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

Flame Acanthus

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

Shrub

3 –

5 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar

Orange, Red

Low

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

Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Texas Madeiravine

Anredera vesicaria

Herbaceous, Vine

3 –

25 ft

.5 –

.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Green, White

Low

Clay, Loam, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Lazy Daisy

Aphanostephus skirrhobasis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Purple, White

Very Low, Low

Caliche, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Wild Red Columbine

Aquilegia canadensis

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Red, Yellow

Low, Medium

Calcareous, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths

Hinckley’s Golden Columbine

Aquilegia hinckleyana

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar

Yellow

Medium

Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Texas Madrone

Arbutus xalapensis

Tree

20 –

30 ft

20 –

30 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Fruit, Nectar

White

Medium, High

Caliche, Limestone, Moist, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

White Prickly Poppy

Argemone albiflora

Herbaceous

3 –

6 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White

Low, Medium

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Bees, Beetles, Nectar Insects

Purple Threeawn

Aristida purpurea

Grass & Sedge

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Seeds, Nectar, Larval Host, Nesting Material

Purple

Low

Sand, Rocky, Dry

Butterflies, Birds

Cory’s Dutchman’s-pipe

Aristolochia coryi

Vine

.5 –

2 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Brown, Green, Purple, Yellow

Low, Medium

Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Swanflower

Aristolochia erecta

Herbaceous, Vine

.5 –

.75 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host

Brown, Purple

Low, Medium

Sand, Silt

Butterflies, Caterpillars

Virginia Dutchman’s Pipe

Aristolochia serpentaria

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar

Purple, Yellow

Medium

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

Butterflies

Woolly Dutchman’s Pipe

Aristolochia tomentosa

Vine

20 –

30 ft

5 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host

Green, Purple, Yellow

Medium

Loam, Moist, Sand

Butterflies, Caterpillars

Indian Plantain

Arnoglossum plantagineum

Herbaceous

1 –

5 ft

1.5 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar

White

Medium, High

Loam, Moist, Rich

Bees, Butterflies, Beetles, Moths, Nectar Insects

Sand Sagebrush

Artemisia filifolia

Subshrub

3 –

6 ft

3 –

6 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Yellow

Low

Dry, Sand

Bees, Birds

White Sage

Artemisia ludoviciana

Subshrub

1.5 –

3 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Nesting Material, Seeds

Red, Yellow

Very Low, Low

Calcareous, Dry, Sand

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Small Mammals

Antelope Horn Milkweed

Asclepias asperula

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar

Green, White

Medium

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

Bees, Butterflies

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Herbaceous, Wetland

2 –

5 ft

2 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple

High

Clay, Moist, Mud, Rich

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Slim Milkweed

Asclepias linearis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, White

Low

Dry, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Zizotes Milkweed

Asclepias oenotheroides

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

Aquatic Milkweed

Asclepias perennis

Herbaceous, Wetland

1.5 –

2 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Medium

Loam, Moist, Mud, Rich, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Herbaceous

1.5 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, Pink, Purple

Medium

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

Bees, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Texas Milkweed

Asclepias texana

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar

White

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

Butterfly Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Orange

Low

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

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Whorled Milkweed

Asclepias verticillata

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, White

Low

Clay, Dry, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

Green Milkweed

Asclepias viridis

Herbaceous

1.5 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, Purple, White, Yellow

Low

Dry, Limestone

Bees, Butterflies, Moths

Pawpaw

Asimina triloba

Tree

10 –

40 ft

10 –

40 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Fruit, Larval Host

Purple, Red

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Groundplum Milkvetch

Astragalus crassicarpus

Groundcover, Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host

Blue, Purple, White

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand, Shallow, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Four-wing Saltbush

Atriplex canescens

Shrub

3 –

8 ft

2 –

4 ft

Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

Calcareous, Caliche, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Loam, Saline, Sand, Well Drained

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

Poverty Weed

Baccharis neglecta

Shrub

6 –

8 ft

4 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low

Dry, Loam, Sand

Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Blue Waterhyssop

Bacopa caroliniana

Herbaceous, Wetland

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Blue

High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Mud, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Moths

Water Hyssop

Bacopa monnieri

Herbaceous, Wetland

0.5 –

1 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue, Pink, White

High

Moist, Mud, Sand, Wet

Butterflies

Desert Marigold

Baileya multiradiata

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Wild Blue Indigo

Baptisia australis

Herbaceous

1 –

5 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue

Medium

Gravelly, Limestone, Moist, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Blue Wild Indigo

Baptisia australis var. minor

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue

Very Low, Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds

Yellow Wild Indigo

Baptisia sphaerocarpa

Herbaceous

3 –

4 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Butterflies, Bees

Anacacho Orchid Tree

Bauhinia lunarioides

Tree

6 –

12 ft

6 –

12 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low

Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects

Texas Barberry

Berberis swaseyi

Shrub

3 –

6 ft

4 –

6 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Fruit

Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Limestone, Rocky

Birds, Small Mammals

Agarita

Berberis trifoliolata

Shrub

3 –

6 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Berry, Nectar, Nesting Material

Yellow

Very Low, Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Rattan Vine

Berchemia scandens

Vine

20 –

60 ft

6 –

12 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Green

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Greeneyes

Berlandiera betonicifolia

Herbaceous

1 –

4 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Chocolate Daisy

Berlandiera lyrata

Herbaceous

2 –

4 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar

Yellow

Low

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

Browsers, Hummingbirds

Soft Green Eyes

Berlandiera pumila

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

0.5 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low

Dry, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Mouse’s Eye

Bernardia myricifolia

Shrub

3 –

8 ft

3 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Very Low, Low

Clay, Limestone, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

River Birch

Betula nigra

Tree

30 –

50 ft

20 –

30 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Seeds

Brown, Green

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand, Silt

Birds, Browsers, Small Mammals

Bearded Beggarticks

Bidens aristosa

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Smooth Beggarticks

Bidens laevis

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

High

Clay, Moist, Rich, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Bearded Beggarticks

Bidens polylepis

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

High

Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Crossvine

Bignonia capreolata

Vine

60 –

70 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Nectar, Pollen

Red, Yellow

Low, Medium

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Hummingbirds

Smallspike False Nettle

Boehmeria cylindrica

Herbaceous

4 –

5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host

Brown, Green

Medium

Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand, Well Drained

Butterflies, Caterpillars

Doll’s Daisy

Boltonia diffusa

Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

.25 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Purple, White, Yellow

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

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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