Native plants are always a good bet when landscaping your yard, especially in Texas, where summers are too hot and dry for many non-native plants. The following 26 Texas native plants are adapted to grow in local soils and withstand heat and drought, so you don’t have to worry about keeping your plants alive during a scorching summer in the Lone Star State.
Native flowering plants
Heat-resistant, drought-resistant Texas landscapes don’t have to be drab and monotone. Choose a few of these native annual and perennial flowers for a garden that’s colorful, diverse, and low-maintenance.
Blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
The eye-catching blue mistflower is a member of the aster family and is commonly found in coastal areas along roadsides and on ditch banks. It loves moist soil full of organic matter. When cultivated, the delicate bluish-purple fuzzy-looking flowers bloom in late summer and last until the first fall frost.
This fast-spreading wildflower can be aggressive and is often considered invasive, so you must be selective about where you put it in your Texas landscape. Mistflower self-seeds and spreads by rhizomes, so it quickly works its way under flowerbed borders. On the upside, it’s pretty deer-resistant.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Moist, fertile, well-draining soils
- Mature height: Approximately 2 feet
Where to buy blue mistflower seeds:
- Blue Mistflower Seeds Hardy Ageratum, Conoclinium Coelestinum
- Everwilde Farms – 2000 Mistflower Native Wildflower Seeds
Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa)
Despite its name, Missouri primrose doesn’t only grow in the Show Me State. Originating from the southern and central US, you can find it from Nebraska to Texas to Tennessee, often adorning rocky hillsides, roadsides, and limestone bluffs.
Missouri primrose is known for its showy flowers. Four-inch, four-petaled canary yellow flowers bloom May through August on handsome plants with a low-mounding habit. Blooms typically open in late afternoon or early evening—great for attracting pollinators like hawk moths—and only last until the following day.
It’s best to cover plants when temperatures are forecasted to drop below freezing, as a hard freeze damages the beautiful foliage. If your plants do get damaged, you can cut the leaves back to about three inches.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 7
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Rocky to sandy soil and sandy loam; well-drained and dry to medium moisture
- Mature height: 8 to 12 inches
Where to buy Missouri evening primrose seeds:
- Everwilde Farms – 400 Missouri Evening Primrose Native Wildflower Seeds
- Oenothera macrocarpa | Missouri Evening Primrose | 5 Seeds
Scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea)
Scarlet sage brings color to your landscape for most of the year as it erupts with splashy red flowers from February to October. Interesting fact—it’s the only US native sage with red blossoms, and hummingbirds and butterflies love it. Thankfully, it’s considered deer-resistant.
When growing scarlet sage, you must have well-drained, rocky, or loose soil for it to thrive, and unlike many other native plants, it needs regular watering for abundant flowers. To keep it looking bushy, trim or pinch the plant back every so often and deadhead spent blossoms.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 10 (varying hardiness)
- Life cycle: Annual, but usually reseeds easily
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade, shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Sandy, loam, clay loam, rocky, caliche type
- Mature height: 1-3 feet; 1 foot wide
Where to buy scarlet sage seeds:
- 400 SCARLET SAGE (Lady-In-Red Salvia / Blood Sage / Red Texas Sage) Salvia coccinea Flower Seeds
- Outsidepride Perennial Salvia coccinea Scarlet Sage Wild Flowers – 5000 Seeds
Texas lantana (Lantana urticoides)
Looking for a stunning beauty to bring in local butterflies? Look no further than Texas lantana. This deer-resistant, salt-tolerant perennial plant continuously puts out beautiful orange-yellow flowers from May to November, drawing in butterflies and other pollinators. In the fall, northern cardinals and other birds love to feast on the berries.
Once established, Texas lantana needs no additional watering, so it’s excellent for xeriscape landscapes or homeowners looking for low-maintenance plants. When left alone, it can become unruly, so if need be, prune it back in the winter.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Sand, clay, or thin
- Mature height: 2 to 6 feet tall; 2 to 4 feet wide
Where to buy Texas lantana seeds or live plants:
- Seeds: Lantana Urticoides Texas Lantana 5Pcs Flower Seeds by YEGAOL Garden
- Live plants: Native Gardeners—Lantana ‘Texas’
Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)
Turk’s cap is an excellent option if you’re trying to find beautiful plants that love part sun or partial shade. This shade-lover puts out stunning red blossoms from May to November that look like a turban or Turkish hat. You can also look for white cultivars if red isn’t your aesthetic.
