Southern Texas Plains/Interior Plains and Hills with Xerophytic Shrub and Oak Forest is a border region spanning southern Texas and northern Mexico with a dry subtropical steppe climate, characterized by hot summers, mild winters, and a predominant vegetation of thorny brush, grassland, and scattered oak/pine forests in higher elevations.
Zone
Coastal
Common Name
Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain
CEC Level III Code
9.6.1
CEC Level II Code
9.6 Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Tamaulipas-Texas Semi-Arid Plain, Tamaulipas Texas Semi-Arid Plain, CEC 9.6.1, Tamaulipas–Texas Semi Arid Plain |
| Geographic Range | This border region spans southern Texas, northeast Coahuila, northern Nuevo León, and northern Tamaulipas. |
| Climate Snapshot | This ecoregion has a dry subtropical steppe climate with hot summers, mild winters, a mean annual temperature of 20°C to 24°C, and mean annual precipitation of 592 mm, with most rains occurring in spring and fall. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain consists of lightly to moderately dissected irregular plains with altitudes in Mexico ranging from 600 to 1,600 m in the Sierra Madre Oriental. |
| Vegetation Cover | Lowlands were historically grassland and savanna, but due to continued grazing, the vegetation is now predominantly thorny brush, including honey mesquite and various cacti, with some riparian plants and oak/pine forests at higher elevations in Mexico. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The region is home to mammals such as white-tailed deer, javelina, and ocelots, alongside numerous bird species like the green kingfisher and reptiles like the Laredo striped whiptail. |
Eco snapshot
Lowlands were historically grassland and savanna, but due to continued grazing, the vegetation is now predominantly thorny brush, including honey mesquite and various cacti, with some riparian plants and oak/pine forests at higher elevations in Mexico.
The region is home to mammals such as white-tailed deer, javelina, and ocelots, alongside numerous bird species like the green kingfisher and reptiles like the Laredo striped whiptail.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter / early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe places to warm up and nest | Plant/maintain early-blooming natives; leave some leaf litter and stems; provide a shallow water dish with stones |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and undisturbed soil | Add a mix of native flowers; keep a small patch of bare, well-drained ground; avoid all pesticide use |
| Summer | Heat/drought survival: reliable flowers, shade pockets, water | Prioritize drought-tough bloomers; water deeply (if needed) rather than often; add a few rocks/logs for shelter; keep blooms going in pots |
| Late summer / fall | “Last chance” nectar/pollen; energy for overwintering stages | Plant late bloomers; avoid cutting everything back; let some seedheads stand; keep at least one area blooming |
| Winter (or dry season) | Shelter from weather; undisturbed nesting sites | Don’t over-tidy; leave stems and ground cover; delay major cleanup until warmer conditions return |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early bloomers that kick off the season when pollinators are rebuilding energy.
Summer bridge: heat-tough flowers that keep nectar/pollen available through hot, dry stretches.
Fall finisher: late-season bloomers that provide crucial “last meals” before colder or drier periods.
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Agaves are bold, sculptural succulents that store water in thick leaves and thrive in bright, dry spots. Their flowers can be a big seasonal draw for pollinators when plants are mature and in bloom.
Creosote bush (genus Larrea) is a tough, sun-loving shrub known for its small yellow flowers and resin-scented leaves. It’s best for dry, open spaces where you want a low-water plant that can still offer nectar and pollen when in bloom.
Desert mallows (globe mallows) are tough, sun-loving plants in the genus Sphaeralcea that bring warm-colored blooms and easy pollinator value to dry, low-fuss gardens and containers.
Desert marigolds are sunny, daisy-like wildflowers in the genus Baileya that bring bright color and steady nectar to warm, open garden spots.
Mesquites are tough, drought-adapted trees in the genus Prosopis that can add shade and seasonal flowers to dry landscapes while offering nectar and pollen for a range of pollinators.
Ocotillo is a dramatic desert shrub in the genus Fouquieria, known for tall, wand-like stems and bright flower clusters that can be a valuable nectar stop when in bloom.
Organ pipe & relatives are columnar cacti in the genus Stenocereus, grown for their bold, upright stems and showy blooms that can offer nectar and pollen when flowers are open.
Penstemons (beardtongues) are hardy, flower-filled wildflowers that bring bright color and steady nectar to gardens and containers, especially in sunny spots with well-drained soil.
Phacelias are easygoing wildflowers in the genus Phacelia, known for their nectar-rich blooms that can bring lots of pollinator activity to gardens, schoolyards, and even containers.
Prickly pears are tough, sun-loving cacti (genus Opuntia) with bright blooms that can offer nectar and pollen when in flower. They’re best for warm, bright spots and gardeners who want a low-water plant with big character.
Prickly poppies (genus Argemone) are bold, spiny wildflowers with papery blooms that can add bright color and nectar to sunny, low-fuss garden spots.
Saguaros are iconic desert cacti that grow slowly, live a long time, and offer seasonal flowers that can support pollinators when grown in the right conditions.
Wild buckwheats (genus Eriogonum) are tough, long-blooming western native wildflowers that can turn dry, sunny spots into reliable pollinator stops.
Yucca is a group of bold, architectural plants with spiky leaves and tall flower stalks that can add structure to sunny gardens and containers. Many yuccas are tough once established and can be a low-fuss way to offer nectar to visiting pollinators when in bloom.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms; their presence is a sign of diverse, functioning habitats.
Bumble bees are important pollinators of many wildflowers and garden plants, helping ecosystems and food crops reproduce.
Adults can move pollen between blooms, and their presence can signal how healthy local plant communities are.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding, helping wild plants and many garden plants set seed and fruit.
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding, helping many plants reproduce.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers as they feed, supporting seed and fruit set in many wild plants and some crops.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances, helping some plants set fruit and seed.
They move pollen between flowers while foraging, helping many wild plants and garden plants set seed and fruit.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances and help many plants set fruit and seed.
They can move pollen while drinking nectar, and they also help control many plant-eating insects.
Many small moths move pollen while feeding on nectar, supporting wild plants and garden blooms—especially in the evening and at night.
Many adults visit flowers and can move pollen between blooms, while also helping control some garden pests.
Many adults visit flowers for nectar and can move pollen between blooms while feeding.
They help move pollen between flowers in gardens, parks, and natural areas, supporting seed and fruit production.
