✔ i o B F o Evergreen sumac, Rhus virens ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F Feather dalea, Dalea formosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F Flameleaf sumac, Rhus glabra ✔ i i o B F o B F Four-wing saltbrush, Atriplex canescens ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o Fragrant mimosa, Mimosa borealis ✔ b i o B F o B F Granjeno, spiny hackberry, Celtis pallida ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F B F B B F o B F Greenbrier, Smilax spp. ✔ ✔ i o B F

Green condalia, Condalia viridis ✔ i o B F B F B F B F Guajillo, Acacia berlandieri ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F Guayacan, Guaiacum angustifolium ✔ ✔ b i B F o B F B B Gum bumelia, Bumelia lanuginosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Hercules’-club pricklyash, Zanthoxylum clava-hercules ✔ i o B F B F B F B F Hogplum, Colubrina texensis ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F F Honey mesquite, Prosopis glandulosa ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Hoptree, Ptelea spp. ✔ i o B F B F B F Huisache, Acacia smallii ✔ ✔ b i o i o B F o B F B F B F Juniper, Juniperus spp. ✔ i o B o B F B B Knife-leaf condalia, Condalia spathulata ✔ i o B F o B F Lantana, Lantana spp. ✔ ✔ b B F o Lime prickly-ash, Zanthoxylum fagara ✔ b i o B F o B F B F B F Littleleaf sumac, Rhus microphylla ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F B B Lotebush, Ziziphus obtusifolia ✔ ✔ i i o B F o F B Mexican buckeye, Ungnadia speciosa ✔ ✔ b i o B F B F B F Mountain laurel, Sophora secundiflora ✔ ✔ b B F Narrowleaf forestiera, Forestiera angustifolia✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F Netleaf hackberry, Celtis reticulata ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F Oaks, Quercus spp. ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F o B F B F Palo verde, Parkinsonia texana ✔ b i o i o B F o F B B Pecan, Carya illinoensis ✔ ✔ i o B F o B F o B F o B F Poison ivy, Toxicodendron radicans ✔ ✔ i B F Possum-haw holly, Ilex decidua ✔ i o B F B F B B Pricklypear cactus, Opuntia spp. ✔ ✔ i o i o B F o F o F i o B F Redbud, Cercis canadensis ✔ b i B F B F B F Retama, Parkinsonia aculeata ✔ ✔ b i i o B F B Roemer acacia, Acacia roemeriana ✔ ✔ b i i o o B F B F B F Rusty blackhaw, Viburnum rufidulum ✔ i i o B F o B F B F B F Shrubby blue sage, Salvia ballotiflora ✔ ✔ i o Skunkbush sumac, Rhus aromatica ✔ i i o B F Southwest bernardia, Bernardia myricifolia ✔ ✔ b i B F Sugar hackberry, Celtis laevigata ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F o B F o B F Sweet mountain grape, Vitis monticola ✔ i o B F o B F Tasajillo, Opuntia leptocaulis ✔ ✔ i i o B F B o B F Texas ebony, Pithecellobium flexicaule ✔ b i i o B F B F B F Texas kidneywood, Eysenhardtia texana ✔ ✔ b i o B F o Texas persimmon, Diospyros texana ✔ ✔ b i i o B F o B F B F B F o B F Texas Sophora, Eve’s necklace, Sophora affinis ✔ i i o B F B F Twisted acacia, Acacia schaffneri ✔ ✔ i i o F o B F o B F o B F Walnut, Juglans spp. ✔ i o B F B F B F B F Western soapberry, Sapindus drummondii ✔ ✔ i B F B F Wild olive, Cordia boissieri ✔ b i o B F B F B F Whitebrush, beebrush, Aloysia spp. ✔ ✔ b i o B F Wolfberry, Lycium spp. ✔ ✔ i i o B F o B F Yucca, Yucca spp. ✔ ✔ b i o o B F

LEGEND: b - Butterflies, bees and other insects STP - South Texas Plains i - White-tailed deer EP - Edwards Plateau o - Small mammals (e.g. squirrels, rabbits) B - Songbirds F - Game birds (quail, turkey, doves) Table 1. Classes of wildlife that benefit from various native plants. Woody plants may also provide indirect ben- that provide nectar and pollen for birds and efits, including soil improvement from mulch, insects. Mast includes hard fruits such as protected sites for certain beneficial plants to acorns and mesquite pods, and fruit refers to grow, mineral cycling, and nitrogen fixation by soft fleshy fruits such as berries. Cover is woody legumes such as mesquite and black- divided into three categories: brush. They also provide a cooler microclimate for birds, small mammals, reptiles and insects. ■ Protection from predators and the elements; Even though woody plants are beneficial, it is still possible to have too much brush. ■ Places for nesting by birds or small mam- La n d o wners should co n sid er ma n i p u la tin g mals; and brush in some situations, depending on the ■ Daytime loafing and nighttime roosting wildlife species being managed and other goals. areas. Brush sculpting is a way to achieve the desired balance between woody plant cover and herba- Th is publica tion does not rank pla n ts ceous plant or grass production. Brush can be according to how valuable they are to wildlife, sculpted by mechanical, chemical and biological but instead provides a basis for understanding means and by prescribed burning. Treating that all woody plants offer at least some value individual plants, either mechanically or chem- to particular classes of wildlife. Rangeland ically, is esp ecially useful in brush sculpting. mu st have a mixt u re of vegeta tion tha t includes as many different plants as possible, so The bru s h - sc u l p ting app roach recogn i z es that it can consistently supply the diverse that woody plants aid wildlife and seeks to needs of the various wildlife species. Land- shape the landscape and habitat to benefit owners and managers who understand this wildlife and accommodate other multiple uses. concept can make informed decisions about To sculpt brush for a wildlife habitat, landown- which and how much woody vegetation to ers must know the woody plant species present maintain. and their value to wildlife. Some woody plants are more valuable than others, depending on For more in formation on plan ts the habitat requirements of the various wildlife species. However, the value of any particular Correll, D. S. and M. C. Johnston. 1970. plant species also depends on which other Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas. species are present. For example, live oak has Texas Research Foundation. Renner, Texas. o n ly mod erate value as whit e - tai l ed deer Cox, P. W. and P. Leslie. 1988. Texas Trees: A browse when favored plants such as kidney- Friendly Guide. Corona Publishing Com- wood are abundant, but it may be a major part pany: San Antonio. of the diet when other more highly favored species are unavailable. Everitt, J. H. and D. L Drawe. 1993. Trees, Shrubs, and Cacti of South Texas. Texas In the table beginning on page 2, symbols Tech University Press: Lubbock. represent the classes of wildlife that benefit from each plant species. In this bulletin, forage Loughmiller, C., and L. Campbell. 1984. Texas is broadly defined not only as the leaves and Wi l d fl owe rs . Un i versity of Te xas Press : twigs that provide food for herbivores such as Austin. deer, but also as the flowers that are eaten and Martin, A. C., H. S. Zim, and A. L. Nelson. Lyons, R. K., M. K. Owens, and R. V. Machen. 1951. American Wildlife and Plants. Dover 1998. Juniper biology and management in Publications: New York. Texas. B-6074, Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Nokes, J. 1986. How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. Gulf Publishing McGinty, A., and D. Ueckert. 1995. Brush Company: Houston. Busters: How to Beat Mesquite. L-5144, Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Simpson, B. J. 1988. A Field Guide to Texas Trees. Texas Monthly Press: Austin.. McGinty, A., and D. Ueckert. 1997. Brush Busters: How Master Cedar. L-5160, Texas Taylor, R. B., J. Rutledge, and J.G. Herrera. Agricultural Extension Service. 1997. A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs. Texas Parks and Wildlife McGinty, A., and D. Ueckert. 1998. Brush Press: Austin. Busters: How to Take Care of Pricklypear and Cac ti. L-5171, Te xas Agri c u lt u ra l Vines, R. A. 1986. Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Extension Service. P l ants of the Southwe s t . Un i versity of Texas Press: Austin. Rollins, D., Ueckert, D. N. and C. G. Brown. Brush Sculptors. Symposium Proceedings. Wrede, Jan. 1997. Texans Love Their Land: A Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Guide to 76 Native Hill Country Woody Plants. The Watercress Press: San Antonio. Scrifes, C. J. Brush Management: Principles and Practices for Texas and the Southwest. For more in formation on brush sculpting Texas A&M Univ. Press: Colle ge Station. and wildli fe managemen t Lyons, R. K. and T. F. Ginnett. 1998. Integrat- Te xas Natural Reso u rc es. Web site at: ing Deer, Quail, and Tu rkey Habitat. http:/texnat.tamu.edu/ L-5196, Te xas Agri c u lt u ral Ext en si o n Welch, T. G. 1991. B rush Man a ge ment Service. Methods. B-5004, Texas Agricultural Exten- sion Service.

Acknowledgment The initial printing of this publication was funded by a grant from Dow AgroSciences.