Even though it loves the shade, Turk’s cap thrives in the Texas summer heat and will survive in sunny spots as long as it gets supplemental water. The hibiscus-like flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and the Turk’s cap white skipper butterfly uses this native plant as a host plant to lay eggs.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Prefers partial shade
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Soil: Clay, loam, sand, or limestone — moist and well-drained
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet tall; 2 to 3 feet wide
Where to buy Turk’s cap live plants:
- Giant Turks Cap, Red Sleeping Hibiscus, Malvaviscus drummondii
- Eco Blossom Nursery—Malvaviscus arboreus var. Drummondii (Turk’s cap)
Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)
Also known as purple poppy mallow, winecup grows wild in dry, rocky areas and loves Texas heat. This flowering perennial puts out vibrant magenta blooms along sprawling stems from March through June. Blossoms open in the morning, close at night, and stay closed once pollinated.
Winecup works well in hanging baskets where the long stems spill like waves over the edges or as an in-ground filler plant.
Plants grow best in well-drained soils, but they will tolerate clay. Once established, they are drought-tolerant and die back to the crown during winter, regrowing come spring.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 4 to 8
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, light shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Sandy, rocky, part loam, well-drained
- Mature height: 4 to 6 inches tall; up to 3 feet wide
Where to buy winecup seeds or live plants:
- Seeds: Outsidepride 100 Seeds Perennial Callirhoe Purple Poppy Mallow
- Live plants: Purple Poppy Mallow Plant (Callirhoe Involucrata)
Native ground covers
If you’re looking to border or fill in space in a flower bed, a ground cover plant is what you need. Ground covers can also be water-wise, low-maintenance alternatives to traditional turfgrass, and Texas native ground covers need even less water and supplemental care than non-natives.
Golden groundsel (Packera obovata)
For a splash of early spring color in your yard, look no further than golden grounsel. This native ground cover is filled with yellow, daisy-like blossoms from April to June. Once the blooms fade, golden groundsel continues to provide evergreen color with its heart-shaped, deep green leaves.
Golden groundsel spreads quickly via stolons to create a beautiful deer-resistant ground cover. It’s perfect for moist areas in your flower beds but will also tolerate drier soils.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial, full shade
- Water needs: Low to moderate
- Soil: Well-drained, moist, and rich in humus. Clay, loam, or limestone.
- Mature height: 1 to 3 feet tall
Where to buy golden groundsel seeds:
Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis)
Also called rosemary grass or straggler daisy, horseherb doesn’t need an introduction to most Texans. Some residents love it as a ground cover in shaded areas, while others consider it a nuisance plant impossible to eradicate. Regardless, horseherb flowers from March to November in northern areas and flowers year-round in areas without frost.
Horseherb plants are considered semi-evergreen, so they will lose their leaves in the colder climates of north Texas, those same places where the dainty yellow flowers don’t like the frost. A bonus is that when it gets a little out of hand, you can knock it back with the lawn mower.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Sandy or clay
- Mature height: 6 to 10 inches tall
Where to buy horseherb seeds and live plants:
Native vines
Vines make excellent landscaping decorations, climbing up the wall of your home, a trellis, or a pergola. As an added bonus, these Texas native vines bloom with bright, colorful flowers.
Alamo vine (Merremia dissecta)
A member of the morning glory family, the flowering alamo vine thrives in full sun to partial shade. It proliferates during the warmer months, producing white flowers with dark burgundy centers from May to October. When temperatures dip during the winter, it shows its deciduous roots and dies back to the ground.
Plants can be aggressive in the garden, so keep them away from anything you don’t want to be overtaken.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Sandy or clay
- Mature height: Up to 12 feet long/high
Where to buy Alamo vine live plants:
Carolina jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)
One of the most stunning southern vines, Carolina jessamine turns any arbor, retaining wall, or fence into a spectacle of fragrant, cascading yellow flowers. Its trumpet-shaped flowers are some of the earlier bloomers, appearing in late winter or early spring.
It also creates a fantastic privacy screen, as its foliage and flowers block wandering eyes from peering through chain-link fences or a trellis.
