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

Sea Ox-eye Daisy

Borrichia frutescens

Herbaceous

2 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Flowers, Nectar, Seeds

Orange, Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Loam, Saline, Sand

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

Cane Bluestem

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Grass & Sedge

2 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Loam, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Small Mammals

Silver Bluestem

Bothriochloa laguroides

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low

Limestone, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies

Groovestem Bouchea

Bouchea linifolia

Herbaceous

2 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Purple

Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Erect Bouchetia,

Bouchetia anomala

Herbaceous

.50 –

.75 ft

.25 –

.50 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar

Pink, Purple, White

Low

Clay, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Butterflies

Sideoats Grama

Bouteloua curtipendula

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen, Seeds

Orange, Red, Yellow

Medium, High

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

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Moths

Buffalograss

Bouteloua dactyloides

Grass & Sedge

.25 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Seeds

Yellow

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Rich, Rocky, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies

Black Grama

Bouteloua eriopoda

Grass & Sedge

2 –

2.5 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Nesting Material

Yellow

Low

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

Birds, Browsers

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Seeds

Brown

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies

Hairy Grama

Bouteloua hirsuta

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

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

Brown

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Rocky, Sand, Shallow

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Slender Grama

Bouteloua repens

Grass & Sedge

0.5 –

2 ft

0.5 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Pollen, Seeds

Green

Low

Dry, Loam, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Texas Grama

Bouteloua rigidiseta

Grass & Sedge

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Seeds

Brown, Green, Yellow

Low

Clay, Dry, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Scarlet Bouvardia

Bouvardia ternifolia

Shrub

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Forage, Nectar

Red

Low

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

Browsers, Hummingbirds

False Boneset

Brickellia eupatorioides

Herbaceous

3 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Green, Pink, White, Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Limestone, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Butterflies, Moths

Woolly Butterfly Bush

Buddleja marrubiifolia

Shrub

4 –

6 ft

4 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar

Orange, Yellow

Low

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

Browsers, Butterflies

Rio Grande Butterfly Bush

Buddleja sessiliflora

Shrub

3 –

6 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Seeds

Green, Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Browsers, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

American Beautyberry

Callicarpa americana

Shrub

4 –

6 ft

4 –

6 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Forage, Nectar

Pink, White

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Winecup

Callirhoe involucrata

Herbaceous

0.75 –

1 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple, White

Medium

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

Bees, Butterflies

Tall Poppymallow

Callirhoe leiocarpa

Herbaceous

1 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple, Red

Low

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Nectar Insects

Woodland Poppymallow

Callirhoe papaver

Herbaceous

3 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Purple, Red

Low

Dry, Limestone, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Palmleaf Poppymallow

Callirhoe pedata

Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar

Pink, Purple, Red

Medium

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

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Horseherb

Calyptocarpus vialis

Groundcover, Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar

Yellow

Low, Medium

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

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Trumpet Creeper Vine

Campsis radicans

Vine

10 –

35 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Orange, Red, Yellow

Low

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

Bees, Hummingbirds, Moths

Chile Pequin

Capsicum annuum

Herbaceous

2 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Nectar

White

Low

Caliche, Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Nectar Insects

Creek Sedge

Carex blanda

Grass & Sedge

.75 –

2 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Low, Medium, High

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Short-beak Sedge

Carex brevior

Grass & Sedge

1 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Low, Medium

Dry, Rocky, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Grasshoppers, Small Mammals

Carolina sedge

Carex caroliniana

Grass & Sedge

1 –

1.4 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Green, White

Medium, High

Clay, Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Cherokee Sedge

Carex cherokeensis

Grass & Sedge

2 –

2.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Evergreen

Larval Host, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Medium

Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies, Moths

Ravensfoot Sedge

Carex crus-corvi

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nesting Material, Seeds

Green, White

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Rich, Saline, Sand, Wet

Aquatic Wildlife, Birds, Small Mammals

Slender Woodland Sedge

Carex digitalis

Grass & Sedge

.75 –

1 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Evergreen

Brown, Yellow

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Emory Sedge

Carex emoryi

Grass & Sedge

1 –

4 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Medium, High

Moist, Mud, Poor Drainage

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Thin Blue Sedge

Carex flaccosperma

Grass & Sedge

1 –

1.5 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Nectar, Seeds

Green

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals

Clustered Sedge

Carex glaucescens

Grass & Sedge

3 –

4 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Seeds

Brown

Medium, High

Loam, Moist, Rich

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Tissue Sedge

Carex hyalina

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Brown, Green, Yellow

Medium, High

Clay, Moist, Mud, Sand, Well Drained

Shoreline Sedge

Carex hyalinolepis

Grass & Sedge

1 –

4 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host

Green

Medium, High

Clay, Moist

Butterflies

Leavenworth’s Sedge

Carex leavenworthii

Grass & Sedge

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Evergreen

Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Medium

Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Sand Sedge

Carex perdentata

Grass & Sedge

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nesting Material, Seeds

Brown, Green, White

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Aquatic Wildlife, Birds, Browsers

Cedar Sedge

Carex planostachys

Grass & Sedge

.5 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Larval Host

Brown

Low

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

Butterflies, Caterpillars, Beetles, Grasshoppers

Texas Sedge

Carex texensis

Grass & Sedge

0.5 –

1 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Seeds

Brown, Green, Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

Smallflower Wrightwort

Carlowrightia parviflora

Subshrub

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam

Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Hornbeam

Carpinus caroliniana

Tree

20 –

30 ft

20 –

30 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Brown, Green, Red

Medium

Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Pecan

Carya illinoinensis

Tree

60 –

75 ft

40 –

75 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Nuts

Yellow

High

Deep, Moist

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Indian Paintbrush

Castilleja indivisa

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1.5 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar

Green, White

Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Prairie Paintbrush

Castilleja purpurea

Herbaceous

.5 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Gravelly, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Hummingbirds

Southern Catalpa

Catalpa bignonioides

Tree

40 –

60 ft

20 –

40 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

White

Low

Moist, Sand

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Redroot

Ceanothus herbaceus

Shrub

2 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue, White

Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer

Hackberry

Celtis laevigata

Tree

60 –

80 ft

20 –

30 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Larval Host, Seeds

Green

Low, Medium

Caliche, Clay, Loam, Rich, Rocky, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Spiny Hackberry

Celtis pallida

Shrub

10 –

20 ft

8 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Green, White, Yellow

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Rocky, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals

Netleaf Hackberry

Celtis reticulata

Tree

25 –

50 ft

25 –

50 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Fruit

White

Low

Dry, Limestone, Moist, Rocky, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Spurred Butterfly Pea

Centrosema virginianum

Vine

10 –

12 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Blue, Pink, Purple, White

Low, Medium

Dry, Loam, Sand

Birds, Browsers, 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