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Native Plant Society of Texas

Pines and Prairies Chapter

Bloom Times for Host and Nectar Plants

Common NameScientific NameJFMAMJJASONDColorUseNotes
Antelopehorns Asclepias asperulaxxxxxxxxwhite-greenSHS, desert and sandy areas, host to monarch
Black-eyed Susan, use as cut flowerRudbeckia hirtaxxxxxyellowSHS, dry to moist well-drained soils, juglones tolerant, larval host Gorgone Checkerspot, Bordered Patch BF, high deer resist, 1-2’ x 1’
Bluebonnet (reseeding annual)Lupinus texensisxxxblueSHS, dry limestone-based, host to hairstreak and elfin butterflies, moderate deer resistance, 1’ x 1’
BonesetAgeratina havanensisxxxxxxxxxwhite, pinkSHS-PS, dry well-drained rocky limestone soils, drought tolerant, rocky hillsides and bluffs of southern half o the Hill Country; opposite leaves often persist through the winter; host to Rawson's metalmark, shrubby bush 2-6'
Butterfly weedAsclepias tuberosaxxxxxorangeSHFS, moist to dry well-drained soil, host to monarch, 1-2’ x 2’
CoreopsisCapsicum annumbright yellowSHHost to Am painted lady, Pearl crescent
FrogfruitPhyla nodifloraxxxxxxwhiteSHFS-PS, dry to moist, grows anywhere, semi-evergreen, host to Pharon crescent, 0-1’ groundcover
Gay featherLiatrisxxxxxxpurpleSHFS, well-drained soil, host to Am painted lady, Pearl crescent, 1-3’ x 1’
Green milkweedAsclepias viridisxxxxxxwhiteSHFS, dry limestone soil, host to monarch, 2’
Gulf MuhlyMuhlenbergia capillarisxpinkSHFS, moist sandy, 1-3’ x 2’ grass
HackberryCeltis laevigataSHFS-PS, well-drained, fast growing 40-60’ x 20-30’ fall color host to
HawthorneSHThorns do not plant in public space
Hercules ClubSHThorns do not plant in public space
Little BluestemSchizachyrium scopariumxxxxxxxSHS, dry well-drained sandy, bluish color in spring, reddish-tan in fall-winter, seeds of value to small birds in winter, larval host to Ottoe, Indian, Crossline, Dusted, Dixie Skipper, Cobweb butterfly, dense mounds 2-5’ x 2’
Nettlespurple, whiteSHStinging nettles do not plant in public space
Partridge peaChamaecrista fasciculataxxxxxxyellowSHhost to Cloudless, Sleepy orange, Little sulfer
Passion vinePassiflora incarnataxxxxxxpurpleSHFS-PS, well-drained, host to Gulf and Variegated fritillary, vine
Pawpaw, CommonAsimina trilobaSHFS-PS, poorly drained, moist-wet,1-30’ x 20’
Persimmon, CommonDiospyros virginianaSH
Persimmon, TexasDiospyros texanaSHHost to Gray hairstreak, Henry’s elfin
PipevineAristolochia tomentosaSHFS-PS, well-drained moist, ground cover, host to Pipevine swallowtail
Red MulberryMorus rubraSHWell-drained, summer fruit, host to 35-40’ x 15-20’
Redbud, EasternCercis canadensisSHFS-PS, well-drained, understory, host to Henry’s elfin, 10-30’ x 15-20’
Sumac, AromaticRhus aromaticafall colorSHFS-S, well-drained, 3’ x 2-3’
Sumac, FlameleafRhus lanceolatafall colorSHFS-PS, well-drained, host to Red-banded skipper, 10-25’ x 10-15’
Swamp milkweedAsclepias incarnataxxxxxpinkSHS-PS, moist to wet mucky clay, wetland, host to monarch, 2-4’
Violets (Missouri)SHhost to Variegated fritilary
Wax myrtleMorella ceriferaSHFS-PS, well-drained moist to wet, host to Red-banded hairstreak, evergreen, 6-12’ x 8-15’
Whorled MilkweedAsclepias verticillataxxxxxwhiteSHFS, prairies and open areas, host to monarch
Zizotes milkweedAsclepias oenotheroidesxxxxxxxSHFS, dry sandy or rocky soil, host to monarch, 2’
Black-eyed SusanRudbeckia fulgidaxxxxyellowSNFS-PS, well-drained, moist soils, 1-2’ x 1’
Blue MistflowerConoclinium coelestinumxxxxxblueSNPsh-S, moist sand, clay, 3’
Blue sageSalvia azureaxxxBlue-purpleSNFS-PS, dry limestone-based, well-drained,1.5-2.5’ x 2’
Cowpen DaisyVerbesina encelioidesxxxxxxyellowSNS, dry sandy soils, 3’
Fall AsterSymphyotrichum oblongifoliumxxxblueSNS-PS, dry, well-drained, rocky sandy soil, mounds, blue flowers, 1-2’
FrostweedVerbesina virginicaxxxxxxwhiteSN
Giant ConeflowerRudbeckia maximaxxxyellowSNS-PS, dry to moist sandy, silty soil, 3'-6’
Canadian (Tall) GoldenrodSolidago altissimaxxxyellowSNS-PS