Be forewarned, though — all parts of the plant are poisonous and shouldn’t be consumed.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 10
- Life cycle: Evergreen perennial
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Water needs: Medium
- Soil: Clay, sand, loam, acidic, well-drained
- Mature height: 10 to 20 feet
Where to buy Carolina jessamine live plants:
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens)
The salmon-colored trumpet-shaped flowers on a coral honeysuckle, also known as a trumpet honeysuckle, appear on new growth from March to June. After this flush of blooms, you’ll see sporadic blossoms for the rest of the season. Come fall, red berries replace the flower clusters.
Coral honeysuckle isn’t overly aggressive, making it ideal for arbors and fences. It’s also a typical host to snowberry clearwing moths and spring azure butterflies.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 4 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Adapts to a variety of soils; prefers rich soils
- Mature height: 3 to 20 feet
Where to buy coral honeysuckle live plants:
- Trumpet Honeysuckle Coral Live Plant – Lonicera sempervirens – Wellspring Gardens
- Trumpet Honeysuckle – Lonicera sempervirens – Live Plant
Native grasses & sedges
Native grasses and sedges make great landscape borders, or you can plant them as a more low-maintenance and drought-tolerant alternative to traditional turfgrass types. Here are some of the best Texas native grasses and sedges to check out.
Cedar sedge (Carex planostachys)
Cedar sedge is a fantastic ground cover for shaded spots in your yard. When growing in the wild, you often find it underneath deciduous or cedar trees because it loves the rich soil created as leaves decompose. It thrives in partial shade but will grow—albeit slower—in full shade, too.
This native grass grows in clumps versus forming a sod-like ground cover, so it works well in rock gardens or around stepping stones. Cedar sedge has low water requirements, tolerates light foot traffic, and can be mowed occasionally to keep it short. If left alone, it only grows to about 6 inches tall.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Clay, loam, limestone, caliche. Must be well-drained.
- Mature height: 6 inches
Where to buy cedar sedge seeds or live plants:
- Cedar sedge isn’t currently available for purchase online. Check with local nurseries if you want to add this stunning grass to your landscaping.
Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Native to the prairies, Indiangrass grows naturally across north central Texas, the Edwards plateau, and the Great Plains. Blue-gray foliage turns gold in the fall and is topped with large, plume-like, golden-bronze seed heads.
It makes a beautiful accent plant when grown en masse or added to wildflower plantings. Indiangrass self-seeds prolifically, so it may not be well suited for smaller planting areas.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun or partial shade
- Water needs: Moderate
- Soil: Sand, clay, thin — must be well-drained
- Mature height: 2 to 4 feet tall; 2 to 4 feet wide
Where to buy Indiangrass seeds or live plants:
- Seeds: 250 INDIAN GRASS Sorghastrum Nutans Seeds
- Seeds and live plants: Prairie Nursery, Indiangrass seed
- Seeds: Roundstone Native Seed, Indiangrass
Gulf muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Undoubtedly, gulf muhly grass is a striking addition to your yard. As summer beds fade from the Texas heat, this swaying ornamental grass produces profusions of airy pink blooms. Plants bloom the heaviest in full sun, but they will tolerate light shade.
Plants are low-maintenance and incredibly tough. Gulf muhly grass tolerates drought and heat, grows in a range of pH levels, and doesn’t mind poor soils as long as they’re well-draining. It also has little to no pest or disease problems.
Plant gulf muhly along garden borders, lawns, and walkways for show-stopping color.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Low to medium
- Soil: Clay, sand, loam, rocky, well-drained
- Mature height: 1 to 3 feet
Where to buy gulf muhly seeds and live plants:
- Seeds: Outsidepride 50 Seeds Perennial Muhlenbergia Capillaris Pink Muhly
- Live plants: 4 in. Pot Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia) Pink Live Perennial Grass (1-Pack)
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Little bluestem is an ornamental prairie grass known for the characteristic blue hue on the base of its blades. The grass develops tall flowering stalks, and the foliage turns a radiant mahogany-red color with shining white tufts of seeds in the fall. This showy grass maintains its color through the winter, complementing almost any outdoor Texas space.
Like other native grasses, little bluestem is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plant. It withstands heat and dry conditions but doesn’t do well in clay soils or damp locations.
