Texas­South Recommended

Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in South Texas. Visit our Suppliers Directory to locate businesses that sell native plants or seeds or provide professional landscape or consulting services in this state. Visit the Organizations Directory to locate native plant societies, conservation groups, governmental agencies, botanical gardens, arboreta, and other plant­related organizations in this state.

Thumb Species Characteristics

Abutilon hypoleucum Duration: Perennial Rio Grande abutilon, White­leaf indian­mallow, Habit: Shrub Whiteleaf Indian mallow Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Acacia farnesiana Duration: Perennial Huisache, Texas huisache, Sweet acacia, Habit: Tree Perfume acacia, Mealy acacia, Mealy wattle, Light: Sun Cassie Water: Dry

Acacia greggii var. wrightii Duration: Perennial Wright acacia, Wright's acacia, Catclaw Habit: Tree acacia, Catclaw Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Acacia rigidula Duration: Perennial Blackbrush acacia, Blackbrush, Chaparro Habit: Tree prieto, Gavia Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Agave americana Duration: Perennial American century plant, Century plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent Light: Sun Water: Dry

Amblyolepis setigera Duration: Annual Huisache Daisy, Butterfly Daisy, Honey Daisy Habit: Herb Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Andropogon gerardii Duration: Perennial Big bluestem, Tall bluestem, Turkeyfoot Habit: Grass/Grass­like Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Andropogon glomeratus Duration: Perennial Bushy bluestem, Brushy bluestem Habit: Grass/Grass­like Light: Sun Water: Wet, Moist

Atriplex canescens Duration: Perennial Chamiso, Four­wing saltbush, Wing­scale Habit: Shrub Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Bignonia capreolata Duration: Perennial Crossvine Habit: Vine Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Bouteloua curtipendula Duration: Perennial Sideoats grama, Banderilla, Banderita, Habit: Grass/Grass­like Navajita Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Callicarpa americana Duration: Perennial American beautyberry , French mulberry Habit: Shrub Light: Part­shade Water: Moist

Callirhoe involucrata Duration: Perennial Winecup, Purple poppy mallow Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Campsis radicans Duration: Perennial Trumpet creeper, Trumpet vine, Common Habit: Vine trumpet creeper, Cow vine, Foxglove vine, Light: Sun Hellvine, Devil's shoestring Water: Moist, Dry

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum Duration: Annual Chile Pequin, Chile Tepin, Bird Pepper, Turkey Habit: Subshrub Pepper, Cayenne Pepper Light: Water:

Carya illinoinensis Duration: Perennial Pecan Habit: Tree Light: Sun Water: Moist

Castilleja indivisa Duration: Annual Texas Indian Paintbrush, Entireleaf Indian Habit: Herb Paintbrush, Texas Paintbrush, Indian Light: Sun Paintbrush, Scarlet Paintbrush Water: Dry

Centaurea americana Duration: Annual American basket­flower, American star­thistle, Habit: Herb Basket­Flower, Star thistle, Shaving brush Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Chamaecrista fasciculata Duration: Annual Partridge pea, Sleepingplant, Sensitive plant Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Chromolaena odorata Duration: Perennial Blue mistflower, Fragrant mistflower, Blue Habit: Shrub boneset, Fragrant boneset, Jack in the bush, Light: Part­shade Crucita, Siam weed, Common flossflower, Water: Dry Christmas bush, Devilweed

Clematis pitcheri Duration: Perennial Purple Leatherflower, Purple Clematis, Habit: Vine Leatherflower, Bluebill, Bellflower Clematis, Light: Sun, Part­shade Pitcher's Clematis Water: Moist

Colubrina texensis Duration: Perennial Hog­plum, Texan hogplum, Texas colubrina, Habit: Shrub Texas snakewood Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Condalia hookeri Duration: Perennial Bluewood condalia, Brasil, Brasilwood, Habit: Shrub, Tree Bluewood, Logwood, Purple haw, Capul Light: Part­shade negro Water: Dry

Conoclinium coelestinum Duration: Perennial Blue mistflower, Wild ageratum, Blue boneset, Habit: Herb Mistflower Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Cooperia drummondii Duration: Perennial Evening rain lily, Evening star rain lily Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry Cooperia pedunculata Duration: Perennial Hill Country rain lily, Prairie lily, Rain lily, Flor Habit: Herb de mayo Light: Sun Water: Moist

Cordia boissieri Duration: Perennial Mexican olive, Texas wild olive, Anacahuita, Habit: Shrub, Tree Anacahuite Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Coreopsis tinctoria var. tinctoria Duration: Annual Golden tickseed, Golden­wave Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Cornus drummondii Duration: Perennial Roughleaf dogwood, Drummond's dogwood, Habit: Tree Rough­leaf dogwood Light: Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Delphinium carolinianum ssp. vimineum Duration: Perennial Carolina larkspur, Prairie larkspur Habit: Herb Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens Duration: Perennial Carolina larkspur, Prairie larkspur, Plains Habit: Herb larkspur Light: Sun Water: Moist

Desmanthus illinoensis Duration: Perennial Illinois bundleflower, Bundleflower, Prairie Habit: Shrub bundle flower, Prickleweed, Illinois Light: Sun Desmanthus, Prairie mimosa Water: Moist

Ebenopsis ebano Duration: Perennial Texas ebony, Black­bead ebony, Ebony ape's­ Habit: Shrub earring, Ebano Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry

Ehretia anacua Duration: Perennial Anacua, Sugarberry Anacua, Anaqua, Habit: Tree Anacahuita, Knockaway, Knackaway, Light: Sun, Part­shade Sandpaper tree, Manzanita, Manzanillo, Water: Dry Tlalahuacate

Eragrostis spectabilis Duration: Perennial Purple lovegrass, Purple love grass, Purple Habit: Grass/Grass­like plains lovegrass, Tumblegrass, Petticoat Light: Sun climber Water: Moist

Eryngium yuccifolium Duration: Perennial Rattlesnake master, Button eryngo, Button Habit: Herb snakeroot, Beargrass, Bear's grass Light: Sun Water: Moist

Erythrina herbacea Duration: Perennial Coralbean, Cherokee bean, Red cardinal Habit: Shrub Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Euphorbia antisyphilitica Duration: Perennial Candelilla, Wax plant Habit: Subshrub Light: Sun Water: Dry

Eysenhardtia texana Duration: Perennial Texas kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee­Brush, Habit: Shrub Vara dulce Light: Sun Water: Dry

Fraxinus berlandieriana Duration: Perennial Mexican ash, Berlandier ash, Berlandier's ash, Habit: Tree Plumero Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Gaillardia pulchella Duration: Annual Indian Blanket, Firewheel, Girasol rojo Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida Duration: Annual, Perennial Prairie verbena, Purple prairie verbena, Habit: Herb Dakota mock vervain, Dakota vervain Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry Glandularia bipinnatifida var. ciliata Duration: Annual Davis Mountains Mock Vervain, Dakota Mock Habit: Herb Vervain, Wright's Verbena Light: Water:

Guaiacum angustifolium Duration: Perennial Texas lignum­vitae, Soapbush, Guayacan Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Havardia pallens Duration: Perennial Tenaza, Huajillo, Ape's ear­ring Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Helianthus maximiliani Duration: Perennial Maximilian sunflower, Max sunflower Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry

Hesperaloe parviflora Duration: Perennial Red yucca, Coral yucca, Red­flowered false Habit: Cactus/Succulent yucca, Redflower false yucca, Yellow yucca, Light: Sun Hummingbird yucca, Samandoque Water: Dry

Heuchera richardsonii Duration: Perennial Richardson's alumroot, Prairie alumroot Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Hibiscus martianus Duration: Perennial Heartleaf rosemallow, Tulipan del Monte, Habit: Herb Heartleaf Hibiscus Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Ilex decidua Duration: Perennial Possumhaw, Possumhaw holly, Deciduous Habit: Shrub holly, Meadow holly, Prairie holly, Swamp holly, Light: Sun, Part­shade Welk holly, Deciduous yaupon, Bearberry, Water: Moist Winterberry

Ilex vomitoria Duration: Perennial Yaupon, Yaupon Holly, Cassina Habit: Shrub, Tree Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Ipomoea imperati Duration: Perennial Beach morning­glory, Beach morning glory Habit: Vine Light: Water:

Karwinskia humboldtiana Duration: Perennial Coyotillo, Humboldt coyotillo Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Kosteletzkya virginica Duration: Perennial Virginia saltmarsh mallow, Virginia fen­rose, Habit: Subshrub Saltmarsh mallow, Seashore mallow Light: Sun Water: Moist

Lantana urticoides Duration: Perennial Texas lantana, Calico bush Habit: Shrub Light: Sun Water: Dry

Larrea tridentata Duration: Perennial Creosote bush, Greasewood, Hediondilla, Habit: Shrub Governadora, Guamis Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Leucophyllum frutescens Duration: Perennial Cenizo, Purple sage, Texas ranger, Texas Habit: Shrub barometer bush, Texas silverleaf, Texas sage, Light: Sun, Part­shade Silverleaf Water: Dry

Lindheimera texana Duration: Annual Texas Yellowstar, Texas Star, Texas Yellow­ Habit: Herb star, Lindheimer daisy Light: Sun Water: Dry

