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Native Plant Society of Texas

Collin County Chapter

A Valentine’s Tribute to Native Texas Plants

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus); Photo courtesy of Wildflower Center and Bruce Leander
Tim Castelli

Valentine’s Day is coming soon, a time to show our love and appreciation to those we care about most. Those of us in NPSOT have an abiding love and affection for our native plants of Texas. In that realm, let’s reflect on some native Texas plants and their connection to Valentine’s Day, love, and romance.

Love and beauty are in our native plants, such as the Purple Lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis), whose scientific name means “love grass spectacular”, for its beautiful soft and hazy purple seed heads. Another native North Texas plant that hopefully is not found in your landscape, is the fascinating but parasitic Love Dodder (Cuscuta gronovii). A Dodder is a plant that preys on other plants. For more on the plant, including its role in romantic traditions, Steven Schwartzman has a fascinating article on the NPSOT website.

Valentine’s Day History

The heart symbol, so prevalent on Valentine’s Day, goes back to Aristotle and is globally used to represent romantic love and fondness. Emotions from the heart are expressed in the bygone name of “Bleeding Hearts” for Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), plus in the name of a hardy native North Texas perennial, Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata).

Red and its historical ties to blood have represented love, beauty, fertility, and courage as far back as the Paleolithic age. For beautiful, red-flowered native plants in addition to the Turks Cap, the brilliance of the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is hard to top. Annual Phlox (Phlox drummondii) and Standing Cypress (Ipomopsis rubra) are other red beauties that would warm any loved one’s heart.

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis); Photo courtesy of Wildflower Center and Doug Sherman

Giving your special someone flowers on Valentine’s Day is the most traditional of gifts. Interestingly, this practice blossomed in Victorian times, but it goes back to even earlier times, starting in ancient Persia. When being demure was essential, a system called floriography was utilized as a language of flowers. Flowers functioned as the means of communication with individual plants and flower colors conveying specific feelings or other meanings.

Red Roses were as popular then as now and indicated love, desire, and devotion. Closer to our native Texas prairies, Native Americans saw wild roses as a symbol of life. They were often attached to infants’ cribs to bring vitality. Wild and prairie roses were also depicted in beads and quillwork to represent survival. Some of our native roses include:

Lastly, the Native Americans utilized plants for medicinal and romantic treatments. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) was used as a powerful love medicine. It was thought to possess seductive powers to help in attracting potential suitors.

Wishing you a Valentine’s Day filled with love, and a growing appreciation for native Texas plants.

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

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 four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason