Salt-tolerant ornamentals identified for poor water quality areas
By Jenna Smith
For more information regarding this subject, contact:
Raul Cabrera
(972) 231-5362
r-cabrera@tamu.edu
The Texas Legislature named the crape myrtle Texas’ Official Shrub in 1997-due in part to its widespread use in landscaping. Although without an official title, roses also represent a visible and abundant bush in the state. Texas alone produces 16 to 20 percent of the total US garden rose plants.
Because of the popularity of both crape myrtles and roses in Texas, Raul Cabrera, associate professor of woody ornamental horticulture at the Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Dallas, is focusing on their tolerance to poor quality water, searching for specific varieties that can survive a harsh environment. This project is funded in part by the Rio Grande Basin Initiative.
"Poor water quality and salinity are problems that affect a large portion of the state, particularly the Rio Grande Basin, Panhandle, and West Texas," he said. "Salinity affects everybody, from growers to homeowners in both urban and rural areas."
Saline irrigation water can damage both the production and maintenance of quality ornamental plants, particularly if the irrigation water is in direct contact with the foliage or leaves, which are much more sensitive to salt damage than roots.
Unlike the production of food and fiber crops, aesthetic appearance of foliage and flowers is the feature sought after in ornamental and landscape plants. Therefore, Cabrera said, irrigation water quality plays a more critical role in ornamentals than in other crops.
"Homeowners in regions facing water quality issues may still be able to grow popular ornamental shrubs like crape myrtles and roses just by selecting those cultivars or varieties that are salt-tolerant," he said.
Cabrera is developing production and landscape management practices and recommendations for successful growth and establishment of these plants in areas irrigated with water of poor quality.
Cabrera identified Rosa manetti and the Rosa x ‘Dr. Huey’ hybrids as the most salt-tolerant rose rootstocks for greenhouse cut flower production and landscape purposes, respectively.
After reviewing several species and over 20 cultivars of crape myrtles, Cabrera found that the L. indica (common crape myrtle) and L. speciosa (Queen’s crape myrtle) plants are the most salt-sensitive. Whereas, L. fauriei (Japanese crape myrtle) cultivars and the L. indica X L. fauriei hybrids are the most tolerant. Most Japanese crape myrtle cultivars and hybrids can be easily identified by their Native American names, such as Acoma, Apalachee, Natchez, Tonto and Tuscarora.