Lonicera sempervirens Duration: Perennial Coral honeysuckle, Trumpet honeysuckle, Habit: Vine Woodbine Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Lupinus subcarnosus Duration: Annual Sandyland bluebonnet, Texas bluebonnet Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water:

Lupinus texensis Duration: Annual Texas bluebonnet, Bluebonnet, Texas lupine, Habit: Herb Buffalo clover, Wolf flower Light: Sun Water: Dry

Mahonia trifoliolata Duration: Perennial Agarita, Agarito, Algerita, Laredo mahonia, Habit: Shrub Laredo Oregon­grape, Trifoliate barberry, Wild Light: Sun, Part­shade currant Water: Moist, Dry

Malpighia glabra Duration: Perennial Barbados Cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle, Acerola, Habit: Shrub Manzanita Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Malvaviscus arboreus Duration: Perennial Turkscap, Wax mallow, Bleeding hearts, Habit: Shrub Mexican apple, Manzanilla Light: Water:

Mimosa texana Duration: Perennial Texas mimosa, Wherry mimosa Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Monarda citriodora Duration: Annual Lemon beebalm, Purple horsemint, Lemon Habit: Herb mint, Plains horsemint, Lemon horsemint, Light: Sun, Part­shade Horsemint, Purple lemon mint Water: Dry

Monarda fistulosa Duration: Perennial Wild bergamot, Beebalm Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry Monarda punctata Duration: Annual Spotted beebalm, Spotted horsemint, Habit: Herb Horsemint Light: Sun Water: Dry

Monarda punctata ssp. punctata var. Duration: Annual lasiodonta Habit: Subshrub Spotted beebalm Light: Water:

Nolina texana Duration: Perennial Texas sacahuista, Texas beargrass, Basket Habit: Grass/Grass­like grass, Sacahuista, Bunchgrass Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Oenothera speciosa Duration: Perennial Pink evening primrose, Showy evening Habit: Herb primrose, Mexican evening primrose, Showy Light: Sun primrose, Pink ladies, Buttercups, Pink Water: Moist, Dry buttercups

Opuntia ellisiana Duration: Perennial Spineless prickly pear, Tigertongue, South Habit: Cactus/Succulent Texas pricklypear Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii Duration: Perennial Cactus apple, Prickly pear Habit: Cactus/Succulent Light: Sun Water: Dry

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri Duration: Perennial Texas prickly pear, Lindheimer's prickly pear, Habit: Cactus/Succulent Lindheimer prickly pear Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Opuntia macrocentra var. macrocentra Duration: Perennial Purple pricklypear Habit: Cactus/Succulent Light: Sun Water: Dry

Opuntia macrorhiza Duration: Perennial Bigroot Prickly Pear, Twist­spine Prickly Pear, Habit: Cactus/Succulent Common Prickly Pear, Plains Prickly Pear Light: Sun Water: Dry

Opuntia phaeacantha Duration: Perennial Tulip prickly pear, Brownspine prickly pear Habit: Cactus/Succulent cactus, Purple­fruited prickly pear, Brown­ Light: Part­shade spined prickly pear, New mexico prickly pear, Water: Dry Desert prickly pear

Panicum virgatum var. virgatum Duration: Perennial Switchgrass Habit: Grass/Grass­like Light: Water:

Parkinsonia aculeata Duration: Perennial Retama, Paloverde, Mexican paloverde, Habit: Tree Jerusalem thorn, Horsebean, Lluvia de Oro Light: Sun Water: Moist, Dry

Parkinsonia texana var. macra Duration: Perennial Texas paloverde, Border paloverde Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Parthenocissus quinquefolia Duration: Perennial Virginia creeper Habit: Vine Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist

Pavonia lasiopetala Duration: Perennial Rock rose, Rose pavonia, Rose mallow, Habit: Shrub Pavonia Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Penstemon cobaea Duration: Perennial Prairie penstemon, Prairie beardtongue, Habit: Herb Foxglove penstemon, Foxglove beardtongue, Light: Sun, Part­shade False foxglove, Large­flowered penstemon, Water: Dry Large­flowered beardtongue, Cobaea penstemon, Cobaea beardtongue, Wild foxglove

Phlox drummondii ssp. drummondii Duration: Annual Annual phlox Habit: Herb Light: Water: Phlox drummondii ssp. mcallisteri Duration: Annual McAllister's phlox, Drummond phlox Habit: Herb Light: Water:

Phlox drummondii ssp. wilcoxiana Duration: Annual Wilcox's phlox, Drummond phlox Habit: Herb Light: Water:

Pistacia mexicana Duration: Perennial Mexican pistachio, Texas pistachio, American Habit: Tree pistachio, Copal pistachio, Wild pistachio, Light: Sun Lentisco Water: Dry

