Naturalistic Home Inspiration Garden

The roughly 80 species used in this garden are almost entirely native to Travis County, Texas, and are arranged into sections based on plant communities (woodland, prairie, rocky hillside and aquatic). Diverse plants provide necessary food, shelter and water that attract wildlife and create an ever-changing garden for year-round interest.


Thumb Species Characteristics

Ageratina havanensis
Shrubby Boneset, White Mistflower, White Shrub Mistflower, Havana Snakeroot

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Callicarpa americana
American Beautyberry , French Mulberry

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Clematis texensis
Scarlet Clematis, Scarlet Leatherflower, Texas Clematis

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Conoclinium coelestinum
Blue Mistflower, Wild Ageratum, Blue Boneset

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Gelsemium sempervirens
Carolina Jessamine, Yellow Jessamine, Evening Trumpetflower, Poor Man's Rope

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Vine
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Geum canadense
White Avens

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon, Yaupon Holly, Cassina

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub, Tree
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Indigofera miniata
Scarlet Pea, Coastal Indigo, Texas Indigo, Western Indigo

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Lantana urticoides
Texas Lantana, Calico Bush

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun
Water: Dry

Mahonia trifoliolata
Agarita, Agarito, Algerita, Laredo Mahonia, Laredo Oregon-grape, Trifoliate Barberry, Wild Currant

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Turk's Cap, Drummond's Turk's Cap, Drummond Turk's Cap, Wax Mallow, Drummond's Wax Mallow, Drummond Wax Mallow, Red Mallow, Texas Mallow, Mexican Apple, Sleeping Hibiscus, Bleeding Hearts, Manzanita

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Muhlenbergia reverchonii
Seep Muhly

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Nolina texana
Texas Sacahuista, Texas Beargrass, Basket Grass, Sacahuista, Bunchgrass, Texas Bear-grass

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Light: Part-shade
Water: Dry

Nymphaea mexicana
Yellow Waterlily, Yellow Water-lily, Banana Lily, Banana Waterlily, Sun Lotus

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Wet

Packera obovata
Golden Groundsel, Roundleaf Groundsel, Roundleaf Ragwort

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Pavonia lasiopetala
Rock Rose, Rose Pavonia, Rose Mallow, Pavonia

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Penstemon baccharifolius
Rock Penstemon, Rock Beardtongue, Cut-leaf Penstemon, Cut-leaf Beardtongue, Baccharis-leaf Penstemon, Baccharis-leaf Beardtongue

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Penstemon cobaea
Prairie Penstemon, Prairie Beardtongue, Foxglove Penstemon, Foxglove Beardtongue, False Foxglove, Large-flowered Penstemon, Large-flowered Beardtongue, Cobaea Penstemon, Cobaea Beardtongue, Wild Foxglove

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Phlox pilosa
Downy Phlox, Prairie Phlox, Fragrant Phlox

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Phyla nodiflora
Texas Frogfruit, Turkey Tangle Fogfruit, Frogfruit

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Portulaca pilosa
Kiss Me Quick, Chisme

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Quercus fusiformis
Escarpment Live Oak, Plateau Live Oak, Hill Country Live Oak, Texas Live Oak, Scrub Live Oak, Plateau Oak, Encino Molino, Tesmoli

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Ruellia nudiflora
Violet Ruellia, Common Wild Petunia, Violet Wild Petunia, Wild Petunia, Hierba De La Calentura

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Salvia coccinea
Scarlet Sage, Tropical Sage, Blood Sage, Red Sage, Indian Fire

Duration: Annual, Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Salvia farinacea
Mealy Blue Sage, Mealy Sage, Mealycup Sage

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist

Schoenocaulon texanum
Texas Feathershank, Green Lily, Texas Sabadilla

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry

Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis
Gray Goldenrod

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

Sophora secundiflora
Texas Mountain Laurel, Mountain Laurel, Mescal Bean, Mescal Bean Sophora, Frijolillo, Frijolito

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub, Tree
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry

Tradescantia gigantea
Giant Spiderwort

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Ulmus crassifolia
Cedar Elm, Fall Elm, Basket Elm, Scrub Elm, Lime Elm, Texas Elm, Southern Rock Elm, Olmo

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Part-shade
Water: Moist

Vernonia lindheimeri
Woolly Ironweed

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Dry

Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida
Zexmenia, Orange Zexmenia, Hairy Wedelia, Wedelia, Texas Creeping-oxeye

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Moist, Dry