Last Updated on March 4, 2024
The second largest state in the USA houses almost everything colossal, including this list of luscious green botanicals native to it.
Texas is a large state with various soil types and average temperature values, making it a habitable haven for evergreen plants.
Due to the diversity of climates, Texas has unique and entrancing plant varieties to offer. If you’d visit a local nursery in Texas, you’d be amazed at the variety of plants they’d have in stock for you!
Most native plants are tolerant to stress conditions, including drought, making them consumer-friendly plants.
Amongst a large plethora of plants, the ones that would naturally attract pollinating insects make the most eco-friendly choices.
Most plants native to Texas are low maintenance, have been bred responsibly, and are light on the pocket when it comes to purchases.
From small live oak to carrots, peaches, white bushes, and cacti, Texas’ fertile soil is ideal for growing perennial bush grasses, hardy vegetables, and some of the most exotic, sultry floral species in the world.
These Texan natives will surely change the dynamics of your southern lawns.
Texas Landscapes
Texas is one hell of a big state in the south-central region of the United States. It’s the second-largest state in the United States, both by area and population.
All wildflowers, shrubs, trees, ornamental succulents, and vines native to texas are categorized under five major divisions of the southern landscape, i.e., Central Texas, North Texas, South Texas, East Texas, and West Texas.
Native Botanical Species of Central Texas
San Marcos roughly borders the southern part of the United States central region surrounding Austin to Hillsboro and San Saibaba to Bryan.
In winter, the lowest average temperatures in this area drop down to 15-20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer, the area in central Texas remains warm but partly cloudy year-round.
The native botanical species of central Texas are typically heat tolerant and thrive in warm summer conditions.
Ungnadia speciosa
Unganadia speciosa, commonly known as the Mexican buckeye, will grow into a 30 feet tall tree or an 8 feet tall bushy shrub depending upon how you prune its shape.
This southern botanical has multi-trunk brown or greyish bark, which bears alluring bright pink flowers. The Mexican buckeye grows best under partial shade in full sun and dry, rocky soils. This deciduous botanical attracts honey bees and butterflies with its nectar-filled garnets.
Hesperaloe parviflora
The Hesperalo Parviflora is also commonly known as a red yucca, which is a misnomer. This perennial succulent is not exactly a yucca but is named so because of its blade-like leaves (which resemble a true yucca botanical).
It grows up to 5 feet in height and bears bright red, tubular, coral-hued florets during early summers and late spring seasons, which attracts hummingbirds.
This plant demands full sunlight exposure and can grow well in dry sandy, clay, loamy, or limestone soils, which makes this exotic floral species a low-maintenance wildflower.
You can remove old leggy stalks of this succulent after the blooming season so it’s pruned to perfection.
Ilex vomitoria
The Yaupon holly is an evergreen botanical that can be pruned to a desired size and shape. Pruning determines whether it’ll become a 25 feet tall tree or grow as a 12 feet tall shrub.
This botanical is exquisite, with a chocolate-brown bark, lush green foliage, and bright red berries (which present as a delicacy for the local bird species).
Ilex Vomitoria can grow in full sun, partial shade, or even in full shade in almost all soil types. This makes it one of the most convenient species you can plant in your garden.
Native Botanical Species of South Texas
Including San Antonio, south Texas has its boundary with the Rio Grande. The gulf of Mexico bounds the eastern part of south Texas.
The area is characterized by a semi-arid ranch countryside and a wet Rio valley. The temperatures there are typically warm during most of the year.
The lowest temperature of the year is recorded to be 36-59 degrees Fahrenheit in January. Most native plants of this region are tolerant to the warm summer weather and add an exciting element to southern landscapes.
Sabal mexicana
The texas palmetto, botanically called the sabal Mexicana, sounds like a spicy Mexican delicacy, but in reality, it is an evergreen palm that can grow up to 50 feet tall.
This unique green is a slow-growing plant that typically doesn’t even pop its trunk on the ground until it’s ten years old!
The texas palmetto provides a tropical look to your landscape. It also serves as an excellent shade because of its fan-shaped fronds and stout, thick, spiny trunk. It can grow in almost all soil types, under full sun or partial shade.
Opuntia engelmannii var. Lindheimeri
Commonly known as the Texas prickly pear, this multi-hued cactus plant has exotic green or blue-green pads along with vivid red, orange, and yellow garnets. It bears purple fruit.
