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.

Select Chapter: Select Class: Show:

Download Options

Select Export Fields:

Name

Growth Form

Height

Spread

Sun

Leaf Retention

Wildlife Interest

Seasonal Interest

Water Use

Soil Type

Wildlife Benefit

Elbowbush

Forestiera pubescens

Shrub

4 –

10 ft

4 –

10 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Berry, Fall Color, Flowers, Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Ocotillo

Fouquieria splendens

Shrub

6 –

20 ft

3 –

5 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Orange, Red

Low

Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Rocky, Sand

Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Wild Woodland Strawberries

Fragaria vesca

Herbaceous

.5 –

.75 ft

.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Berry

White

Medium, High

Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Small Mammals

White Ash

Fraxinus americana

Tree

60 –

80 ft

50 –

70 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

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

Purple, Yellow

High

Deep, Moist

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies, Small Mammals

Mexican Ash

Fraxinus berlandieriana

Tree

30 –

45 ft

20 –

30 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Forage, Larval Host, Nectar, Seeds

Purple

Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Rocky, Sand

Birds, Browsers, Butterflies

Green Ash

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Tree

50 –

75 ft

25 –

50 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Fruit, Nectar, Nesting Material

Brown, Green, Purple

Medium

Clay, Dry, Limestone, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Texas Ash

Fraxinus texensis

Tree

40 –

50 ft

40 –

50 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

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

Green, Purple, Red

Very Low, Low

Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Birds, Butterflies

Wavyleaf Twinevine

Funastrum crispum

Vine

.25 –

.5 ft

4 –

5 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Red

Low

Dry, Rocky

Fringed Twinevine

Funastrum cynanchoides

Vine

0.5 –

1 ft

5 –

6 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple, White

Low

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

Bees, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Lanceleaf Blanketflower

Gaillardia aestivalis

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Purple, White, Yellow

Medium

Dry, Loam, Moist, Rich, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Firewheel

Gaillardia pulchella

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Orange, Red, Yellow

Medium

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

Bees, Butterflies

Fragrant Gaillardia

Gaillardia suavis

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar

Orange, Red, Yellow

Medium

Calcareous, Caliche, Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Bees, Nectar Insects

Texas milkpea

Galactia texana

Vine

.5 –

1 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun

Pink, Violet

Low

Calcareous, Rocky

Narrowleaf Goldenshower

Galphimia angustifolia

Shrub

2 –

3 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Orange, Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Moist, Rocky

Mexican Silktassel

Garrya ovata

Shrub

6 –

12 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Fruit

Green

Low

Caliche, Dry, Limestone, Well Drained

Birds

Carolina Jessamine

Gelsemium sempervirens

Vine

15 –

20 ft

7 –

8 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Moths

White Avens

Geum canadense

Groundcover, Herbaceous

1 –

1.5 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

White

Medium

Calcareous, Clay, Dry, Loam, Moist, Sand

Butterflies

Prairie Verbena

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Purple

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Honey Locust

Gleditsia triacanthos

Tree

30 –

75 ft

30 –

50 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Fall Color, Forage, Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Deep, Dry, Loam, Well Drained

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

Rio Grande Globe Amaranth

Gomphrena haageana

Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Purple, Red

Low

Caliche, Clay, Dry

Birds, Butterflies

Gomphrena Weed

Gomphrena serrata

Herbaceous

.25 –

.5 ft

.25 –

.5 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Pink, Red, White

Low, Medium

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

Birds, Butterflies

Anglepod Milkvine

Gonolobus suberosus

Vine

5 –

10 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host

Brown, Green, Purple

Medium

Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Butterflies

Narrowleaf Gumweed

Grindelia lanceolata

Herbaceous, Subshrub

1 –

5 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Gravelly, Rocky, Sand, Shallow, Well Drained

Bees, Birds

Guayacan

Guaiacum angustifolium

Tree

8 –

10 ft

15 –

20 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Fruit, Larval Host, Nectar, Nesting Material, Pollen

Purple

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects, Small Mammals

Texas Snakeweed

Gutierrezia sarothrae

Herbaceous, Subshrub

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Kentucky Coffeetree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Tree

