Holding Their Ground Wayside

The “Holding Their Ground” wayside provides a brief overview of the plant life found at the park.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Brownsville, TX

Main Text 

The low-lying vegetation of the prairie is often beautiful and delicate in appearance, but do not be deceived. This field is a forbidding place for weak plants. To endure environmental extremes, plants must be as tough as any hardened soldier and willing to face a daily battle for survival.

Sub Text 

Soldiering on
Hardy plants like the sea ox-eye daisy, camphor daisy, and sea lavender can survive both periods of drought and times of heavy flooding.

Entrenched on the prairie 
While the thick clay soil and oppressive heat stunts the growth of other vegetation, plants like cordgrass, lantana, and leather leaf thrive in these extreme conditions.

Image descriptions 

Background
View of the coastal prairie.

Bottom Left
Camphor daisy with yellow flowers, sea lavender with purple flowers, and sea ox-eye daisy with a yellow flower.

Center Background
Expanse of Gulf cord grass.

Center Foreground
Leather leaf plant with green succulent leaves.

Bottom Right
Texas lantana with small orange and yellow flowers and desert lantana with small light purple flowers.