NLCP Plant Lists

Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP) Plant Lists

Select the desired plant list from the filters below. The menus adapt to the classes that are currently available from the chapters. After you select a class you can download it with just the information you want.

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Name

Growth Form

Height

Spread

Sun

Leaf Retention

Wildlife Interest

Seasonal Interest

Water Use

Soil Type

Wildlife Benefit

Western Primrose

Oenothera hartwegii

Herbaceous

.25 –

.5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths

Trumpet Evening Primrose

Oenothera jamesii

Herbaceous

4 –

6 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Medium, High

Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Cutleaf Evening Primrose

Oenothera laciniata

Herbaceous

.5 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, White, Yellow

Low

Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Deer, Small Mammals

Butterfly Gaura

Oenothera lindheimeri

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

1 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths

Missouri Primrose

Oenothera macrocarpa

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths

Diamond Petal Primrose

Oenothera rhombipetala

Herbaceous

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Dry, Loam, Sand

Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths

Yellow Evening Primrose

Oenothera serrulata

Herbaceous

.75 –

2 ft

.5 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar

Yellow

Low

Sand, Loam, Rocky, Well Drained, Dry

Birds, Small Mammals, Hummingbirds

Spach’s Evening Primrose

Oenothera spachiana

Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Pollen

Yellow

Low, Medium

Sand, Well Drained

Bees

Pink Evening Primrose

Oenothera speciosa

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink

Low, Medium

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Beetles, Small Mammals

False Gromwell

Onosmodium bejariense var. bejariense

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Green, White

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Prickly Pear

Opuntia engelmannii

Cactus & Succulent

1 –

2 ft

2 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Orange, Red, Yellow

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Bees, Deer, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Blind Pricklypear

Opuntia rufida

Cactus & Succulent

4 –

5 ft

4 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Fruit, Pollen

Orange, Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds

Cinnamon Fern

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Ferns & Allies

2 –

3 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material

No Bloom

High

Moist, Mud, Poor Drainage

Birds

Drummond’s Woodsorrel

Oxalis drummondii

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

.5 –

.75 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Seeds

Pink, Purple

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Dry, Moist, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Nectar Insects

Golden Groundsel

Packera obovata

Herbaceous

0.25 –

1.25 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Small Palafox

Palafoxia callosa

Herbaceous

2 –

15 ft

0.25 –

0.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple, White

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Showy Palafoxia

Palafoxia hookeriana

Herbaceous

1 –

8 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Pink

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Rosy Palafox

Palafoxia rosea

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, White

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Texas Palafox

Palafoxia texana

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Purple

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Witchgrass

Panicum capillare

Grass & Sedge

3 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Seeds

Green

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Moths, Small Mammals

Warty Panicgrass

Panicum verrucosum

Grass & Sedge

1 –

5 ft

1 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Seeds

Brown, Green

High

Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Moths, Small Mammals

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Grass & Sedge

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nesting Material, Seeds

Brown, Green

Medium, High

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Poor Drainage, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Pink Pappusgrass

Pappophorum bicolor

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage

Brown, Green, Pink

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Browsers

Texas Paloverde

Parkinsonia texana

Tree

30 –

40 ft

12 –

20 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Seven-leaf Creeper

Parthenocissus heptaphylla

Vine

12 –

36 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Fruit, Nesting Material, Pollen

Green, Red

Low, Medium, High

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Well Drained

Bees, Birds

Virginia Creeper

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Vine

3 –

40 ft

5 –

10 ft

Sun, Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Larval Host

White

Low

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Moths

Western Wheatgrass

Pascopyrum smithii

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds

Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds

Florida Paspalum

Paspalum floridanum

Grass & Sedge

5 –

7 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

Brownseed Paspalum

Paspalum plicatulum

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3.5 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material, Seeds

Green

Low

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

Bracted Passionflower

Passiflora affinis

Vine

3 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, Yellow

Low

Dry, Limestone, Moist, Well Drained

Butterflies

Fetid Passionflower

Passiflora foetida

Vine

3 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, Purple, Yellow

Medium

Calcareous, Dry, Loam, Saline, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Purple Passionflower

Passiflora incarnata

Vine

10 –

25 ft

1 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material

Purple

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies

Yellow Passionflower

Passiflora lutea

Vine

10 –

15 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, Yellow

Low

Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Corkystem Passionflower

Passiflora suberosa

Vine

3 –

6 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar

Green, Yellow

Low, Medium

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Birdwing Passionflower

Passiflora tenuiloba

Vine

3 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green

Low

Caliche, Dry, Limestone

Birds, Butterflies

Rock Rose

Pavonia lasiopetala

Shrub

3 –

4 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

Pink

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Hummingbirds, Moths

Limoncillo

Pectis angustifolia

Herbaceous

.5 –

.75 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Red, Yellow

Low

Caliche, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Wood Fern

Pelazoneuron kunthii

Ferns & Allies

2 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Fall Color

No Bloom

Medium

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand, Wet

Purple Cliffbrake Fern

Pellaea atropurpurea

Ferns & Allies

.75 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Nesting Material

No Bloom

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Rocky

Birds

Pink Plains Penstemon

Penstemon ambiguus

Herbaceous

1 –

4 ft

1 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low

Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Rock Penstemon

Penstemon baccharifolius

Shrub

1 –

1.5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Nectar

Red

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Deer, Hummingbirds

Buckley’s Penstemon

Penstemon buckleyi

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Purple

Medium

Deep, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Hummingbirds

Wild Foxglove

Penstemon cobaea

Herbaceous

1.5 –

2.5 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Sand

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths

Smooth White Penstemon

Penstemon digitalis

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

White

Low, Medium, High

Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Bees, Hummingbirds

White Penstemon

Penstemon guadalupensis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Pollen

Pink, White

Low

Calcareous, Clay, Gravelly, Loam, Sand

Bees

Big Bend Penstemon

Penstemon havardii

Herbaceous

3 –

5 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Red

Low

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Hummingbirds

Nodding Beardtongue

Penstemon laxiflorus

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low

Dry, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Cupleaf Penstemon

Penstemon murrayanus

Herbaceous

0.25 –

0.5 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Red

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Gulf Coast Penstemon

Penstemon tenuis

Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Purple

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Hill Country Penstemon

Penstemon triflorus

Herbaceous

1.5 –

2.5 ft

0.5 –

1.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Red

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

[elg_csv_export grid_id="my-loop-grid"]

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason

About the Native Plant Society of Texas

Membership

News

Events

2024 Fall Symposium

2026 Spring Symposium

CHapter Information

Chapters

Native Plant Information

Native Plant Database

Top Plant Searches

Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)

Monarch Conservation

Additional Programs

Publications

Invasive Plants

Speakers Bureau

Landscaping

Reading and Reference

Native Plant Society of Texas

NLCP Plant Lists

Level 1 List

Level 2 List

Level 3 List

Birds List

Name

Growth Form

Height

Spread

Sun

Leaf Retention

Wildlife Interest

Seasonal Interest

Water Use

Soil Type

Wildlife Benefit

About the Native Plant Society of Texas

Membership

News

Events

2024 Fall Symposium

2026 Spring Symposium

CHapter Information

Chapters

Native Plant Information

Native Plant Database

Top Plant Searches

Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)

Monarch Conservation

Additional Programs

Publications

Invasive Plants

Speakers Bureau

Landscaping

Reading and Reference

NLCP Plant Lists

Level 1 List

Level 2 List

Level 3 List

Birds List

Name

Growth Form

Height

Spread

Sun

Leaf Retention

Wildlife Interest

Seasonal Interest

Water Use

Soil Type

Wildlife Benefit

About the Region