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bluestems are some of the most widespread. 
Bermuda forage grasses are estimated to cover 8.7 
million acres in Texas, not including all the lawns, 
city parks & ball fields, school & corporate 
campuses and roadsides. Production potential is 
valued by TX A&M Univ. at $120 per acre, or a 
total $10.44 billion statewide. Native bluestems are 
valued at $10 per acre covering 10.8 million acres 
for $108 million; or 10 times less than alien 
bermudagrass. Many costs such as impacts to 
wildlife and pollution from runoff are being 
externalized in these values. Bermudagrass and 
many other alien pastures have limited value to 
Texas wildlife.
Three grandmas ago, native Bluestems were the 
keystone prairie grasses. Prairies provided 
incredibly rich ecosystem services that helped make 
Texas a great place. But with today’s economic 
value, it’s not likely that bermudagrass will make 
any official weed list. Anyone who has ever tried to 
keep bermudagrass out of the garden or a native 
planting knows how tenaciously aggressive it really 
is. Weeds present challenges when conducting 
native prairie restoration work. And weeds continue 
to be introduced into the environment. Non-native 
plant issues are significant and complex; and 
probably the people can solve them best. 
Power By Learning
Plant identification is not something only reserved 
for botanists and PhDs. Many common plants are 
easily identified with a little practice. Resources are 
available to help you, some here in this catalog. 
One thing is for sure; native plants used to know 
exactly how to live right here … with no extra care. 
Together, we can build models to help others learn 
how to put natives back on the land. Over time, we 
may see value in returning to more sustainable 
ways of balancing the roots of our economy. We 
can change how we value native grasses. 
In Texas, our property rights are sacred. But with 
land ownership comes serious and grounded 
responsibility. We are voting with every dollar we 
spend. We know food must be produced with 
careful stewardship of the land, mostly from 
domesticated plants and animals. Raising awareness 
about plants and their long-term impacts on the 
land can become a force for positive change. We 
can make needed changes, even in our own yards. 
But we can go further. For example, local cities and 
schools manage public outdoor spaces. The spaces 
add up as Texas is experiencing the fastest land 
fragmentation and urban development in the nation. 
With comprehensive land stewardship practices, we 
can actively participate to improve the management 
of public lands. 
Sometimes it seems the only plan going is to make 
the place One Big City! Balance is needed to 
protect and share our space with the trees, creeks 
and rivers, the four legged and the winged ones.
What To Do...
·	Become native to your place
·	Get a hoe, do battle with weeds
·	Use native plants, grasses and wildflowers in 
your corner of planet
·	Support ranchers & farmers producing food 
with good land stewardship
·	Let your landscape do the talking, share the 
story with neighbors
·	Participate in decisions that affect the 
management of public spaces
·	Remember, you vote with every dollar
Learn to Identify the 
Biggest Offenders
See page 96

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