Nativeand Adapted Landscape Plants ® City of Austin City of Texas AgriLife Extension Texas an earthwise guide for Central Texas Nativeand Adapted Landscape Plants an earthwise guide for Central Texas This guide was developed to help you in your efforts to protect and preserve our water resources. Index Key Trees ......................................................... 3 Native to: Water: E - Edwards Plateau: Shallow lime- Refers to the plant’s water needs after they Small Trees / Large Shrubs ....................... 6 stone or caliche soil (generally on are established. All plants require more water the west side of Austin) when first planted Shrubs ....................................................... 12 B - Blackland Prairie: Deeper, dark clay soils (generally on the central VL - Very Low (Water occasion- and east side of Austin) ally during very dry conditions) Perennials ................................................. 22 B/E - Native to both Blackland Prairie L - Low (Water thoroughly every and Edwards Plateau 3-4 weeks if no rainfall) Yuccas/Agaves/Succulents/Cacti/Sotols .... 36 T - Texas (outside of the immediate M - Medium (Water thoroughly Austin area) every 2-3 weeks if no rainfall) Ornamental Grasses .................................. 38 X - Hybrid plant with native H - High (Water thoroughly Texas parentage every 5-7 days if no rainfall) Vines ......................................................... 40 For additional native plant information, visit the Wildlife: plant section of the Lady Bird Johnson Wild- Groundcovers ........................................... 42 flower Center’s website atwww.wildflower.org Texas native plants provide greater Raingardens ............................................. 47 wildlife value than hybrid, non- Utility Approved Trees: native and/or exotic plants. - Appropriate for use near overhead Flowers, leaves, nuts, seeds and Bulbs / Water Plants ................................ 48 and underground utilities berries provide food for wildlife including butterflies, insects, birds Turf ........................................................... 49 Evergreen or Deciduous: and/or mammals Invasives ................................................... 50 E - Evergreen Deer Resistant: SE - Semi-Evergreen When very hungry, deer will eat D - Deciduous almost any plant; the following are guidelines: Availability: Somewhat deer resistant Most plants on the list are readily available D - may be difficult to find + Usually deer resistant Key Intro Gardening, “Austin-style”… Our native landscape is the inspiration for this guide to earthwise plant choices for Austin area gardens. The Grow Green plant list was created to help you select beautiful native and adapted plants which are naturally drought tolerant and resistant to pests and diseases. The less watering, fertilizing, and chemical control required in your yard, the more you contribute to the conservation and preservation of our precious water resources - our streams, lakes, and aquifers. Native plants belong here; they thrive with minimal care and provide habitat for local wildlife. We have chosen plants you should be able to find without too much trouble. Some non-natives are also recom- mended, for special situations, like shady areas, poorly drained soils or for their deer resistance. Many plants were included simply for their great beauty. Some people move to Austin and try to surround themselves with plants they are familiar with from their past homes. These plants are often poorly suited to our climate and soils. By choosing native and adapted plants, you become more knowledgeable about, more aware of, and more connected to the land of Central Texas. Incorporate them into your landscape for a garden style with a sense of place. We hope you enjoy using this guide to recreate Austin’s natural beauty in your own back yard. Trees Texas Ash Eastern Red Cedar Arizona Cypress Bald Cypress Bigtooth Maple Montezuma Cypress Cedar Elm Honey Mesquite Bur Oak Chinquapin Oak 3 Trees Common Name Texas HeightNative Spread Light Evergreen/DeciduousSeasonal InterestColor/FeatureWater AvailabilityMaintenance WildlifeDeer ResistantComments General Maintenance Comments: eliminate crossing branches; shape a young tree in the first three years after planting to produce an attractive, mature specimen; Trees avoid planting trees with fruit and flowers near walks, pools and porches because they can be messy (see Grow Green Installation and Maintenance fact sheet for more information) Did You Know? Trees receive protection within the city limits of Austin once they reach 19” in diameter on single family home lots, and 8” in diameter on multi-family and commercial properties. For more information visit www.cityofaustin.org/trees or