The Southeast Texas Native Seed Mix (SET NSM) Initiative is facilitated by Houston Wilderness with a collaborative of interested stakeholders to assist with access to and communication about the newly-created collection of native grass seeds that can be grown in the 8-County Gulf-Houston Region (see RANSM Coalition below) to provide a lawn effect that replaces non-native grasses around the region.

FOR LARGE LANDSCAPE LANDOWNERS AND CONTRACTORS: Please download the SET NSM Maintenance Flyer (available on this page)

The 12 set nsm specIes and three other suggested commercially-available sPECIES (SLIDE BY bRETT bAMERT)

Order SET NSM from these Texas farmers:

FOR RESIDENTIAL LANDOWNERS: Please download the How To Use the SET NSM Flyer (available on this page)

ABOUT THE RANSM COALITION

Formed in 2023 and facilitated by Houston Wilderness to assist with access to and communication about the newly-created sod-forming collection of native grasses that can be grown in the 8-county Gulf-Houston Region, the Regional Access to Native Seed Mix (RANSM) Coalition is comprised of major stakeholders in the region including large-scale NSM buyers, users and Texas native seed growers. The 4 key priorities of the RANSM Coalition include: 

  1. Collaboration on a strategy for short-term and long-term supply of the Southeast Texas NSM

  2. Implementation of the strategy for  short-term and long-term supply of the Southeast Texas NSM

  3. Engagement in various communications on the existence of and widespread opportunities for use of the SET NSM

  4. Hosting of workshops, presentations and educational forums on the SET NSM, and how to purchase and use the SET NSM as a replacement for non-native grasses and/or new construction areas

If you are interested in participating in the RANSM Coalition, contact deborah@houstonwilderness.org

RANSM Coalition Members at the North Growers Workshop in March 2023

Benefits of Native Grasses

When used around the region, the 12 Southeast Texas Native Seed Mix species will provide high survivability against the region’s environmental stresses, and provide multiple ecosystem services for this region. Invasive turf grasses have shallow roots that do little to help prevent erosion and flooding, in particular because the heavy clay soils in the Houston region prevent water from quickly absorbing into the ground. Mature native grasses with deeper root systems increase ecological resilience and benefit communities by:

Photo of Roots from TallGrassPrairie.org

  1. decreasing erosion,

  2. decreasing sedimentation in rivers and waterways,

  3. increasing streambank productivity,

  4. improving local water quality and supply characteristics,

  5. improving habitat quality for wildlife, and

  6. enhancing overall environmental functions and processes.

 

Native Seed Mix in the News