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

Wafer Ash

Ptelea trifoliata

Tree

10 –

20 ft

10 –

20 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Green, White

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Whiteleaf Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum albescens

Herbaceous

1 –

4 ft

1 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Pollen

Purple, White

Medium, High

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Bees

Blunt Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum muticum

Herbaceous

2 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Blue, Pink, Purple, Red, White

Medium

Moist, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Narrowleaf Mountain Mint

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Blue, Purple, White

Medium

Dry, Moist, Rich, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Beetles, Deer, Moths, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

White Oak

Quercus alba

Tree

80 –

100 ft

60 –

80 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar, Nuts

Brown, Green, Red, Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Texas Red Oak

Quercus buckleyi

Tree

40 –

50 ft

50 –

60 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Nesting Material, Nuts

Green, Red, White

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Birds, Small Mammals

White Shin Oak

Quercus durandii var. breviloba

Shrub, Tree

3 –

12 ft

3 –

12 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Nesting Material, Nuts

Red

Low

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Emory Oak

Quercus emoryi

Tree

30 –

40 ft

30 –

40 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Nuts

Yellow

Low, Medium

Deep, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Moths, Small Mammals

Southern Red Oak

Quercus falcata

Tree

70 –

80 ft

40 –

50 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nuts, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Escarpment Live Oak

Quercus fusiformis

Tree

20 –

60 ft

10 –

40 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Larval Host, Nesting Material, Nuts

Yellow

Very Low, Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Shallow

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Gray Oak

Quercus grisea

Tree

40 –

50 ft

30 –

40 ft

Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Nuts

Brown, White

Low

Dry, Limestone, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Small Mammals

Havard Oak

Quercus havardii

Shrub

3 –

5 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material, Nuts

Green

Low

Dry, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

Lacey Oak

Quercus laceyi

Tree

20 –

50 ft

20 –

25 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Nuts

Yellow

Very Low, Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Shallow

Birds, Deer, Small Mammals

Laurel Oak

Quercus laurifolia

Tree

40 –

80 ft

30 –

40 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Nuts

Yellow

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Caterpillars, Small Mammals

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Tree

60 –

80 ft

30 –

50 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nuts

Brown, Green, Yellow

Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Deep, Dry, Limestone, Moist

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Blackjack Oak

Quercus marilandica

Tree

14 –

45 ft

14 –

45 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Nuts

Green, Red, White

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Swamp Chestnut Oak

Quercus michauxii

Tree

48 –

100 ft

15 –

40 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nesting Material, Nuts

Yellow

Medium

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

Birds, Caterpillars, Deer, Small Mammals

Mohr’s Oak

Quercus mohriana

Shrub, Tree

15 –

20 ft

15 –

20 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nesting Material, Nuts

Red

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Limestone, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

Chinkapin Oak

Quercus muehlenbergii

Tree

45 –

110 ft

50 –

70 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar, Nuts

Brown, Green, Yellow

Medium

Calcareous, Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Small Mammals

Water Oak

Quercus nigra

Tree

80 –

100 ft

50 –

60 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nesting Material, Nuts, Pollen

Yellow

High

Clay, Deep, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Willow Oak

Quercus phellos

Tree

30 –

60 ft

40 –

60 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nuts

Yellow

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Monterrey Oak

Quercus polymorpha

Tree

70 –

80 ft

50 –

60 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nuts

Green

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Poor Drainage, Rocky, Sand

Birds, Deer, Small Mammals

Shumard Oak

Quercus shumardii

Tree

30 –

120 ft

50 –

60 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nuts

Green, White

Medium

Caliche, Clay, Deep, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Post Oak

Quercus stellata

Tree

40 –

50 ft

30 –

40 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Nuts, Pollen

Brown, Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Live Oak

Quercus virginiana

Tree

40 –

50 ft

60 –

100 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nuts

Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Poor Drainage, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Purple Groundcherry

Quincula lobata

Groundcover, Herbaceous

.25 –

.5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Pollen

Blue, Purple, White

Low

Dry, Granitic, Gravelly, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Small Mammals

Crucillo

Randia obcordata

Shrub

3 –

6 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Clay, Loam, Rich, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Bristly Buttercup

Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus

Herbaceous, Wetland

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Medium, High

Moist, Mud, Poor Drainage

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Big Buttercup

Ranunculus macranthus

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar

Yellow

Medium, High

Loam, Moist, Sand

Nectar Insects

Mexican Hat

Ratibida columnifera

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Nectar Insects

Naked Mexican Hat

Ratibida peduncularis

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low

Clay, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Moths

Camphor Daisy

Rayjacksonia phyllocephala

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

Moist, Saline, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Carolina Buckthorn

Rhamnus caroliniana

Tree

12 –

15 ft

8 –

12 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Forage, Larval Host, Nectar

Green, White, Yellow

Low

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

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Aromatic Sumac

Rhus aromatica

Shrub

6 –

12 ft

4 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar

Yellow

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Rocky

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Flameleaf Sumac

Rhus copallinum var. lanceolata

Tree

12 –

20 ft

10 –

15 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar

Green, White, Yellow

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

Shrub

3 –

10 ft

3 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen

Brown, Green, White, Yellow

Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Little Leaf Sumac

Rhus microphylla

Shrub

4 –

8 ft

8 –

20 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Fruit

Green, Pink, White

Low

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Small Mammals

Evergreen Sumac

Rhus virens

Shrub

8 –

10 ft

6 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen

White

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Whitetop Sedge

Rhynchospora colorata

Grass & Sedge, Wetland

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Medium, High

Brackish, Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Showy Whitetop

Rhynchospora nivea

Grass & Sedge

1 –

1.5 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

White

Medium

Calcareous, Moist, Well Drained

Pigeonberry

Rivina humilis

Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low, Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Prairie Rose

Rosa arkansana

Subshrub

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Flowers, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Pink

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Carolina Rose

Rosa carolina

Shrub

1 –

6 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink

Low

Dry, Moist, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths

White Prairie Rose

Rosa foliolosa

Subshrub

.5 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Climbing Prairie Rose

Rosa setigera

Shrub

9 –

14 ft

4 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Southern Dewberry

Rubus trivialis

Groundcover, Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

White

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Beetles, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Clasping Coneflower

Rudbeckia amplexicaulis

Herbaceous

2 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

High

Calcareous, Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Perennial Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

Herbaceous

2 –

4 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Pollen, Seeds

Orange, Yellow

Medium

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Birds

Rough Coneflower

Rudbeckia grandiflora

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Red, Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Beetles, Deer

Black-eyed Susan

Rudbeckia hirta

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Yellow

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

[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