Some homeowners remove the seed heads to control self-seeding and prevent little bluestem from becoming aggressive. Cut it back to about six inches tall in the winter to promote spring growth.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Does well in most well-drained soil types
- Mature height: 3 to 4 feet
Where to buy little bluestem seeds and live plants:
- Seeds: Everwilde Farms – 1000 Little Bluestem Native Grass Seeds
- Live plants: Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium Scoparium) Prairie Blues
Native shrubs
Whether you’re looking for a showy specimen plant or a shaped hedge, there’s a Texas native shrub to suit your needs.
American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)
If you’re a fan of purple, the American beautyberry or French mulberry should go on your short list of native Texas plants to add to your yard. It’s a favorite of plant enthusiasts because of the show it puts on in the fall. From May to July, it’s adorned with pink and white flowers that give way to bunches of glossy, iridescent-purple fruit that hug the leaf axils.
American beautyberry is often found in the forest understory, shaded by larger plants such as yaupon holly and Turk’s cap. It is important to note that whitetail deer love the foliage. So, if you have problems with deer around your property, you’ll want to keep fencing around it if you’d like it to keep its leaves.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Partial shade or full shade
- Water needs: Low, but may lose leaves and berries during an extended drought
- Soil: Sandy or clay
- Mature height: 3 to 5 feet tall; 3 to 5 feet wide
Where to buy American beautyberry live plants and seeds:
- Live plants: American Beautyberry Bush – Pink Flowers and Purple to Red Berries
- Live plants: 4.5 in. qt. Pearl Glam Beautyberry Bush (Callicarpa) Live Shrub
- Seeds: 40 American PURPLE BEAUTYBERRY Shrub Flower Callicarpa Americana Seeds
Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Known as both aromatic and fragrant sumac, this low- or no-maintenance shrub offers year-round color with little upkeep. Early in the spring, the shrub is decorated with small, yellowish catkin-like flowers before the leaves open. The glossy blue-green leaves turn shades of yellow, orange, and red in the fall, complemented by dark red berries that persist through the winter. When the leaves are crushed, they emit a lemony scent.
Fragrant sumac is smaller than smooth and staghorn sumac plants and grows well in full sun to partial shade. It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and tolerates most soils as long as they’re well-draining.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 3 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, full shade, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Thin, sand, or clay
- Mature height: 2 to 3 feet tall; 3 to 4 feet wide
Where to buy fragrant sumac live plants and seeds:
- Live plants: Tristar Plants Fragrant Sumac
- Live plants: Cold Stream Farm, Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
- Seeds: Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac, Sweet Scented Sumac) Tree Seed
Flame acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii)
The native shrub flame acanthus is commonly referred to by its nicknames, Texas firecracker or hummingbird bush. The hardy, easy-to-grow plant is loaded with bright red-orange tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Like Wright’s purple skullcap, this variety was also named for botanist Charles Wright.
Flame acanthus is a medium-sized shrub that works as a shorter, dense hedge or a specimen plant. It even takes well to growing in containers as long as it gets full sun. As you get north of Dallas, the plant will die back to the ground if it drops before freezing. In colder but non-freezing temperatures, the leaves may brown. If that happens, cut the shrub back by up to half before the weather warms.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Very low
- Soil: Many soil types; well-drained soil is essential
- Mature height: 3 to 5 feet
Where to buy flame acanthus seeds and live plants:
- Seeds: Anisacanthus quadrifidus | Hummingbird | Flame Acanthus | 5 Seeds
- Live plants: Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Hummingbird Bush)
- Live plants: Shoal Creek Nursery, FLAME ACANTHUS (TEXAS FIRECRACKER PLANT)
Flameleaf sumac (Rhus lanceolata)
Flameleaf sumac gets its name from the fire-like display the native shrub puts on each fall when adorned with impressive, scarlet-red foliage. It’s also called prairie flameleaf or prairie leaf sumac. Even better is that this beauty is adored with beautiful white blossoms in the warmer months for year-round color. It’s also a haven for bees, birds, and small animals.
