Mathis’ Spiderling: A Rare Texas Native Worth Protecting
Meet Mathis’ spiderling (Boerhavia mathisiana), one of Texas’s most elusive native plants. If you’ve never heard of this little-known perennial, you’re not alone – it’s one of those botanical gems that flies under the radar, partly because it’s incredibly rare and partly because it’s just not widely cultivated.
What Makes This Plant Special
Mathis’ spiderling belongs to the Four O’Clock family (Nyctaginaceae), sharing relatives with more familiar plants like bougainvillea and four o’clocks. As a native Texas species, it has spent countless years adapting to the Lone Star State’s unique climate and soil conditions.
Where You’ll Find It (Or Won’t)
This perennial is native to Texas, but here’s the catch – it’s extremely rare. Boerhavia mathisiana has a Global Conservation Status of S2, which means it’s considered Imperiled. In conservation speak, this means it’s hanging on by a thread due to extreme rarity or factors that make it especially vulnerable to disappearing altogether. We’re talking about typically only 6 to 20 known locations with somewhere between 1,000 to 3,000 individual plants total.
Should You Plant Mathis’ Spiderling?
Here’s where things get interesting – and important. While supporting native plants is generally fantastic for local ecosystems, Mathis’ spiderling presents a unique situation. Because it’s so rare, we need to be extra thoughtful about how we approach growing it.
The Responsible Approach
If you’re determined to grow this rare beauty, here are the golden rules:
- Only source plants or seeds from reputable native plant societies or conservation organizations
- Never, ever collect from wild populations
- Consider whether your garden can truly provide the specific conditions this rare plant needs
- Think about supporting conservation efforts for this species instead of or alongside growing it
What We Know About Growing Conditions
Unfortunately, detailed growing information for Mathis’ spiderling is quite limited – another reminder of just how rare and understudied this plant is. What we do know is that as a Texas native perennial, it has likely adapted to:
- Hot, dry summers typical of Texas
- Potentially alkaline soils common in many parts of the state
- Periods of drought followed by intense rainfall
Consider Native Alternatives
Given the rarity of Mathis’ spiderling, you might want to consider other native Texas plants that can provide similar ecological benefits without the conservation concerns. Other members of the Four O’Clock family or native Texas perennials could give you that authentic Texas garden feel while supporting local wildlife.
The Bigger Picture
Mathis’ spiderling serves as a reminder that our native plant communities include species hanging on by a thread. While we celebrate and promote native gardening, plants like this one highlight the importance of conservation efforts and responsible gardening practices.
Sometimes the best way to support a rare plant is to support the organizations working to protect its wild habitat rather than trying to grow it in our gardens. That said, if you do choose to grow Mathis’ spiderling, make sure you’re doing so responsibly and with properly sourced plants that won’t impact wild populations.
After all, every gardener can play a role in plant conservation – whether that’s through growing rare species responsibly, supporting habitat protection, or simply choosing native plants that support local ecosystems without conservation concerns.