75 –

100 ft

40 –

50 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Fall Color, Larval Host

Green, White

Low

Clay, Deep, Loam, Moist, Rich, Sand

Moths

Two-wing Silverbell

Halesia diptera

Shrub, Tree

10 –

25 ft

10 –

15 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low

Loam, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Hummingbirds, Small Mammals

Tenaza

Havardia pallens

Tree

10 –

15 ft

10 –

15 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White

Low, Medium

Clay, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Nectar Insects

Drummond’s False Pennyroyal

Hedeoma drummondii

Herbaceous

.5 –

1 ft

.3 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

White, Purple

Low

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

Butterflies, Bees

Reverchon’s Pennyroyal

Hedeoma reverchonii

Herbaceous, Subshrub

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Nectar, Pollen

Purple

Low

Calcareous, Dry, Limestone, Rocky, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Hachinal

Heimia salicifolia

Shrub

2 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Caliche, Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bitter Sneezeweed

Helenium amarum

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

1 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

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

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Southern Sneezeweed

Helenium flexuosum

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Medium, High

Caliche, Clay, Moist

Bees, Butterflies

Smallhead Sneezeweed

Helenium microcephalum

Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

2 –

4 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low

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

Bees, Butterflies, Nectar Insects

Swamp Sunflower

Helianthus angustifolius

Herbaceous, Wetland

3 –

6 ft

0.5 –

1 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

High

Clay, Loam, Moist, Sand

Birds, Butterflies

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Herbaceous

1.5 –

10 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry, Sand

Bees, Birds

Sawtooth Sunﬂower

Helianthus grosseserratus

Herbaceous

3 –

15 ft

3 –

6 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Medium

Caliche, Dry, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Small Mammals

Hairy Sunflower

Helianthus hirsutus

Herbaceous

3 –

5 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Deciduous

Larval Host, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Clay, Dry

Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Moths, Nectar Insects

Maximilian Sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

Herbaceous

5 –

10 ft

2 –

4 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Forage, Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Browsers, Butterflies

Western Sunﬂower

Helianthus occidentalis

Herbaceous

2 –

5 ft

1.5 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Deep, Dry, Moist, Rich, Sand

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Willowleaf Sunflower

Helianthus salicifolius

Herbaceous

5 –

8 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Limestone, Rocky

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Barreta

Helietta parvifolia

Tree

12 –

13 ft

2 –

3 ft

Part Shade, Shade

Evergreen

Green, White

Low

Caliche, Gravelly, Loam, Rocky, Well Drained

Scorpion’s Tail

Heliotropium angiospermum

Groundcover, Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen, Seeds

White

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Seaside Heliotrope

Heliotropium curassavicum

Groundcover, Herbaceous

1 –

2 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

White

Low, Medium

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

Bees, Butterflies

Prairie Nymph

Herbertia lahue

Herbaceous

.10 –

.25 ft

.10 –

.25 ft

Part Shade

Deciduous

Nectar

Blue, Purple

Medium

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand

Bees

Red Yucca

Hesperaloe parviflora

Cactus & Succulent

2 –

4 ft

2 –

3 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Evergreen

Flowers, Fruit, Nectar, Pollen

Pink, Red

Very Low, Low

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

Deer, Hummingbirds, Moths

Arizona Cypress

Hesperocyparis arizonica

Tree

30 –

40 ft

15 –

25 ft

Sun

Evergreen

Nesting Material, Seeds

Brown

Low

Clay, Dry, Loam, Sand, Well Drained

Birds, Small Mammals

Hoary False Goldenaster

Heterotheca canescens

Herbaceous

0.5 –

1 ft

1 –

1.5 ft

Sun

Semi Evergreen

Nectar

Yellow

Low

Calcareous, Clay, Dry, Gravelly, Limestone, Sand

Butterflies

Camphorweed

Heterotheca subaxillaris

Herbaceous

1 –

3 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun

Deciduous

Nectar, Pollen

Yellow

Low, Medium

Dry, Moist, Sand, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies

Texas Star Hibiscus

Hibiscus coccineus

Herbaceous

6 –

8 ft

1 –

2 ft

Sun, Part Shade

Deciduous

Flowers, Nectar, Pollen

Red

High

Moist, Rich, Well Drained

Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds

[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