NLCP Plant Lists

Name

Growth Form

Height

Spread

Sun

Leaf Retention

Wildlife Interest

Seasonal Interest

Water Use

Soil Type

Wildlife Benefit

Prairie Goldenrod

Solidago nemoralis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

.5 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Yellow

Medium

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Caliche, Dry

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Moths, Bees

Stiff Goldenrod

Solidago rigida

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Yellow

Low, Medium, High

Sand, Calcareous, Moist, Dry

Beetles, Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Moths, Bees

Seaside Goldenrod

Solidago sempervirens

Herbaceous

2 –

8 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Yellow

Low, Medium

Sand, Loam, Well Drained, Moist, Saline

Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Moths, Bees

Necklacepod

Sophora tomentosa

Shrub

4 –

10 ft

4 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Seeds, Nectar

Yellow

Low

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Dry, Saline

Butterflies, Birds, Hummingbirds, Bees

Indiangrass

Sorghastrum nutans

Grass & Sedge

3 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Forage, Larval Host, Nesting Material

Yellow

Medium

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Smooth Cordgrass

Spartina alterniflora

Grass & Sedge

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Larval Host

Yellow

High

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Moths, Aquatic Wildlife

Narrowleaf Globemallow

Sphaeralcea angustifolia

Shrub

3 –

5 ft

3 –

5 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Orange

Low, Medium

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Nectar Insects, Bees

Scarlet Globemallow

Sphaeralcea coccinea

Shrub

1 –

1.5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Fruit, Forage, Pollen, Larval Host

Red, Orange

Low

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals, Bees

Gray Globemallow

Sphaeralcea incana

Herbaceous, Shrub

3 –

6 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Red, Pink, Orange

Low, Medium

Sand, Clay, Gravelly, Rocky, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Bees

Prairie Wedgescale

Sphenopholis obtusata

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Green

Medium

Clay, Moist

Butterflies

Indian Pink

Spigelia marilandica

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

0 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Red, Yellow, Green

Very Low, Low

Sand, Loam, Moist

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

Alkali Sacaton

Sporobolus airoides

Grass & Sedge

1 –

5 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material

Yellow

Low

Sand, Loam, Clay, Caliche, Moist, Dry, Saline

Bees

Tall Dropseed

Sporobolus compositus

Grass & Sedge

1 –

4 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Nesting Material

Yellow, Purple

Very Low, Low

Sand, Loam, Clay, Gravelly, Well Drained

Birds, Bees

Sand Dropseed

Sporobolus cryptandrus

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nesting Material

Yellow

Low

Sand, Dry

Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Pineywoods Dropseed

Sporobolus junceus

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Forage

Pink

Low

Sand, Loam, Well Drained

Browsers

Drummond’s Hedgenettle

Stachys drummondii

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Flowers

Pink, Purple

Low, Medium

Loam, Clay, Moist

Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Moths

Woolly Stemodia

Stemodia lanata

Groundcover, Herbaceous

0.5 –

0.75 ft

2 –

2 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

White, Purple

Low

Sand, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry, Saline

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects

Prairie Bluet

Stenaria nigricans

Herbaceous, Shrub

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

White, Blue, Purple

Medium

Sand, Gravelly, Rocky, Limestone, Calcareous, Moist, Dry

Butterflies

Eve’s Necklace

Styphnolobium affine

Tree

15 –

30 ft

10 –

20 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Nesting Material

White, Pink

Very Low, Low

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

Browsers, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Coralberry

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Shrub

4 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Nesting Material

White, Green

Low, Medium

Loam, Rocky, Well Drained, Moist

Browsers, Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Texas Aster

Symphyotrichum drummondii var. texanum

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

White, Blue, Purple

Low

Clay, Calcareous, Dry

Butterflies, Birds, Bees

Heath Aster

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

White, Pink, Yellow, Blue

Low, Medium

Sand, Clay, Well Drained, Dry

Butterflies, Moths, Bees

Lanceleaf Aster

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Herbaceous

4 –

6 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White, Pink, Blue, Violet

Medium, High

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Moist

Beetles, Butterflies, Moths, Bees

Calico Aster

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Herbaceous

4 –

5 ft

4 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Nectar, Pollen

White, Purple

Medium

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Moist

Butterflies, Bees

Fall Aster

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Shrub

1 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

Purple

Low

Sand, Rocky, Calcareous, Well Drained, Moist, Dry

Browsers, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Moths, Bees

Late Purple Aster

Symphyotrichum patens

Herbaceous

2 –

4 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Purple

Low, Medium

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

Butterflies, Bees

Willowleaf Aster

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Herbaceous

2 –

6 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Larval Host

White, Blue, Purple, Violet

Medium

Sand, Loam, Moist

Caterpillars, Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Deer, Moths, Bees

