Jacob's Well Natural Area

Jacob's Well is one of the most significant natural geologic treasures in the Texas Hill Country. It is one of the longest underwater caves in Texas and an artesian spring. Jacob’s Well surges up thousands of gallons of water per minute and acts as headwaters to the beautiful Cypress Creek that flows through Wimberley, sustaining Blue Hole and the Blanco River, recharging the Edwards Aquifer, and finally replenishing estuaries in the Gulf of Mexico.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Abutilon fruticosum Indian mallow, Texas Indian mallow Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Acalypha ostryifolia Pineland threeseed mercury, Hop-hornbeam copperleaf Annual Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Acalypha phleoides Shrubby copperleaf, Three-seeded mercury Perennial Herb Part-shade
Acer negundo Ash-leaf maple, Ash-leaved maple, Box elder, Boxelder, Fresno de guajuco Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Aesculus glabra var. arguta Ohio buckeye, White buckeye, Texas buckeye Perennial Tree Part-shade Wet, Moist
Aesculus pavia Scarlet Buckeye, Red buckeye, Firecracker plant Perennial Shrub, Tree Part-shade Moist
Allium canadense Meadow garlic, Wild garlic, Wild onion Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist
Amorpha fruticosa Indigo bush, False indigo bush, False indigo, Desert false indigo Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Andropogon glomeratus Bushy bluestem, Brushy bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet, Moist
Argemone albiflora Bluestem pricklypoppy, White pricklypoppy Annual Herb Part-shade Dry
Aristida purpurea Purple threeawn, Purple 3-awn, Purple three-awn, Red threeawn Annual Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Asclepias asperula Spider milkweed, Antelope horns, Green-flowered milkweed, Spider antelope-horns Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Baccharis neglecta False Willow, Jara dulce, Poverty Weed, Roosevelt Weed Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Bothriochloa laguroides Silver Bluestem, Silver beardgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Bouteloua curtipendula Sideoats grama Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Bouteloua rigidiseta Texas grama Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Buddleja racemosa Wand butterfly-bush, Wand butterflybush Perennial Shrub
Callicarpa americana American beautyberry, French mulberry Perennial Shrub Part-shade Moist
Callirhoe involucrata Winecup, Purple poppy mallow Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Calyptocarpus vialis Straggler daisy, Horseherb, Hierba del caballo, Lawnflower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Carex blanda Eastern woodland sedge, Creek sedge, Common wood sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Carex planostachys Cedar sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Dry
Carya illinoinensis Pecan Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Celtis laevigata Sugar hackberry, Hackberry, Sugarberry, Texas sugarberry, Palo blanco Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Centaurium texense Lady Bird's centaury Annual Herb Part-shade
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common buttonbush, Buttonbush, Button willow Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Cercis canadensis var. texensis Texas redbud Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Chaetopappa asteroides Arkansas leastdaisy, Least daisy Annual Herb
Chaptalia nutans Heal and draw, Lechuguilla, Silverpuff Perennial Herb Shade
Chasmanthium latifolium Inland sea oats, Indian wood oats, Wild oats, River oats, Flathead oats, Upland Oats, Upland Sea Oats Perennial Grass/Grass-like Shade, Part-shade Moist
Cirsium texanum Texas thistle Biennial Herb Sun Dry
Cissus trifoliata Cow-itch vine, Sorrelvine, Grape ivy, Arizona grape ivy, Possum grape Perennial Vine Part-shade
Clematis drummondii Drummond's clematis, Old man’s beard, Texas virgin’s bower, Goat’s beard Perennial Vine Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Clematis texensis Scarlet clematis, Scarlet leatherflower, Texas clematis Perennial Vine Part-shade Moist
Cocculus carolinus Carolina snailseed, Carolina coralbead, Carolina moonseed, Red berried moonseed, Carolina red berried moonseed Perennial Vine Part-shade Moist
Cooperia pedunculata Hill Country rain lily, Prairie lily, Rain lily Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Coreopsis lanceolata Lanceleaf coreopsis, Lanceleaf tickseed, Lance-leaved coreopsis, Sand coreopsis Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Coreopsis tinctoria Plains coreopsis, Golden tickseed, Goldenwave, Calliopsis Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Cornus drummondii Roughleaf dogwood, Drummond's dogwood, Rough-leaf dogwood Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Croton fruticulosus Bush croton, Encinilla, Hierba Loca Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Croton monanthogynus Prairie tea, One-seed Croton Annual Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Dasylirion texanum Texas sotol, Sotol Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Diospyros texana Texas persimmon, Mexican persimmon, Black persimmon, Chapote, Chapote prieto Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Diospyros virginiana Common persimmon, Eastern persimmon Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Elymus virginicus Virginia wildrye, Virginia wild rye Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Moist
