沙漠研究 24-1, 209-211 (2014)
Ἃ₍◊✲ 24-1, 209 - 211 (2014)
Journal of Arid Land Studies
Journal of Arid Land Studies－ DT11 Refereed Paper －㸫DT11 Refereed Paper㸫Texas Superstar® Program- Using Technology to Promote the Use of Well-Adapted Plants for Landscapesin High Temperature Regions with Limited Water Resources H. Brent PEMBERTON*1), Tim D. DAVIS2), Michael A. ARNOLD2), Cynthia MCKINNEY2), Larry STEIN1),
David RODRIGUEZ1) and R. Daniel LINEBERGER2)
Abstract: For more than 20 years the Texas Superstar® program has provided marketing assistance to the nursery industry bypromoting the use of well-adapted landscape plants with proven performance in most regions of Texas, which is characterized by highgrowing season temperatures and limited water resources. The four major plant trial sites for the program are located in CollegeStation (post oak savannah, USDA plant hardiness zone 8b), Lubbock (high plains, USDA plant hardiness zone 7b), Overton (pineywoods, USDA plant hardiness zone 8a/8b) and San Antonio (hill country, USDA plant hardiness zone 9a). These sites represent
major differences in ecological zones near major population centers in the state. Based primarily upon performance at these sites, thebest plants are designated for promotion as Texas Superstars® by the Texas Superstar® Executive Board. In the past, only limited
information has been provided regarding water use of Texas Superstar® plants. Because of dwindling water resources for Texas
landscapes, however, we are now categorizing Texas Superstar® plants by their water requirements. To make this information more
widely available, we are updating and redesigning a brochure that is being published in cooperation with the Texas Nursery andLandscape Association and the Texas Department of Agriculture. The brochure has a listing and description of each plant in theprogram. In addition, we are producing QR (Quick Response) bar matrix codes that are included in the brochure that link to plant
pages and videos which show the attributes of each plant and indicate the relative drought tolerance of individual plants. Thebrochures are being distributed at trade shows and other industry events, in retail settings, and at consumer education conferences
around the state. The QR codes can also be included on plant tags and point of purchase information material in garden centers toallow consumers to look at information about the plants as they shop for the best plant to use in home landscapes. Recent feedback
from Texas Superstar® program beneficiaries indicates an expected benefit of about $1.6 million for consumers due to an increased
emphasis on choosing the most drought tolerant plants for use in arid regions, with the ultimate goal of maintaining functionallandscapes with limited water requirements.
Key Words: Landscape plants, Marketing, Nursery industry, QR codes, Water

1. Introduction
For more than 20 years the Texas Superstar® program has
provided marketing assistance to the nursery industry bypromoting the use of well-adapted landscape plants withproven performance in most regions of Texas, which ischaracterized by high growing season temperatures and limited
water resources. The four major plant trial sites for theprogram are located in College Station, Lubbock, Overton and
San Antonio. These sites represent substantial differences inecological zones (Arnold, 2008; Diggs et al., 1999; Wasowski
and Wasowski, 1997) near major population centers in the state(Figs. 1 and 2). The objective of this paper is to briefly
review the program and highlight how information technology

is being used to promote the use of landscape plants that arewell-adapted to high temperatures and limited wateravailability.

2. Materials and Methods
Based primarily upon performance at the test sites, the best
plants are designated for promotion as Texas Superstars® by
the Texas Superstar® Executive Board (Arnold et al., 2001;
Mackay et al., 2001). Several years ago, a brochure waspublished in cooperation with the Texas Department ofAgriculture Go Texan ® Program and the Texas Nursery andLandscape Association. Recently this 16 page, full color
brochure has been updated with more recent plant promotions,but also with some important additions that enhance the㸦Received, September 12th, 2013; Accepted, February 17th, 2014㸧

* Corresponding Author: b-pemberton@tamu.edu
1) Texas A&M AgriLife Research, USA

2) Texas A&M University, USA

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Fig. 3. Description of the Texas Superstar® Program on an example
page from the new brochure.
Fig. 1. The major trial sites for the Texas Superstar® Program are,from least precipitation to the most, Lubbock, San Antonio,
College Station and Overton (located near Tyler).

Fig. 4. Example of a QR code for the Texas Superstar® Gold Star
Esperanza, used in the brochure.

Fig. 2. Extended periods of elevated temperatures exacerbate limited
precipitation in most of the state, including the four primary
test sites, Lubbock, San Antonio, College Station and Overton(located near Tyler).

information available about each plant and improve theeducational value of the brochure (Fig. 3).
QR (Quick Response) bar matrix codes were produced thatare included in the brochure (Fig. 4). The codes link to plant
pages at www.texassuperstar.com which show the attributes ofeach plant (Fig. 5). The QR codes can also be included

Fig. 5. Example of a plant page that is accessed at www.
texassuperstar. com from the QR code in Figure 4.

on plant tags and point of purchase information material ingarden centers to allow consumers to look at information about
the plants as they shop for the best plant to use in homelandscapes.
In the past, only limited information has been provided
regarding water use of Texas Superstar® plants. Because of

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there were an additional 101 views of the recording with anestimated economic benefit of $1,008,056 using theknowledge gained from the webinar. Thus, the total
economic benefit anticipated by the participants was$1,666,786.

4. Conclusion

Fig. 6. Example of the use of the water droplet symbols to denotewater use in the plant selection.

dwindling water resources for Texas landscapes, however, weare now categorizing Texas Superstar® plants by their waterrequirements. In the brochure, water droplet symbols areused to denote plant water use for each of the plant selections(Fig. 6). This allows us to put an emphasis on choosing themost drought tolerant plants for use in arid environments byboth producers and consumers, with the ultimate goal of
maintaining functional landscapes with limited waterrequirements.

3. Results and Discussion

The total estimated increase in economic benefits of over
$1.6 million due to the increase in knowledge through theTexas Superstar® program indicates the value that persons
knowledgeable of the program put on its implementation anduse. The use of the brochure as an educational tool should
help raise awareness of this important program to the industry
and consumers in our region promoting the use of well-adapted
plants for use in arid environments with the ultimate goal of
maintaining functional landscapes with limited waterrequirements.
Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the economic input
data received from Dr. Charlie Hall, Department of
Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University.

References®

The Texas Superstar brochures are being distributed at
trade shows and other industry events, in retail settings, and at
consumer education conferences around the state. Efforts arebeing made to increase awareness of the Texas Superstar®
program through presentations to diverse audience types
including industry, general consumers, Master Gardeners, etc.
A webinar presentation was made in July 2013 to a largely
industry audience which allowed an opportunity to measure
the impact of the Texas Superstar® program. The 66
participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to gauge
the perceived gains in knowledge and economic benefit as aresult of the information provided through the webinar in
conjunction with the existing Texas Superstar® online andprinted materials. The results are summarized below:
The total number of attendees was 66 with a level ofsatisfaction of 4.47 out of 5. Knowledge of the Texas
Superstar® program before the webinar was rated 3.3 and wasrated 4.43 after the webinar for an increase in knowledge of34%. The increase in profits that were anticipated as a resultof the knowledge gained from participating in the webinar wasestimated by the attendees to be $658,730. After the webinar,

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