Barrens Silky Aster

Symphyotrichum pratense

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple

Low

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Bees

Small White Aster

Symphyotrichum racemosum

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White, Pink, Yellow

Low, Medium, High

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist, Dry

Butterflies, Bees

Tamauilipan Spring Mistflower

Tamaulipa azurea

Shrub, Vine

2 –

4 ft

5 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar

Blue, Purple

Low

Loam, Clay, Well Drained

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals, Nectar Insects

Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum

Tree

50 –

75 ft

20 –

45 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Seeds, Larval Host, Nesting Material

Purple

Medium, High

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

Birds, Small Mammals, Moths

Montezuma Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum

Tree

20 –

30 ft

3 –

9 ft

Sun, Shade

Evergreen

Seeds, Nesting Material

Brown

Medium, High

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist

Birds

Esperanza

Tecoma stans

Shrub

4 –

8 ft

3 –

5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Forage, Nectar, Larval Host

Orange, Yellow

Low, Medium

Loam, Clay, Limestone, Well Drained, Dry

Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals, Hummingbirds, Moths

Squarebud Daisy

Tetragonotheca texana

Herbaceous

3 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar

Yellow, Brown

Low

Sand, Rocky, Limestone, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Nectar Insects

Stemless Four-nerve Daisy

Tetraneuris acaulis

Herbaceous

.75 –

1 ft

.75 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

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

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects, Bees

Four-nerve Daisy

Tetraneuris scaposa

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar

Yellow, Green

Very Low, Low

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

Nectar Insects

American Germander

Teucrium canadense

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1.5 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar, Pollen

Pink

High

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Moist

Butterflies, Birds, Hummingbirds, Moths, Bees

Coast Germander

Teucrium cubense

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1.5 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White

Low

Sand, Dry

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Powdery Thalia

Thalia dealbata

Wetland

3 –

8 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host

White, Purple

High

Shallow, Poor Drainage, Moist, Mud, Saline

Butterflies

Greenthread

Thelesperma filifolium

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar, Larval Host

Yellow

Low

Sand, Gravelly, Dry

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects

Navajo Tea

Thelesperma simplicifolium

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar

Yellow

Low

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

Butterflies, Birds, Nectar Insects

Parralena

Thymophylla pentachaeta

Herbaceous

.5 –

.75 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Very Low, Low

Sand, Gravelly, Limestone, Calcareous, Well Drained, Dry

Butterflies, Moths, Bees

False Dayflower

Tinantia anomala

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Nectar

Purple

Low, Medium

Gravelly, Limestone, Calcareous, Rich, Moist

Birds, Small Mammals, Bees

Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

Vine

1 –

100 ft

2 –

4 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Nectar

Yellow, Green

Medium

Sand, Loam, Clay, Moist

Butterflies, Birds

Giant Spiderwort

Tradescantia gigantea

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

0 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

White, Pink, Blue, Purple, Violet

Medium

Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Rich, Moist

Butterflies, Deer, Bees

Hairyflower Spiderwort

Tradescantia hirsutiflora

Groundcover, Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Blue, Purple

Medium

Sand, Moist

Butterflies, Bees

Texas Spiderwort

Tradescantia humilis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Blue

Medium

Sand, Loam, Rocky, Rich, Saline

Nectar Insects, Bees

Prairie Spiderwort

Tradescantia occidentalis

Herbaceous

1.5 –

3 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Pollen

Pink, Blue, Purple

Low

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

Bees

Two-flowered Trichloris

Trichloris crinita

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nesting Material

White, Green

Low

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Calcareous, Well Drained

Browsers, Birds

False Pennyroyal

Trichostema brachiatum

Herbaceous

.75 –

2 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Pollen, Flowers

Pink, Blue, Purple

Low

Sand, Gravelly, Limestone, Calcareous, Shallow, Moist, Dry

Bees

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

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 fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason

About the Native Plant Society of Texas

Membership

News

Events

2024 Fall Symposium

CHapter Information

Chapters

Native Plant Information

Native Plant Database

Top Plant Searches

Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)

Monarch Conservation

2024 Fall Symposium

Additional Programs

Publications

Invasive Plants

Speakers Bureau

Landscaping

Reading and Reference

Native Plant Society of Texas

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

CHapter Information

Chapters

Native Plant Information

Native Plant Database

Top Plant Searches

Native Landscape Certification Program (NLCP)

Monarch Conservation

2024 Fall Symposium

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