The Optunia grows well in dry soil, under full bright sun, and doesn’t demand copious amounts of water like other plant species.
This succulent can grow around 3-9 feet tall and requires no pruning. Some cultivars have spines, while others don’t.
Make sure to be careful with the little prickles; if you plan to pick a cactus flower, it might bruise your finger.
Native Botanical Species of East Texas
With humid, subtropical climatic conditions, East Texas is considered the wetter region of the state.
The east texas landscape receives more rainfall and remains humid throughout the year, making it an excellent location for native and non-native species to thrive.
Acer barbatum
The barbatum cultivar, also known as the southern sugar maple or the Florida maple, is an excellent ornamental tree.
Its luscious foliages turn bright red, golden yellow, or orange in the fall season. This herbage is known as a more heat-resistant cousin of the northern sugar maple, which typically grows up to 30 feet tall.
However, in some cases, it can reach up to 60 feet in height under full sun or partial shade. These native species grow best in loam or clay-textured soils.
Castilleja indivisa
The Texas paintbrush is a fascinating, drought-resistant native variety, with small inconspicuous garnets surrounded by long leaf-like bracts in red and orange shades.
This herbage grows up to 6-24 inches in height under full sun in well-drained soil. However, it can grow quite effectively in dry or even sandy soils.
Also, you should know this paintbrush is quite uncertain; it grows soberly one year and behaves like a stubborn weed the next!
Native botanical species of North Texas
North Texas is centered upon the largest metropolitan area of the southern United States, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
The region is characterized by subtropical or continental weather with severe storms in spring. Rainfall is frequent at night, and summer temperatures exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This native plant species grown in the northern region of Texas thrives if supplied with ample water.
Bignonia capreolata
Commonly known as the Crossvine, this decorative climbing vine is well suited for landscapes such as arbors, pergolas, and trellises.
Its dark green foliages alter into purple shades during the frost season. The capreolata can grow up to 50 feet climbing and bears red, orange, and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom exquisitely during spring.
You can prune it a little after the growing season to encourage healthier blossoms.
Echinacea purpurea
Lavender-hued petals characterize this beautiful and wild Purple Coneflower, which is twirled around a spiny brown center.
These perennial flowers are easy to grow and are aesthetically alluring. They grow up to 5 feet in height and require significantly less maintenance.
A full sun, well-draining soil, and an inch of water per week will result in a purple enchanted bloom.
Native Botanical Species of West Texas
Best known for its deep-rooted Czech culture, kolaches, and tight-knit families, West Texas is not just a town for the diverse and unique but an arid desert land with warm and dry climatic conditions that supports drought-tolerant floral species.
Chilopsis linearis
Chilopsis, or the desert willow, is a tolerant deciduous shrub that can grow into a small tree if pruned correctly. It doesn’t need much watering, grows fast, and thrives in the full sun of Texas.
With slender branches, exotic-looking white, pink, purple, or violet florets, and a twisting trunk, this herbage will look splendid in your backyard. Well-draining soil can easily retain a 15-40 feet tall desert willow.
Muhlenbergia rigida
Commonly known as the purple muhly, this exquisite ornamental grass grows in tufts, with a cloud-like appearance due to the purple seed heads surfacing at the stem tops.
This perennial botanical thrives under full sun and grows up to 2-3 feet tall. If your landscape has a dry, rocky, or gravelly soil type, this Texas grass will look exceptionally sultry in your landscape.
It can be pruned in winter and is one of the best species for mass plantation.
Ask Away: FAQs
What is the rarest Texas native plant species?
Prostate milkweed is a rare plant native to Texas and the Mexican gulf. It is considered an endangered species.
How many plant species are native to Texas only?
Texas has incredible biodiversity of birds, animals, insects, and native plant species. Approximately 46000 botanicals are exclusively native to Texas.
Is there a man-eating plant in Texas?
The Texas state park, known as the Big Thicket, is home to 4-5 carnivorous plants, but relax! They don’t eat humans—only some small insects.
How can I protect my plants from Texas tornadoes?
Unfortunately, most tornadoes also knock off power plants and infrastructures, and it’s hard for plants to resist such natural disasters. The only way to protect your plants against such disasters is to plant them indoors.