This native shrub typically grows in clusters or colonies in the wild, so note that it may put out suckers and pop up randomly in your landscape. It tolerates heat, cold, and drought and is relatively pest- and disease-free. Flameleaf sumac prefers calcareous, rocky soils but will grow in clays, loams, or sand as long as they’re well-draining.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 8
- Life cycle: Deciduous perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Very low
- Soil: Most soil types (loam, sand, and clay)
- Mature height: 12 to 15 feet
Where to buy flameleaf sumac live plants:
- Native Enhancements, Prairie Flameleaf Sumac – Rhus lanceolata 5 gallon
- Native Gardeners, Prairie Flameleaf Sumac
Pavonia (Pavonia lasiopetala)
Also called the rock rose or rose mallow, pavonia is in the same family as hibiscus and is an incredibly versatile plant. As its name suggests, the rock rose grows well in rocky, alkaline soils but tolerates sand, clay, and loam. Pavonia thrives in full sun to partial shade and needs very little water but appreciates a good drink once a week during hot, dry summer periods.
Rock rose is beloved by homeowners because of its deep pink blooms that last from late spring all the way through to fall. On the hottest summer days, the blooms close up by 3 or 4 pm but will stay open until sundown when temperatures are cooler. To keep it full of blooms, deadhead spent blossoms regularly—new growth will spring forth and bloom in their place.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 10
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Rocky, sand, clay, loam
- Mature height: 3 to 4 feet tall; 3 feet wide
Where to buy pavonia live plants:
Texas sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Texas sage is the official native shrub of the state and is often called barometer bush, cenizo, Texas silverleaf, and Texas ranger, among other nicknames. Texans love it because of its low maintenance needs and ability to withstand heat and drought.
This woody evergreen shrub thrives in full sun and will tolerate part shade if necessary. Texas sage takes two years to establish and mature but will then erupt in pink, purple, lavender, or white flowers after a rainstorm. Flowers last a week or two and then fall off. Don’t let this discourage you from adding it to your yard. Even without blossoms, the silver-grey-green leaves are beautiful.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 8 to 11
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Well-drained alkaline soil (or acidic soil with added dolomitic limestone)
- Mature height: 5 to 6 feet tall; 5 to 6 feet wide
Where to buy Texas sage live plants:
- Texas Sage – 3 Live Plants – Leucophyllum frutescens
- Premier Nursery, Texas sage
- Moon Valley Nurseries, Texas sage
Wright’s purple skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii)
Wright’s purple skullcap is also called shrubby skullcap or bushy skullcap and makes a great addition to Texas gardens. The native shrub is great for sustainable, low-maintenance yards, as it withstands drought and heat.
It’s part of the mint family, named after the notable botanist Charles Wright. Plants top out at about ten inches tall and are covered in small light-blue or violet blossoms from March through July. When left alone, this plant will spread to about 12 inches, but you can keep it compact by cutting it back to about half its size.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Well-drained sand and loam
- Mature height: 6 to 10 inches
Where to buy Wright’s purple skullcap live plants:
- Shrubby Skullcap “Purple”
- Native Enhancements, Shrubby Purple Skullcap – Scutellaria wrightii 1 gallon
- High Country Gardens, DARK VIOLET SKULLCAP (SCUTELLARIA)
Native trees
Texas native trees can add height and shade to your landscape, and they provide food and shelter for local wildlife.
Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia)
Cedar elm is found throughout North America and is becoming increasingly popular across Texas. This rugged, adaptable shade tree might not be particularly showy, but it withstands drought, poor soil conditions, and flooding. It doesn’t need much maintenance besides occasional pruning to keep it looking tidy. Once the temperature drops in the fall, the foliage turns a pretty golden shade.
Even though cedar elm endures extreme growing conditions, it is susceptible to aphids, elm beetle, powdery mildew, and Dutch elm disease.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 6 to 9
- Life cycle: Deciduous perennial
- Sun: Sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Very low
- Soil: Most soil types (clay, loam, sand); well-drained soils are essential
- Mature height: 50 to 75 feet
Where to buy cedar elm live plants:
Honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
If you’ve ever used mesquite wood to barbecue, you’re familiar with this native Texas tree. The honey mesquite tree is used for fences, furniture, and fuel. From April to August, the small to medium-sized flowering tree has tiny, fragrant, yellow-green flowers and then develops long yellowish-brown seed pods.
