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

Buttonbush

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Shrub

6 –

12 ft

6 –

12 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, White

High

Clay, Loam, Moist

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Mexican Buttonbush

Cephalanthus salicifolius

Shrub, Tree

8 –

18 ft

4 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Coontail

Ceratophyllum demersum

Herbaceous, Wetland

1 –

12 ft

1 –

12 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage

Blue, Pink, Yellow

High

Calcareous, Moist

Aquatic Wildlife

Eastern Redbud

Cercis canadensis var. canadensis

Tree

15 –

25 ft

15 –

20 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

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

Pink, Red

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Hummingbirds, Moths, Nectar Insects

Mexican Redbud

Cercis canadensis var. mexicana

Tree

10 –

15 ft

10 –

15 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Purple

Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths

Texas Redbud

Cercis canadensis var. texensis

Tree

15 –

20 ft

10 –

15 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Purple

Low, Medium

Dry, Limestone, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Moths

Mountain Mahogany

Cercocarpus montanus

Shrub

8 –

20 ft

8 –

20 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, White

Low

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

Browsers, Butterflies, Deer, Moths

Partridge Pea

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Deep, Dry, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Deer

Edwards Plateau Five Eyes

Chamaesaracha edwardsiana

Herbaceous

.5 –

.75 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

White, Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Limestone, Sand, Well Drained

Texas Silverpuff

Chaptalia texana

Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Red, Yellow

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Shallow, Well Drained

Inland Sea Oats

Chasmanthium latifolium

Grass & Sedge

2 –

4 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Seeds

Green

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Slender Woodoats

Chasmanthium laxum

Grass & Sedge

2 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Green

Low, Medium

Dry, Moist, Well Drained

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies

Alabama Lipfern

Cheilanthes alabamensis

Ferns & Allies

2 –

5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

No Bloom

Low

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

Desert Willow

Chilopsis linearis

Tree

20 –

30 ft

15 –

25 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Purple, White

Low

Limestone, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Hummingbirds, Moths, Nectar Insects

David’s Milkberry

Chiococca alba

Shrub

5 –

6 ft

5 –

6 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Evergreen

Fruit, Nectar

White, Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Nectar Insects

Fringe Tree

Chionanthus virginicus

Tree

15 –

30 ft

10 –

20 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

White

Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Sand

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

Hooded Windmill Grass

Chloris cucullata

Grass & Sedge

1 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nesting Material, Seeds

Medium

Gravelly, Moist, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Ivyleaf Thoroughwort

Chromolaena ivifolia

Herbaceous, Subshrub

1 –

5 ft

1 –

5 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Blue, Purple, Red

Medium

Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Nectar Insects

Fragrant Mistflower

Chromolaena odorata

Subshrub

3 –

6 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Purple

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Poor Drainage, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Damianita

Chrysactinia mexicana

Shrub, Subshrub

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Very Low, Low

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Texas Thistle

Cirsium texanum

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Seeds

Blue, Purple

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Sorrelvine

Cissus trifoliata

Vine

1 –

30 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host

Green, Purple, White, Yellow

Low, Medium, High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Poor Drainage, Saline

Moths

Tamaulipan Fiddlewood

Citharexylum berlandieri

Shrub

6 –

18 ft

2 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Berry, Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Moths, Nectar Insects

Sawgrass

Cladium jamaicense

Grass & Sedge, Wetland

8 –

10 ft

2 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Forage, Nectar, Seeds

Green

Medium, High

Limestone, Moist, Saline

Aquatic Wildlife, Birds, Browsers, Moths, Small Mammals

Swamp Leatherflower

Clematis crispa

Vine

8 –

10 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Blue, Pink, Purple, White

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand, Wet

Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Texas Virgin’s Bower

Clematis drummondii

Vine

3 –

6 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Purple Leatherflower

Clematis pitcheri

Vine

8 –

10 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Purple

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Netleaf Leather Flower

Clematis reticulata

Vine

10 –

12 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds, Pollen, Larval Host

Green, Purple

Low

Sand, Gravelly, Well Drained, Dry

Birds, Small Mammals, Moths, Bees

Scarlet Leatherflower

Clematis texensis

Vine

8 –

10 ft

1 –

2 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Seeds

Red

Medium

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

Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Limestone Calamint

Clinopodium glabrum

Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Blue

Medium, High

Calcareous, Moist, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Butterflies

Carolina Snailseed

Cocculus carolinus

Vine

3 –

15 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Berry

Green

Low, Medium, High

Clay, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Rich, Rocky

Birds

Variable Leaf Snailseed

Cocculus diversifolius

Vine

1 –

30 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Fruit, Nectar

White, Yellow

Medium

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Texas Hog Plum

Colubrina texensis

Shrub

1 –

6 ft

1 –

6 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Nectar, Nesting Material

Green

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Dayflower

Commelina erecta

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Pollen, Seeds

Blue

Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Birds

Virginia Dayflower

Commelina virginica

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Seeds

Blue

Medium, High

Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Nectar Insects

Bluewood Condalia

Condalia hookeri

Shrub, Tree

12 –

36 ft

8 –

10 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Flowers, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material

Green

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Sand

Birds, Butterflies, Caterpillars, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Betonyleaf Mistflower

Conoclinium betonicifolium

Herbaceous

3 –

4 ft

3 –

4 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar

Blue

Medium

Clay, Moist, Sand

Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Blue Mistflower

Conoclinium coelestinum

Herbaceous

.75 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Blue

Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Gregg’s Mistflower

Conoclinium dissectum

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Blue, Purple

Medium

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

Bees, Browsers, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Anacahuita

Cordia boissieri

Shrub, Tree

12 –

15 ft

12 –

15 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

White, Yellow

Low

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

Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Golden Tickseed

Coreopsis basalis

Herbaceous

1 –

4 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Texas Tickseed

Coreopsis gladiata

Herbaceous

2 –

4 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium, High

Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Common Coreopsis

Coreopsis grandiflora

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

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

Bees, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Coreopsis lanceolata

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths

Plains Coreopsis

Coreopsis tinctoria

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Brown, Yellow

Medium

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Roughleaf Dogwood

Cornus drummondii

Tree

10 –

15 ft

10 –

16 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

White

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Flowering Dogwood

Cornus florida

Tree

15 –

25 ft

8 –

15 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar

Green, Pink, White, Yellow

Low

Deep, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Deer, Small Mammals

Curvepod

Corydalis curvisiliqua

Herbaceous

0.5 –

0.75 ft

6 –

16 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Seeds

Yellow

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Sand

Birds

American Smoketree

Cotinus obovatus

Tree

15 –

25 ft

15 –

25 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Forage, Nesting Material

Pink, Purple, Yellow

Low

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

Birds, Browsers

Texas Baby-bonnets

Coursetia axillaris

Shrub

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Larval Host, Nectar

Pink, White, Yellow

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Saline, Sand

Butterflies

[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