Platanus occidentalis Duration: Perennial American sycamore, Eastern sycamore, Habit: Tree American plane tree, Plane tree, Buttonwood, Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Buttonball tree Water: Moist

Prosopis glandulosa Duration: Perennial Honey mesquite, Glandular mesquite, Habit: Tree Algarroba Light: Sun Water: Dry

Pycnanthemum virginianum Duration: Perennial Virginia mountain mint Habit: Herb Light: Part­shade Water: Moist

Quercus hemisphaerica Duration: Perennial Coast laurel oak, Darlington oak, Laurel oak Habit: Tree Light: Sun Water: Dry

Quercus macrocarpa Duration: Perennial Bur oak, Burr oak, Savannah oak, Overcup Habit: Tree oak, Prairie oak, Mossy­cup oak, Mossy­ Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade overcup oak, Blue oak Water: Wet, Moist, Dry

Quercus marilandica Duration: Perennial Blackjack oak, Barren oak, Black oak, Jack Habit: Tree oak Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Quercus virginiana Duration: Perennial Coastal live oak, Southern live oak, Virginia Habit: Tree live oak, Live oak, Encino Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Ratibida columnifera Duration: Perennial Mexican hat, Red­spike Mexican hat, Upright Habit: Herb prairie coneflower, Prairie coneflower, Long­ Light: Sun headed coneflower, Thimbleflower Water: Moist, Dry

Rudbeckia hirta var. angustifolia Duration: Annual Blackeyed Susan Habit: Herb Light: Water:

Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima Duration: Perennial Blackeyed Susan, Pinewoods coneflower Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Dry

Sabal mexicana Duration: Perennial Texas palm, Texas palmetto, Mexican palm, Habit: Tree Mexican palmetto, Rio Grande palmetto, Light: Sun, Part­shade Victoria palmetto, Palma de micharos, Water: Moist, Dry Apachite

Sabal minor Duration: Perennial Dwarf palmetto, Bush palmetto, Palmetto Habit: Shrub Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Salvia coccinea Duration: Annual, Perennial Scarlet Sage, Tropical Sage, Blood sage, Red Habit: Herb Sage, Indian Fire Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Salvia farinacea Duration: Perennial Mealy blue sage, Mealy sage, Mealycup sage Habit: Herb Light: Sun Water: Moist

Salvia greggii Duration: Perennial Autumn sage, Cherry sage, Gregg salvia Habit: Shrub Light: Sun Water: Dry

Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii Duration: Perennial Western soapberry, Soapberry, Wild china Habit: Tree tree, Wild chinaberry, Indian soap plant, Light: Sun, Part­shade Jaboncillo Water: Moist, Dry

Schaefferia cuneifolia Duration: Perennial Desert yaupon Habit: Tree Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium Duration: Perennial Little bluestem Habit: Grass/Grass­like Light: Water:

Sophora secundiflora Duration: Perennial Texas mountain laurel, Mountain laurel, Habit: Shrub, Tree Mescal bean, Mescal bean sophora, Frijolillo, Light: Sun, Part­shade Frijolito Water: Moist, Dry

Sophora tomentosa Duration: Perennial Yellow necklacepod, Yellow sophora, Habit: Shrub Necklace pod, Tambalisa Light: Part­shade Water: Dry

Sorghastrum nutans Duration: Perennial Indiangrass, Yellow indiangrass Habit: Grass/Grass­like Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist, Dry

Ulmus crassifolia Duration: Perennial Cedar elm, Fall elm, Basket elm, Scrub elm, Habit: Tree Lime elm, Texas elm, Southern rock elm, Olmo Light: Part­shade Water: Moist

Ungnadia speciosa Duration: Perennial Mexican buckeye, Monilla Habit: Tree Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Dry

Vernonia baldwinii Duration: Perennial Baldwin's ironweed, Western Ironweed, Habit: Herb Ironweed Light: Sun Water: Moist Wisteria frutescens Duration: Perennial American wisteria, Texas wisteria, Kentucky Habit: Vine wisteria Light: Sun, Shade, Part­shade Water: Moist

Yucca constricta Duration: Perennial Buckley yucca, Buckley's yucca Habit: Shrub Light: Sun Water: Dry

Yucca treculeana Duration: Perennial Spanish Dagger, Spanish Bayonet, Don Habit: Cactus/Succulent Quixote's Lance, Palma Pita, Palma de Datil, Light: Part­shade Palmito Water: Dry

Zizia aurea Duration: Perennial Golden zizia, Golden Alexanders Habit: Herb Light: Sun, Part­shade Water: Moist

Ziziphus obtusifolia var. obtusifolia Duration: Perennial Lotebush Habit: Tree Light: Water: