Native and Adapted green.org Landscape Plants City of Austin grow City of Find your perfect plant with our online seach tool! an earthwise guide for Central Texas Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service A&M Texas Native and Adapted Landscapean earthwise Plants guide for Central Texas This guide was developed to help you in your efforts to protect and preserve our water resources. Index Key Trees ............................................................ 7 Native to: Evergreen or Deciduous: E - Edwards Plateau, Rocky, Western Zone: shallow, E – Evergreen Small Trees / Large Shrubs ........................ 9 limestone or caliche soil (generally on the west SE – Semi-evergreen side of Austin) D – Deciduous Shrubs (including roses) ............................ 15 B - Blackland Prairie, Eastern Zone: Deeper, dark, clay soils (generally on the east side of Austin) Water: Refers to the plant’s water needs during the growing Perennials .................................................. 25 B/E - Native to both Edwards Plateau and season after they are established. The majority of plants Blackland Prairie require more water while becoming established. For Austin’s current water restrictions, variances and other T - Native to Texas (not a part of Edwards Plateau or Yuccas/Agaves/Succulents/Cacti/Sotols .. 39 irrigation information visit www.WaterWiseAustin.org Blackland Prairie) VL – Very Low (Water occasionally, if no significant rain Hybrid plant with native Texas parentage Ornamental & Prairie Grasses ................... 41 X - for 30 days) For additional native plant information, visit the plant L – Low (Water thoroughly every 3-4 weeks if no Vines .......................................................... 43 section of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower website at significant rainfall) www.wildflower.org M – Medium (Water thoroughly every 2-3 weeks if Groundcovers ............................................ 45 Height and Spread: no significant rainfall. Most plants in the guide Height and spread are provided in ranges. The maximum with this designation prefer shade so the soil does Turf ............................................................ 50 heights reflect ideal conditions. not dry out as quickly) Utility Approved Trees: H – High (Water thoroughly every 5-7 days if no Invasive Plants to Avoid ............................ 53 Plants appropriate for use near overhead and under- rainfall) Due to the City’s efforts to conserve ground utilities should not exceed 20’ (call 811 at water, there are only a few plants with this desig- least 3 business days before you plan to dig). nation and they should be placed in areas that are For more information on deer-resistant, fire-resistant, Light: naturally moist and/or receive stormwater runoff. rain garden and poisonous plants, see page 52 Sun – needs at least 6-8 hours of full, direct sun Wildlife: To help you create your own landscape design, Sun/Part Shade – can take anywhere from 4-8 hours X – Most Texas native plants provide greater wildlife resources are available to Austin citizens at of sun. Typically these plants bloom more in sun value than hybrid, non-native and/or exotic www.austintexas.gov/department/landscape-design but require less water in part shade plants. Flowers, nectar, leaves, fruits and nuts Shade – less than 4 hours of direct sun; or dappled provide food for wildlife; these plants also provide light for 6-8 hours essential cover for nesting and raising young. To learn more visit: www.KeepAustinWild.com Key Intro Gardening, “Austin-style”… The Grow Green plant guide was created to help you select native and adapted plants for the Austin area that are naturally drought tolerant, resistant to pests and diseases, and provide habitat and food sources for local wildlife. The less watering, fertilizing and chemical control required in your yard, the more you contribute to the conservation and protection of our precious water resources - our streams, lakes and aquifers. To grow a successful earth-wise landscape, plant the right plants in the right place. Plants from other parts of the country are often poorly suited to our climate and soils. Choosing native and adapted Central Texas plants is the sustainable, earth-wise alternative. Evaluate your planting environment and pick the plant species that will perform suitably under those conditions. The environmental conditions across Austin area vary quite a bit. The most important differences are soil depth and type, which are significant factors in ultimate plant height. In general, the deeper the soil is, the taller the plants will get. This is particularly important when planting trees. We hope you enjoy using this guide to bring a touch of Austin’s natural beauty to your own landscape. Visit