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.

When used around the region, the 12 Southeast Texas Native Seed Mix species (see below) will provide high survivability against the region’s environmental stresses, and provide multiple ecosystem services for this region, including:

  • Erosion Control (particularly along riparian corridors)

  • Significantly enhanced water absorption (helps replace thirsty, low survivability non-native grasses)

  • Enhanced air and water quality

  • Reduction in asthma causing pollens

  • Improved habitat for wildlife, pollinators and people

  • Increased resilience to climate-related changes in the region

Coastal Plains Germplasm little bluestem

The current Native Seed Mix includes:

  • Harrison Germplasm Florida paspalum  -  Paspalum floridanum

  • Coastal Plains Germplasm little bluestem -  Schizachyrium scoparium

  • Knotroot bristlegrass - Setaria parviflora

  • Crockett Germplasm herbaceous mimosa -  Mimosa strigillosa

  • Pineland Gold swamp sunflower -  Helianthus angustifolius

  • Cajun Sunrise ashy sunflower -  Helianthus mollis

  • Nacogdoches Germplasm eastern gamagrass -  Tripsacum dactyloides

  • Oso Germplasm Hall’s panicum -  Panicum hallii

  • Cibolo Germplasm little barley -  Hordeum pusillum

  • Fuego Germplasm indian blanket -  Gaillardia pulchella

  • Lometa indiangrass -  Lometa indiangrass

  • Guadalupe Germplasm white tridens  -  Tridens albescens

Seed Grower Contact Information

Bamert Seed Co.
Link to purchase native seed mix
Phone: 1-806-639-5232
Email: natives@bamertseed.com

Roundstone Native Seed
Link to purchase native seed mix
Phone: 888-531-2353 / 270-531-3034
Email: sales@roundstoneseed.com

DK Seed Co.
Phone: 210-361-7325
Email: sales@dkseeds.com

Turner Seed Co.
 Phone: 254-559-2065
Email: luke@turnerseed.com


Click Here to Download the Current NSM Availability

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

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.

 

Technical Details of Phase I of SET NSM Project

In Phase 1, the SET NSM RANSM Coalition partners were engaged in a multi-year project to test the survivability of various native seed mixes. This analysis took place at two sites: one in the north of Harris County (red on the map), and another in the south (green on the map).

10’ by 10’ and half acre plots were tested and the results produced a set of 12 native seed mix species.

The North Demonstration Site was a half acre plot divided into soil treatment plots of 1/8 acre each - planted with the entire Native Grass Mix, and surrounded by invasive old world bluestem.

The South Demonstration Site tested individual species on 10’ by 10’ plots, including some species that were not included in the North Site.

NSM South Site - Click to Download a Diagram Of the Site . The Half ACre plot is visible in the foreground, and the 10’ by 10’ plots are Visible by the Water.

Native Seed Mix in the News

Native Seed Mix Press Conference on November 29th, 2023

Resources