Wetland Plants for Central Texas

Central Texas native plants that work well in riparian areas.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
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
Arisaema dracontium Green dragon, Dragonroot, Greendragon Perennial Herb Sun, Shade Moist
Carex blanda Eastern woodland sedge, Creek sedge, Common wood sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common buttonbush, Buttonbush, Button willow Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
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
Conoclinium coelestinum Blue mistflower Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Cyperus retroflexus Oneflower flatsedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Equisetum hyemale var. affine Scouringrush horsetail Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet
Equisetum laevigatum Horsetail, Smooth horsetail Perennial Herb Sun
Erythrina herbacea Coralbean, Cherokee bean, Red cardinal Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Fraxinus pennsylvanica Green ash, Red ash Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Hibiscus moscheutos Crimsoneyed rosemallow, Crimson-eyed rose-mallow, Marshmallow hibiscus Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Iris brevicaulis Zigzag iris Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Iris virginica Virginia iris, Great Blue Flag Perennial Herb Sun Wet
Kosteletzkya virginica Virginia saltmarsh mallow, Virginia fen-rose, Seashore mallow, Salt Marsh-mallow Perennial Subshrub Sun Moist
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ludwigia peploides Creeping water-primrose, Floating primrose-willow, Water-primrose Perennial Herb Sun
Maclura pomifera Osage orange, Bois d’ arc, Bodark, Horse apple, Hedge apple Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii Turk's cap or Turkscap, Drummond's turkscap, Wax mallow, Drummond wax-mallow, Red mallow, Texas mallow, Mexican apple, Manzanilla, Sleeping hibiscus, Bleeding hearts Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Marsilea macropoda Bigfoot water clover, Water clover, Clover-fern Perennial Herb, Fern Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet
Morus rubra Red mulberry, Moral Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Muhlenbergia schreberi Nimblewill Perennial Grass/Grass-like Shade, Part-shade Moist
Nymphaea odorata American white waterlily, American white water-lily, Fragrant white water lily, White water lily, Fragrant water lily, White water lily Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet
Phyla nodiflora Texas frogfruit, Turkey tangle fogfruit, Frogfruit Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Physostegia intermedia Intermediate false dragonhead, Marsh obedient-plant, Obedient-plant, Slender false dragonhead, Spring obedient plant Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane-tree, Sycamore Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Populus deltoides ssp. deltoides Eastern cottonwood Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
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
Pteridium aquilinum Western bracken fern, Bracken fern, Western bracken, Bracken Perennial Herb, Fern Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Quercus macrocarpa Bur oak, Burr oak, Savannah oak, Overcup oak, Prairie oak, Mossy-cup oak, Mossy-overcup oak, Blue oak Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Rhus aromatica Fragrant sumac, Aromatic sumac, Lemon sumac, Polecat bush Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Sabal minor Dwarf palmetto, Palmetto, Bush palmetto Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Sagittaria lancifolia Bulltongue arrowhead, Lanceleaf Arrowhead Perennial Herb Sun Wet
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis Common elderberry, Black elder, Mexican elderberry, Common elder, Elderberry, Tapiro, Sauco Perennial Shrub Part-shade Wet
Schoenoplectus californicus California bulrush, California club-rush, Giant Bulrush Perennial Herb Sun
Taxodium distichum Bald cypress, Baldcypress, Common bald cypress, Southern bald cypress, Deciduous cypress Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Tilia americana var. caroliniana Carolina basswood, Small-leaved basswood, Downy linden Perennial Tree
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm, Fall elm, Olmo Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist