Gulf Coast Prairie
The Gulf Coast stretches along the Gulf of Mexico for hundreds of miles.
Near the gulf waters you can see marshes, barrier islands, estuaries where salty
sea water and fresh river water meet. Farther west are the prairies and grass
lands.
The Gulf Coast is home to many wildlife and plants.
Size: it is approximately 21,000 square miles.
Plant Life:
Trees
Suga
rberry
Water oak
Willow oak
Shumard red oak
Southern live oak
American elm
Yaupon
Grasses
Big blue stem
Bushy bluestem
Inland sea-oats
Sugarcane plumegrass
Gulf cordgrass
Eastern gammagrass
Wildflowers
Lance-leaf coreopsis
Coralbean
Spider lily
Cardinal flower
Turk’s cap
Gulf Coast penstemon
Scarlet sage
Indian paintbrush
Beach evening primrose
Showy evening primrose
Wildlife:
Muskrat, Coyote, Marsh rice rat, Mink, River otter, Bottlenose dolphinAlligator, Diamond back terrapin, Bull frog, Roseate spoonbill
Black skimmer, Gulls, Terns, Pelicans
Topography: Wetland marshes and rolling grassy dunes with praries farther
inland.
Soil type: Soils are acidic sands and sandy loams. Loam is another word for the
dark soil typically used for planting.
Climate: Warm subtropical climate receiving between 40 and 60 inches of
rainfall per year.