www.GrowGreen.org for more earth-wise gardening information. Trees Texas Ash Eastern Red Cedar Black Cherry Arizona Cypress Bald Cypress Montezuma Cypress Cedar Elm Honey Mesquite Bigtooth Maple Bur Oak Chinquapin Oak 6 Trees Common Name Texas NativeHeight Spread Light Evergreen/DeciduousSeasonal InterestColor/FeatureWater WildlifeComments and Maintenance General Maintenance: Eliminate crossing branches; shape a young tree in the first three years after planting to produce an attractive mature specimen. Avoid planting trees with fruit near sidewalks, pools and porches because they can be messy. For more tree care tips see the Grow Green Tree Care and Installation and Maintenance fact sheets. Did you know? Trees Trees receive protection within the city limits of Austin once they reach 19” in diameter on single-family lots, and 8” in diameter on multi-family and commercial properties. For more information visit www.austintexas.gov/treeportal or call (512) 974-1876. Yellow- Fast-growing; native; only Ash appropriate for Austin area; provide good drainage; relatively Ash, Texas E 40-50' 40-50' Sun D Fall bronze VL x long life; provides nesting and cover; birds eat flowers and fruit; prune to shape or raise Fraxinus texensis foliage canopy if needed Cedar, Eastern Red Columnar, spreading shape; needs deep soil; good screen plant; native; Ashe Juniper, J. 30- Evergreen Juniperus virginiana var. B 15-25' Sun E Year round L x ashei, (mistakenly called Cedar) is a native alternative for shallow soils; 50'+ leaves virginiana does not need pruning White Cherry, Black Attractive shape; fall color; fragrant flowers; glossy leaves; fruit bearing; not for heavy clay 25- flower; Prunus serotina var. B 35' Sun D Spring L-M x soils; foliage can be fatal if consumed; provide moist location;attracts birds, butterflies and 50'+ yellow fall exima pollinators; prune for shape or to raise canopy foliage Cypress, Arizona 25- Blue-silver Suited to well-drained, limestone soils; attractive, peeling red bark; some disease problems; T 15-25' Sun E Year round VL x Cupressus arizonica 50'+ foliage native to Chisos Mountains; prune to shape, if needed Cypress, Bald 60- Sun/Part Copper For riparian/moist, deep soil or poor drainage conditions only; foliage dries up in dry, hot B/E 35-50'+ D Fall M x Taxodium distichum 100' Shade foliage location; obtain plants of western seed source; does not need pruning Cypress, Montezuma 60- Sun/Part Bronze Similar to Bald Cypress but faster growth and more adapted to dry conditions; may freeze in T 25-50'+ D Fall H x Taxodium mucronatum 100' Shade foliage severe winters; native to south Texas; does not need pruning Elm, Cedar Sun/Part Gold Upright form, native; adapted to rocky soils; can withstand poorly drained, clay soils and/or B/E 50-75' 25-35' D Fall VL x Ulmus crassifolia Shade foliage moderately compacted soils; prune to shape or raise canopy if needed Honey Mesquite Creamy 2-3" long blooms; bright green foliage and weeping shape; very slow growing; thorns; March- Prosopis glandulosa var. B/E 25'-40' 25-30' Sun D white VL x excellent nectar source;Thornless Mesquite is Prosopis chilensis; prune to shape or raise Sept. glandulosa flowers canopy if needed Maple, Bigtooth Sun/Part Red, gold Best maple for alkaline soils; outstanding fall color; prune to shape or raise E 20-50' 20-30' D Fall M x Acer grandidentatum Shade foliage canopy if needed Oak, Bur 50- Large Large, majestic tree, very adpatable; provide plenty of space and deep soil; moderate growth B/E 30-50'+ Sun D Spring VL x Quercus macrocarpa 70'+ acorns rate; prune to shape or raise canopy if needed Oak, Chinquapin 50- Yellow and Stately form; provide deep soil; moderate growth rate; prune to shape or raise B/E 30-40' Sun D Fall L x Quercus muhlenbergii 70'+ rust foliage canopy if needed 7 Trees Lacey Oak Mexican White Oak Southern Live Oak Texas Palmetto Pecan Mexican Sycamore Texas Red Oak Small Trees/ Large Shrubs Small Trees/ Anacacho Orchid Anacua Arroyo Sweetwood Mexican Buckeye 8 Trees Common Name Texas NativeHeight Spread Light Evergreen/DeciduousSeasonal InterestColor/FeatureWater WildlifeComments and Maintenance Oak, Lacey 30- Sun/Part Blue-green Ideal for small urban yards; slow growth rate; will grow on shallow, limestone soils; resistant E 25' D VL x Quercus laceyi 50'+ Shade foliage to oak wilt; prune to shape or raise canopy if needed Oak. Mexican White 45- Handsome tree; provide deep soil; sheds leaves in spring when new leaves emerge; small T 30-40' Sun SE VL x Quercus polymorpha 60'+ population native to West Texas; resistant to oak wilt; prune to shape or raise canopy if needed Oak wilt susceptible; provide large open space; evergreen but sheds leaves in spring as new Oak, Southern Live 40- Sun/Part Evergreen leaves emerge; if planting in