Eragrostis intermedia Plains lovegrass, Plains Lovegrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Dry
Erioneuron pilosum Hairy woollygrass, Hairy tridens Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Erodium texanum Fillaree, Pine needle, Stork’s Bill, Texas stork's bill, Texas stork’s bill Herb Sun Dry
Euphorbia cyathophora Wild Poinsettia, Poinsettia, Fire on the Mountain Annual Herb Sun Moist
Euphorbia dentata Toothed spurge, Toothedleaf poinsettia Annual Herb
Euphorbia marginata Snow on the mountain, Snow-on-the-mountain Annual Herb Part-shade Moist
Evolvulus sericeus Silver dwarf morning-glory, White Evolvulus Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Eysenhardtia texana Texas kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee-Brush, Vara dulce Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Forestiera pubescens Stretchberry, Elbow bush, Spring herald Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Frangula caroliniana Carolina buckthorn, Carolina false buckthorn, Indian cherry Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash, Red ash Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel, Indian Blanket Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Galium texense Texas bedstraw Annual Herb
Geum canadense White avens Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Glandularia bipinnatifida Purple prairie verbena, Prairie verbena, Dacota vervain, Dakota mock vervain, Moradilla Perennial Herb, Subshrub Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ilex decidua Possumhaw, Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly, Winterberry, Deciduous yaupon Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ilex vomitoria Yaupon, Yaupon holly, Cassina Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ipomopsis rubra Standing cypress, Texas plume, Red Texas star, Red gilia Biennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Iva angustifolia Narrowleaf marshelder, Narrow-leaf Sumpweed Annual Herb
Juglans microcarpa Little walnut, Nogalito, Texas walnut, Texas black walnut, River walnut Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Juniperus ashei Ashe juniper, Ashe's juniper, Mountain cedar, Blueberry juniper Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Justicia americana American water-willow, Water-willow Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ludwigia repens Creeping primrose-willow, Floating primrose-willow, Water primrose Perennial Herb
Lupinus texensis Texas bluebonnet, Bluebonnet, Texas lupine, Buffalo clover, Wolf-flower Annual Herb Sun Dry
Mahonia swaseyi Texas barberry, Texas Oregon-grape Perennial Shrub Sun
Mahonia trifoliolata Agarita, Agarito, Algerita, Laredo mahonia, Laredo Oregon-grape, Trifoliate barberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Malvaviscus arboreus Turkscap, Wax mallow, Bleeding hearts, Mexican apple, Manzanilla Perennial Shrub
Matelea reticulata Green milkweed vine, Net vein milkvine, Netted milkvine, Pearl milkweed Vine Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Maurandella antirrhiniflora Snapdragon Vine, Roving sailor, Climbing snapdragon, Little snapdragon vine Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Melampodium leucanthum Blackfoot Daisy, Rock daisy, Plains blackfoot Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Mimosa borealis Fragrant mimosa, Pink Mimosa Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Morus rubra Red mulberry, Moral Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Nassella leucotricha Texas wintergrass, Texas Speargrass, Wintergrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun
Oenothera speciosa Pink evening primrose, Showy evening primrose, Mexican evening primrose, Showy primrose, Pink ladies, Buttercups, Pink buttercups Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Opuntia engelmannii Cactus apple Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Opuntia macrorhiza Common prickly-pear, Plains prickly pear, Prickly Pear, Twist-spine prickly-pear, Twistspine pricklypear Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Oxalis dillenii Slender yellow woodsorrel Perennial Herb
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass, Wand panic grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Parietaria pensylvanica Pennsylvania pellitory, Pennsylvania cucumber plant Annual Herb
Parthenocissus heptaphylla Sevenleaf creeper, Seven-leaf Creeper Perennial Vine Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Parthenocissus quinquefolia Virginia creeper Perennial Vine Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Passiflora lutea Yellow passion vine, Yellow passion-flower, Yellow passionflower Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Phacelia congesta Blue curls, Caterpillars, Fiddleneck Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Phyla nodiflora Texas frogfruit, Turkey tangle fogfruit, Frogfruit Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Phyllanthus polygonoides Smartweed leaf-flower Perennial Subshrub
Physalis cinerascens Smallflower groundcherry Perennial Herb
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane-tree, Sycamore Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Prosopis glandulosa Honey mesquite Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Prunus mexicana Mexican plum, Bigtree plum Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ptelea trifoliata Wafer ash, Common hoptree, Hop tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus Smallflower desert-chicory, Texas dandelion, False dandelion Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Quercus buckleyi Texas red oak, Buckley oak, Spanish oak, Spotted Oak, Rock Oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus fusiformis Escarpment live oak, Plateau live oak, Texas live oak, Scrub live oak, Hill country live oak, Plateau oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus marilandica Blackjack oak, Barren oak, Black oak, Jack oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus sinuata Bastard oak, Durand oak Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Ratibida columnifera Mexican hat, Prairie coneflower, Upright prairie coneflower, Red-spike mexican-hat, Long-headed coneflower, Thimbleflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Rhus lanceolata Prairie flameleaf sumac, Flame-leaf sumac, Prairie sumac, Lance-leaf sumac Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Rhus virens Evergreen sumac, Tobacco sumac Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Rhynchosia minima Least snoutbean Perennial Vine
Rhynchosia senna var. texana Texas Snout-bean, Texas snoutbean Perennial Vine
Rubus trivialis Dewberry, Southern dewberry Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan, Common black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan Annual Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Ruellia nudiflora Violet ruellia, Common wild petunia, Violet wild petunia, Wild petunia Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Sabal minor Dwarf palmetto, Palmetto, Bush palmetto Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Salix nigra Black willow, Gulf black willow Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Salvia farinacea Mealy blue sage, Mealy sage, Mealycup sage Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Salvia roemeriana Cedar sage Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Sapindus saponaria Wingleaf soapberry, Soapberry, Wild China tree Perennial Tree
Schizachyrium scoparium Little bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Dry
Scutellaria wrightii Wright's skullcap, Bushy skullcap, Shrubby skullcap Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Senna roemeriana Twoleaf senna, Two leaved senna Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Sideroxylon lanuginosum Gum bumelia, Gum bully, Woollybucket bumelia, Chittamwood, Gum elastic, Coma Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Smilax bona-nox Saw greenbrier, Catbrier, Bullbrier Perennial Vine Shade Moist, Dry
Solanum elaeagnifolium Silverleaf nightshade, Silver-leaf nightshade, White horse nettle, Trompillo, Tomato weed Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Sophora secundiflora Texas mountain laurel, Mountain laurel, Mescal bean, Mescal bean sophora, Frijolillo, Frijolito Perennial Shrub, Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Spermolepis inermis Red River scaleseed, Spreading Scaleseed Annual Herb
Taxodium distichum Bald cypress, Baldcypress, Common bald cypress, Southern bald cypress, Deciduous cypress Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Teucrium canadense Canada germander, American germander, Canadian germander, Germander, Hairy germander, Wood sage Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Tillandsia recurvata Small ball moss, Ball moss Perennial Herb
Toxicodendron radicans Eastern poison ivy, Poison ivy, Poison oak Perennial Shrub, Vine Shade, Part-shade Moist
Tradescantia occidentalis Prairie spiderwort, Western Spiderwort, Spiderwort Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Typha latifolia Broadleaf cattail, Common cat-tail, Broad-leaf cat-tail Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Wet
Ulmus americana American elm, White elm Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm, Fall elm, Olmo Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Ungnadia speciosa Mexican buckeye Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Verbena xutha Gulf vervain Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Verbesina virginica Frostweed, White crownbeard, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia crownbeard, Indian tobacco, Richweed, Squawweed Biennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Viburnum rufidulum Rusty blackhaw viburnum, Rusty blackhaw, Southern blackhaw, Downy viburnum Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Vitis mustangensis Mustang grape Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Wedelia texana Zexmenia, Orange zexmenia, Wedelia, Hairy wedelia, Texas creeping-oxeye Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Yucca rupicola Twistleaf yucca, Twisted-leaf yucca, Texas yucca Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun, Part-shade Dry