Native Plant Society of Texas

The purpose of the Native Plant Society of Texas is to promote the conservation, research and utilization of the native plants and plant habitats of Texas, through education, outreach and example. The Native Plant Society of Texas was founded in 1980 and currently has over 1,800 members in 32 Chapters. Chapters provide activities such as Field trips, Plant rescues, Native plant sales, Restoration projects, and Highway plantings, NPSOT publishes a newsletter for it state members and hosts two annual conferences, one of which is traditionally held at the Wildflower Center.


Thumb Species Characteristics

Agave americana
American Century Plant, Century Plant

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Light: Sun
Water: Dry

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

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

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
Flame Acanthus, Hummingbird Bush, Wright's Desert Honeysuckle, Wright Acanthus, Mexican Flame, Wright's Mexican Flame

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

Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana
Hinckley's Golden Columbine, Yellow Columbine, Hinckley Columbine, Capote Columbine

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

Bauhinia lunarioides
Anacacho Orchid Tree, Anacacho Bauhinia, Orchid Tree, Texas Plume

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

Bouteloua gracilis
Blue Grama

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

Buddleja marrubiifolia
Woolly Butterflybush, Butterfly Bush, Woolly Butterfly-bush

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

Callicarpa americana
American Beautyberry , French Mulberry

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

Callirhoe involucrata
Winecup, Purple Poppy Mallow

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

Calyptocarpus vialis
Horseherb, Straggler Daisy, Hierba Del Caballo, Lawnflower

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

Capsicum annuum
Chile Tepin, Chile Pequin, Chiltepin, Chile Petin, Bird Pepper, Turkey Pepper , Cayenne Pepper

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

Carex blanda
Eastern Woodland Sedge, Creek Sedge, Common Wood Sedge

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

Carex perdentata
Sand Sedge, Meadow Sedge

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

Cercis canadensis var. mexicana
Mexican Redbud

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

Cercis canadensis var. texensis
Texas Redbud

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

Chasmanthium latifolium
Inland Sea Oats, Indian Wood Oats, Wild Oats, River Oats, Flathead Oats, Upland Oats, Upland Sea Oats

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Grass/Grass-like
Light: Shade, Part-shade
Water: Moist

Chilopsis linearis
Desert Willow, Flowering Willow, Willow-leaved Catalpa, Willowleaf Catalpa, Bow Willow, Flor De Mimbre, Mimbre

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Chrysactinia mexicana
Damianita

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

Conoclinium greggii
Gregg's Mistflower , Palmleaf Thoroughwort, Palm-leaf Mistflower, Palm-leaf Thoroughwort, Purple Palmleaf Mistflower, Purple Palmleaf Eupatorium

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

Cotinus obovatus
American Smoke Tree, Texas Smoke Tree, Wild Smoke Tree, Smoke Tree, Smokebush, Chittamwood

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

Dalea frutescens
Black Dalea, Black Prairie Clover

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

Datura wrightii
Jimsonweed, Sacred Thorn-apple, Thorn-apple, Angel Trumpet, Sacred Datura, Western Jimson Weed

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

Dichondra argentea
Silver Ponysfoot, Silver Ponyfoot

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

Diospyros texana
Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chapote, Chapote Prieto

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

Dryopteris ludoviciana
Southern Woodfern, Florida Shieldfern

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

Echinacea purpurea
Eastern Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower

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

Erythrina herbacea
Coralbean, Cherokee Bean, Red Cardinal

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

Eysenhardtia texana
Texas Kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee Brush, Vara Dulce, Palo Dulce

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

Forestiera pubescens
Elbowbush, Stretchberry, Spring Herald, Desert Olive, Tanglewood, Devil's Elbow, Spring Goldenglow, New Mexico Privet, Texas Forsythia

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

Hesperaloe parviflora
Red Yucca, Coral Yucca, Red-flowered False Yucca, Redflower False Yucca, Yellow Yucca, Hummingbird Yucca, Samandoque

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Light: Sun
Water: Dry

Ilex decidua
Possumhaw, Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly, Meadow Holly, Prairie Holly, Swamp Holly, Welk Holly, Deciduous Yaupon, Bearberry, Winterberry

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

Ilex vomitoria
Yaupon, Yaupon Holly, Cassina

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

Juniperus ashei
Ashe Juniper, Ashe's Juniper, Mountain Cedar, Rock Cedar, Post Cedar, Texas Cedar, Brake Cedar, Mexican Juniper, Blueberry Juniper, Ozark White Cedar, Sabino, Enebro

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

Lantana urticoides
Texas Lantana, Calico Bush

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

Leucaena retusa
Goldenball Leadtree, Littleleaf Leadtree, Little Leucaena, Lemonball, Wahoo Tree

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

Leucophyllum frutescens
Cenizo, Purple Sage, Texas Ranger, Texas Barometer Bush, Texas Silverleaf, Texas Sage, Silverleaf

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

Liatris punctata var. mucronata
Texas Gayfeather, Texas Blazing Star, Texas Liatris, Cusp Liatris, Cusp Blazing Star, Cusp Gayfeather, Narrow-leaf Blazing Star, Narrow-leaf Gayfeather, Purples

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

Lonicera sempervirens
Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Woodbine

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

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

Malpighia glabra
Barbados Cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle, Acerola, Manzanita

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

Melampodium leucanthum
Blackfoot Daisy, Rock Daisy, Plains Blackfoot, Arnica

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

Merremia dissecta
Alamo Vine, Noyau Vine, Correhuela De Las Doce

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

Mimosa borealis
Fragrant Mimosa, Pink Mimosa

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

Morella cerifera
Wax Myrtle , Southern Wax Myrtle, Southern Bayberry, Eastern Bayberry, Bayberry, Candleberry, Tallow Shrub

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

Muhlenbergia capillaris
Gulf Muhly, Hair-awn Muhly, Hairy-awn Muhly, Hair Grass, Pink Muhly

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

Muhlenbergia dubia
Pine Muhly

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

Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
Lindheimer's Muhly, Lindheimer Muhly, Big Muhly, Blue Muhly

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

Nassella tenuissima
Mexican Feathergrass, Mexican Wiregrass, Finestem Needlegrass, Ponytail Grass, Texas Tussock

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

Nolina lindheimeriana
Devil's Shoestring, Devil's-shoestring, Ribbon Grass

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

Oenothera lindheimeri
White Gaura, Butterfly Gaura, Lindheimer's Beeblossom, Lindheimer's Gaura

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

Oenothera macrocarpa
Bigfruit Evening-primrose, Missouri Evening-primrose, Fluttermill, Big-fruit Evening-primrose, Missouri Primrose, Bigfruit Evening Primrose

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

Packera obovata
Golden Groundsel, Roundleaf Groundsel, Roundleaf Ragwort

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

Panicum virgatum
Switchgrass, Wand Panic Grass

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

Parkinsonia aculeata
Retama, Paloverde, Mexican Paloverde, Jerusalem Thorn, Horsebean, Lluvia De Oro

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

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 tenuis
Brazos Penstemon, Brazos Beardtongue, Gulf Penstemon, Gulf Beardtongue, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Gulf Coast Beardtongue, Sharp-sepal Penstemon, Sharp-sepal Beardtongue

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

Penstemon triflorus
Hill Country Penstemon, Hill Country Beardtongue, Scarlet Penstemon, Scarlet Beardtongue, Heller's Penstemon, Heller's Beardtongue

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

Phlox drummondii
Annual Phlox, Drummond Phlox, Pride-of-Texas, Texas Pride

Duration: Annual
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

Physostegia virginiana
Fall Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead, Virginia Lions-heart

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

Prunus mexicana
Mexican Plum, Bigtree Plum, Inch Plum

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
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

Quercus laceyi
Lacey Oak, Texas Blue Oak, Canyon Oak, Smoky Oak, Rock Oak

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

Quercus macrocarpa
Bur Oak, Burr Oak, Savanna Oak, Overcup Oak, Prairie Oak, Mossy-cup Oak, Mossy-overcup Oak, Blue Oak

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

Quercus muehlenbergii
Chinkapin Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Chestnut Oak, Yellow Chestnut Oak, Rock Chestnut Oak, Yellow Oak, Rock Oak

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

Quercus shumardii
Shumard Oak, Shumard's Oak, Shumard Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, Swamp Red Oak, Spotted Oak

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

Quercus texana
Nuttall Oak, Texas Oak

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

Rhus aromatica
Fragrant Sumac, Aromatic Sumac, Lemon Sumac, Polecat Bush

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

Rhus virens
Evergreen Sumac, Tobacco Sumac, Lambrisco, Lentrisco

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

Sabal mexicana
Texas Palm, Texas Palmetto, Mexican Palm, Mexican Palmetto, Rio Grande Palmetto, Victoria Palmetto, Palma De Micharos, Apachite

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

Sabal minor
Dwarf Palmetto, Bush Palmetto, Palmetto

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
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 lyrata
Lyreleaf Sage, Cancer Weed

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

Salvia pentstemonoides
Big Red Sage, Penstemon Sage

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

Salvia regla
Mountain Sage, Royal Sage

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

Salvia roemeriana
Cedar Sage

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

Schizachyrium scoparium
Little Bluestem, Popotillo Azul

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

Scutellaria ovata
Heartleaf Skullcap, Heart-leaf Skullcap

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

Senna lindheimeriana
Lindheimer's Senna, Velvet Leaf Senna, Velvetleaf Senna, Velvet-leaf Wild Sensitive-plant, Puppy-dog Ears

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

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

Stachys coccinea
Scarlet Betony, Texas Betony, Scarlet Hedgenettle, Scarlet Hedge-nettle

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

Stemodia lanata
Woolly Stemodia, Gray-woolly Twintip

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

Styphnolobium affine
Eve's Necklace, Eve's Necklacepod, Texas Sophora, Pink Sophora, Necklace Tree

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

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus
Coralberry, Indian Currant, Buckbrush

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

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Aromatic Aster, Aromatic American Aster, Fall Aster, Wild Blue Aster, Shale Aster

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

Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress, Baldcypress, Common Bald Cypress, Southern Bald Cypress, Deciduous Cypress, Southern Cypress, Swamp Cypress, Red Cypress, White Cypress, Yellow Cypress, Gulf Cypress, Tidewater Red Cypress

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

Taxodium mucronatum
Montezuma Bald Cypress, Montezuma Cypress, Mexican Cypress, Ahuehuete, Sabino

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

Tecoma stans
Yellow Bells, Yellowbells, Esperanza, Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Trumpetflower, Trumpetbush, Trumpetflower, Yellow Elder, Hardy Yellow Trumpet, Yellow Trumpet Bush

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

Tetraneuris scaposa
Four-nerve Daisy, Hymenoxys, Stemmy Four-nerve Daisy, Yellow Daisy, Bitterweed

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

Thelypteris kunthii
Wood Fern, River Fern, Southern Shield Fern, Kunth's Maiden Fern, Normal Shield Fern

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

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

Ungnadia speciosa
Mexican Buckeye, Monilla

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

Vachellia farnesiana
Huisache, Texas Huisache, Sweet Acacia, Perfume Acacia, Mealy Acacia, Mealy Wattle, Cassie

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

Viguiera stenoloba
Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye, Resinbush

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

Viola missouriensis
Missouri Violet

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

Wisteria frutescens
American Wisteria, Texas Wisteria, Kentucky Wisteria

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

Yucca rupicola
Twistleaf Yucca, Twisted-leaf Yucca, Texas Yucca, Spanish Dagger

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Light: Sun, Part-shade
Water: Dry