Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Rio Grande Valley Spring

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — There are approximately 1,058 wild plant species in the Rio Grande Valley, excluding grasses, and with spring’s official arrival earlier this week, it seems almost all of them are blossoming.

From the sands of South Padre Island, through remnant riparian woodlands, and onto arid brushlands of Starr County this varied array of habitats provides an amazing diversity of plant life.

The earliest flowering is yuccas, and while most pitas, as they are known in Spanish, have gone to seed many remain in bloom.

Following peak pita flowering, huicache bursts forth with fragrant yellow-gold blooms. Huisache trees can exceed 20 feet in height, while similarly flowered huisachillo is a shrub reaching less than 10 feet.

Chaparro prieto or black brush is flourishing, and since this is probably the most abundant bush in arid brush country expanses of creamy white flowering during short-lived spring bloom are astonishing.

Nestled amidst thorny chaparral, lovely tulipan del monte or wild hibiscus responds to recent rains revealing exquisite velvet-red flowers.

Mesquite trees are also thriving, and while they flower primarily in spring, ebony, anacua, and anacahuita bloom throughout seasons following timely rains.

More species of cactus are found in Texas than in any other state, and the Rio Grande Valley has some of the most beautiful.

Spectacularly brilliant purple flowers of strawberry cactus or pitaya glow brightly in warm sunshine. After blooms fade, fruit that tastes like strawberries becomes a much sought-after delicacy for creatures of the chaparral.

Recent rains have spurred cenizo or purple sage, and almost lost amidst this profusion of color, a rare cenizo albino, or white cenizo offers its soft and subtly hued flowers to the morning sun.

Oh yeah, and then there are wildflowers…and that is a whole other story…so venture out now, as there is no better time to savor myriad spring blooms.