The honey mesquite is considered an important food source for wildlife, as it blooms even during periods of drought. It can become invasive when grown in open fields and pastures, but its excellent drought tolerance makes it a good shade tree for low-maintenance yards. You can let it grow in groves or pull up suckers to keep it from colonizing and spreading.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun – no exceptions
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Clay or sand
- Mature height: 25 to 40 feet tall; 30 to 35 feet wide
Where to buy honey mesquite live plants:
Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana)
You should consider the Mexican plum tree if you love plums and want a small-ish fruit tree to plant in your yard. This Texas native puts out fragrant white flowers in March, bringing beautiful purple plums in the fall. Like other Prunus trees, the beautiful blossoms are loved by bees, and when in full bloom, the trees hum with the flurry of pollinators.
These small trees only grow about 25 feet tall, so there’s little worry about getting tangled in overhead utility lines.
Planting Mexican plum away from decks, walkways, and paved surfaces is wise so the fruit doesn’t fall on heavy foot traffic areas. The trees are drought-tolerant and grow in many different soils, as long as they drain well.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 7 to 9
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Sun: Full sun, partial shade
- Water needs: Low
- Soil: Adapts to sandy, loam, clay, or limestone. Prefers well-drained soil.
- Mature height: 25 feet
Where to buy Mexican plum live plants:
- Native Nurseries, Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)
- EcoBlossom Nursery – Prunus Mexicana (Mexican Plum)
Shumard red oak (Quercus shumardii)
If you want a statement piece in your landscape, choose a Shumard red oak. The Shumard red oak is a favorite of homeowners in the Lone Star State and reaches a towering height of 80 to 120 feet. It’s easily recognizable by its deeply-lobed, 7-inch-long bristled leaves that change to a stunning shade of scarlet in autumn.
It grows naturally along streams and in rich bottomland soils, usually by itself or in small groups. It tolerates clay and sand as long as the soil is well-draining. The Shumard oak produces large acorns, serving delicious treats for hungry deer and squirrels.
Plant details and ideal growing conditions:
- USDA hardiness zones: 5 to 9
- Life cycle: Deciduous perennial
- Sun: Full sun
- Water needs: Medium
- Soil: Clay, sand, loam, well-drained
- Mature height: 80 to 120 feet
Where to buy Shumard red oak live plants:
- The Tree Place, Shumard Red Oak – Quercus shumardii
- Nativ Nurseries, Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii)
- Arbor Day Foundation, Shumard Oak
Choosing native plants for your city
We all know that Texas is a huge state with diverse climates, geographies, and soils. As a result, not all Texas native plants are native to all of Texas. You wouldn’t call yourself a Houston native if you grew up in Amarillo, would you? Plants feel the same way.
To find out which plants are native to your neck of the woods, check out our lists of city-specific native plants for landscaping:
- Best Native Plants for Austin
- Best Native Plants for Dallas
- Best Native Plants for Houston
- Best Native Plants for San Antonio
Texas native plant FAQs
What USDA hardiness zone is Texas in?
Texas is a large state and spans five different USDA hardiness zones from its northern to southern border. You would have to look online at the USDA hardiness zone map to determine if you’re in zone 6, 7, 8, 9a, or 9b.
Why are native plants important?
One of the main reasons native plants are essential to an area is that they have evolved alongside the local fauna and formed a symbiotic relationship with them. They provide habitat and food for pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies, and the pollinators help the plants by moving pollen from flower to flower.
They are also crucial in landscaping because of other benefits:
- Native plants are low maintenance because they’ve adapted to local climates and soils. They need less fertilizer, water, and pesticides. They also tend to have less severe disease problems.
- Native species help preserve the regional natural heritage and maintain ecological balance.
What kinds of plants thrive in Texas?
Texas is known for its heat and often experiences long stretches of dry weather. The best plants for your Texan landscape are those with excellent heat and drought tolerance. Native plants are great options since they thrive in high temperatures and when there is little rainfall.
Where to get help with your Texas landscaping
Whether you need help choosing native plants for your yard, designing a drought-tolerant landscape, or caring for what you’ve already planted, Lawn Love can connect you with the best landscaping and lawn care pros in Texas. We’ll put you in touch with pros who are licensed, insured, and eager to help make your landscape beautiful.
Main Photo Credit: Texas Discovery Gardens | Michael Barera | Wikimedia Commons | CC BY-SA 4.0