call 974-1876. Yellow- Fast growing; only Ash appropriate for Austin Ash, Texas E 40-50’ 40-50’ Sun D Fall bronze VL D Prune for shape or to area; needs good drainage; relatively long life; Fraxinus texensis foliage raise canopy provides nesting and cover; birds eat flowers and fruit Columnar Prefers deeper soils; good screen plant; Cedar, Eastern Red B 30-50’ 15-25’ Sun E Fall/ or spread- L D No maintenance required Ashe Juniper (mistakenly called Cedar) is an Juniperus virginiana Winter ing shape excellent native alternative for shallow soils Blue- Well suited to limestone soils; attractive, peeling Cypress, Arizona T 25-50’ 15-25’ Sun E silver VL Prune for shape only red bark; some disease problems; requires Cupressus arizonica foliage good drainage Requires deep, moist soil conditions and mois- Cypress, Bald + Sun/part Copper Taxodium distichum B/E 60-100’ 25-50’ shade D Fall foliage L Pruning not necessary ture; foliage dries up in dry, hot location; use western seed source only Similar to Bald Cypress but faster growth and Cypress, Montezuma + Sun/part Bronze Taxodium mucronatum T 60-100’ 25-50’ shade D Fall foliage L Pruning not necessary more adapted to dry, stressful conditions; may freeze in severe winters Upright form; adapted to rocky soils; can with- Elm, Cedar B/E 25-50’ 25-35’ Sun/part D Fall Gold VL Prune for shape or to stand heavy, poorly drained clay soils and soils Ulmus crassifolia shade foliage raise canopy that are moderately compacted; susceptible to powdery mildew Creamy 2-3” long blooms; bright green foliage and weep- Honey Mesquite B/E 25-30’ 25-30’ Sun D March- white VL D Prune for shape or to ing shape; very slow growing; thorns; excellent Prosopis glandulosa Sept. flower raise canopy nectar source; aggressive spreader Red and Maple, Bigtooth E 20-50’ 20-30’ Sun/part D Fall gold VL D Prune for shape or to Best maple for alkaline soils; outstanding Acer grandidentatum shade foliage raise canopy fall color Large, majestic, very adaptable; needs lots of Oak, Bur B/E 50-70’ 50’+ Sun D Spring Large VL Prune for shape or to space and deep soil; moderate growth rate; Quercus macrocarpa acorns raise canopy susceptible to powdery mildew Yellow Stately form; good for deeper soils; requires Oak, Chinquapin B/E 50-70’ 30-40’ Sun D Fall and rust L Prune for shape or to additional water until established; moderate Quercus muhlenbergii foliage raise canopy growth rate Urban Forestry/Tree Preservation - www.cityofaustin.org/trees 4 Texas Red Oak* Trees Lacey Oak Southern Live Oak* Mexican White Oak Texas Palmetto Pecan Small Trees/ Large Shrubs Small Trees/ Mexican Sycamore Anacacho Orchid Mexican Buckeye Red Buckeye 5 Trees Common Name Texas HeightNative Spread Light Evergreen/DeciduousSeasonal InterestColor/FeatureWater AvailabilityMaintenance WildlifeDeer ResistantComments General Maintenance Comments: eliminate crossing branches; shape a young tree in the first three years after planting to produce an attractive, mature specimen; Trees avoid planting trees with fruit and flowers near walks, pools and porches because they can be messy (see Grow Green Installation and Maintenance fact sheet for more information) Did You Know? Trees receive protection within the city limits of Austin once they reach 19” in diameter on single family home lots, and 8” in diameter on multi-family and commercial properties. For more information visit www.cityofaustin.org/trees or call 974-1876. Bluish Oak, Lacey E 20-30’ 25’ Sun D green VL Prune for shape or to Ideal for small urban yards; slow growth; toler- Quercus laceyi foliage raise canopy if desired ates shallow, limestone soil; resistant to oak wilt Oak, Live (Southern) Prune only during hot- Quercus virginiana test and coldest months; Oak wilt susceptible; likes large open spaces; *Oak, Escarpment Live B/E 30-50’ 50’+ Sun E paint any pruning briefly drops leaves in spring; if planting in Quercus fusiformis wounds immediately to shallow soil, use Escarpment Live Oak which is help prevent oak wilt more drought tolerant Oak, Mexican White Prune for shape or to Medium size leaves, handsome tree; Quercus polymorpha T 30-40’ 30-40’ Sun SE VL raise canopy prefers deep soil; sheds some leaves in spring when new leaves emerge Oak, Texas Red 15-30’ 15-30’ Bright red/ Paint any pruning Well adapted to rocky soils; susceptible to oak Quercus texana E Sun D Fall orange fall L wounds immediately to wilt; use western seed source for red oaks; * Oak, Shumard 30-50’ 30-50’ foliage help prevent oak wilt Shumard Oak is an alternative, but only for deep Quercus shumardii well drained soil Small Trees/Large Shrubs Small Trees/Large Palmetto, Texas Palm Texas Sabal Sun/part Small Prune in summer remov- Food for migratory birds; tolerates moist, wet Sabal texana or T 45’