Gregg’s MistflowerConoclinium greggiixxxxxxxxxblue-whiteSNFS-PS, dry gravelly calcareous, 1.5-2’
Indian BlanketflowerGaillardia pulchellaxxxxred-yellowSNS-PS, dry well-drained sandy, moderate deer resistance, 1-2’ x 2’
Kansas GayfeatherLiatris pycnostachyaxxxxxpurpleSNFS, well-drained sandy, rocky, 6’
Lemon BeebalmMonarda citriodoraxxxwhiteSNS-PS, dry well-drained sandy, high deer resistance, 2’
Maximilliam SunflowerHelianthus maximilianixxxxyellowSNFS-PS, well-drained, clay, sandy, 4-6’ x 3’
Mealy Blue SageSalvia farinaceaxxxxxxxblue-purpleSNFS-PS, well-drained, moist limestone, 2-3’ x 1-2’
Orange ZexmeniaWedelia hispida or texana?xxyellow-orangeSNFS-PS dry well-drained, 2’
Prairie SpiderwortTradescantia occidentalisxxpink, purpleSNS-PS, dry well-drained sandy, high deer resistance, to 2’
Prairie VerbenaGlandularia bipinnatifidaxxxxxxxxpurpleSNFS-PS, well-drained dry to moist, open grassy areas, high deer resistance, 0-1’
Purple ConeflowerEchinacea purpureaxxxxxxpurpleSNFS-PS, well-drained, 2’ x 1’
Rattlesnake MasterEryngium yuccifoliumxxxxxxwhiteSNSpiny leaves do not use in public places S, moist well-drained soils, 4-6’
RosinweedSilphium radulaxxxyellowSNFS, dry loam, 4’
Autumn SageSalvia greggixxxxxxxxxred, orange, pink, purple, whiteSNBlackland Prairie, FS-PS, well-drained rocky, nearly evergreen, high deer resistance2-4’ x 2-3’
Scarlet SageSalvia coccineaxxxxxxxxxxred-pinkSNFS-Sh, sandy or clay, 3-6’ x 1-2’
Texas LantanaLantana urticoidesxxxorange-yellowSNFS, well-drained sand, clay, 1-6’ x 2-3’
Texas Star HibiscusHibiscus coccineusxxxxxxxxxdark pinkSNSwamp, marshes, ditches, FS, wet soils 4-7’
White MistflowerAgeratina havanensisxxxxxxwhite-pinkSNEdwards Plateau, well-drained rocky, drought tolerant, 2-6’
YarrowAchillea millefoliumxxxxwhite-pinkSNFS-PS, dry, drought tolerant, to 3’ tall
Inland Sea OatsChasmanthium latifoliumxxxxxShHSh-PS moist sandy loam,clay, host to pepper & salt, Bell’s roadside, bronzed roadside skipper butterflies, high deer resistance, 3’
Am BeautyberryCallicarpa americanaxxxShNPS, moist rich soils, purple berries fall to winter, foliage is a favorite of white-tailed deer, 3-5’ to 9’
Blue MistflowerConoclinium coelestinumxxxxxShNPsh-S, moist sand, clay, 3’
Cedar SageSalvia roemeriaxxxxShNSh, dry well-drained soil, leaf mulch of Juniperus sp., crimson blooms, large leaves will block seedlings and new growth, needs dappled shade, not full sun, 1-2’
Cherokee SedgeCarex cherokeensisxxxShNPS, moist to wet well-drained sandy loam, evergreen, thrives in very moist situations, fine groundcover, high deer resistance, 12-18”
Fall Obedient PlantPhysostegia virginianaxxxxwhite, pink purpleShNS-PS-Sh, moist, but also drought tolerant sand, clay, limestone, 6’
Heartleaf SkullcapScutellaria ovataxxxShNS-Psh, evergreen, moist soil, colonizes vigorously by underground, fleshy roots, high deer resistance, 1-3’
Lyreleaf Sage, instead of ajugaSalvia lyrataxxxxShNSh-PS-S, evergreen, reseeds easily in loose sandy soil, can form solid cover w/ regular watering, mow, walk okay, tolerates periodic flooding, drought, over-watering 1-2’
PigeonberryRivina humilisxxxxxxxxShNPS, moist well-drained soil, 2” white, pink flower spikes, red to orange berries, attracts birds, mod deer resistance
Purple ConeflowerEchinacea purpuraxxxxxxpurpleSNS-PS, dry well-drained soil, can be aggressive, not deer resistant, 2-5’
Spearbract blue-eyed grassSisyrinchium sagittiferumxxShNPS, dry sandy, 8-12” in clumps on threadlike stems, narrow leaves 4-6” long
Turk’s CapMalvaviscus arboreus v. drummondiixxxxxxxShNSh-PS, dry to moist sand, clay, limestone, 2-3’ sometimes 9’
PussytoesAntennaria parliniixxwhiteSHS, dry soil, host to Am painted lady
Texas prairie parsleyPolytaenia texanaxxxyellow greenSHS, dry soil, host to Black swallowtail
Annual phloxPhlox drummondiixxxxwhite, red, pink, purpleSNS, sandy well-drained soil, 6-12" tall
Cusp blazing star (gay feather)Liatris mucronataxxxpurpleSNS, dry soil, up to 3' tall x 1.5' wide

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason