Sun Garden Plants for Central Texas

The plants in this list will provide a visually dramatic display of native plants appropriate for a full sun garden in Central Texas.


Thumb Species Characteristics

Abronia ameliae
Amelia's Sand-verbena, Heart's Delight

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

Agave havardiana
Havard's Century Plant, Havard Agave

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

Agave parryi
Parry's Agave, Century Plant, Parry Agave

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

Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana
Parry's Agave, New Mexico Agave

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

Allowissadula holosericea
Velvet-leaf Mallow, Chisos Mountain False Indianmallow

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

Alophia drummondii
Propeller Flower, Purple Pleat-leaf, Pinewoods Lily, Prairie Iris, Pleatleaf Iris

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

Amsonia tabernaemontana
Eastern Bluestar, Blue Dogbane, Willow Amsonia, Woodland Bluestar

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

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

Aphanostephus skirrhobasis
Lazy Daisy, Arkansas Lazy Daisy, Arkansas Doze-daisy

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

Aquilegia canadensis
Eastern Red Columbine, Wild Red Columbine

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

Asclepias asperula
Antelope-horns, Spider Milkweed, Green-flowered Milkweed, Spider Antelope-horns, Antelope Horns

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

Baileya multiradiata
Desert Marigold, Showy Desert Marigold, Paper Daisy, Desert Baileya

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

Callirhoe involucrata
Winecup, Purple Poppy Mallow

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

Calylophus berlandieri
Berlandier's Sundrops , Square-bud Primrose, Sundrops

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

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

Coreopsis tinctoria
Plains Coreopsis, Golden Tickseed, Goldenwave, Calliopsis

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

Dalea compacta var. pubescens
Compact Prairie Clover, Purple Prairie Clover

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

Dalea wrightii
Wright's Prairie Clover

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

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

Dyschoriste linearis
Snake Herb, Polkadots, Narrowleaf Dyschoriste

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

Echinacea purpurea
Eastern Purple Coneflower, Purple Coneflower

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

Engelmannia peristenia
Engelmann's Daisy, Engelmann Daisy, Cutleaf Daisy

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

Erigeron modestus
Plains Fleabane, Prairie Fleabane

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

Eryngium leavenworthii
Leavenworth's Eryngo, Eryngo, False Purple Thistle

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

Euphorbia marginata
Snow On The Mountain, Snow-on-the-mountain

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

Froelichia floridana
Plains Snakecotton, Snake-cotton

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida
Prairie Verbena, Purple Prairie Verbena, Dakota Mock Vervain, Dakota Vervain

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

Helianthus maximiliani
Maximilian Sunflower, Max Sunflower

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

Hibiscus martianus
Heartleaf Rosemallow, Tulipan Del Monte, Heartleaf Hibiscus

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

Ipomopsis rubra
Standing Cypress, Texas Plume, Red Texas Star, Red Gilia

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

Lantana urticoides
Texas Lantana, Calico Bush

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

Lesquerella fendleri
Fendler's Bladderpod, Popweed

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
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

Lithospermum incisum
Fringed Puccoon, Golden Puccoon, Narrowleaf Puccoon, Narrow-leaved Puccoon, Puccoon, Narrowleaf Gromwell, Fringed Gromwell, Narrowleaf Stoneseed

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

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia
Tahoka Daisy, Tansy-aster, Tansey-leaf Tansy-aster, Tansyleaf Tansyaster

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

Marshallia caespitosa
Barbara's-buttons, Puffballs, White Barbara's-buttons, Barbara's Buttons

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

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

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

Melochia tomentosa
Pyramid Bush, Teabush, Red Rope, Velvety Melochia, Kidney Bush, Woolly Pyramidflower

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

Menodora longiflora
Showy Menodora, Twinpod

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

Monarda fistulosa
Wild Bergamot, Beebalm

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

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 emersleyi
Bullgrass, Bull Muhly

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

Nemastylis geminiflora
Prairie Celestials, Celestials, Prairie Pleatleaf

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
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

Opuntia engelmannii var. lindheimeri
Texas Prickly Pear, Lindheimer's Prickly Pear, Lindheimer Prickly Pear

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

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

Rudbeckia hirta
Black-eyed Susan, Common Black-eyed Susan, Brown-eyed Susan, Blackeyed Susan

Duration: Annual, Biennial, Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light: Sun
Water: Moist, Dry

Salvia azurea
Pitcher Sage, Big Blue Sage, Azure Sage, Giant Blue Sage, Blue Sage

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

Salvia ballotiflora
Shrubby Blue Sage, Blue Shrub Sage, Mejorana

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

Salvia engelmannii
Engelmann's Sage, Engelmann's Salvia

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

Salvia farinacea
Mealy Blue Sage, Mealy Sage, Mealycup Sage

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

Salvia greggii
Autumn Sage, Cherry Sage, Gregg Salvia

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Light: Sun
Water: 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

Sedum nuttallianum
Yellow Stonecrop

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

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

Silphium simpsonii
Simpson's Rosinweed, Tall Rosinweed

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

Solidago nemoralis
Gray Goldenrod, Prairie Goldenrod, Oldfield Goldenrod, Grayleaf Goldenrod, Gray-leaved Goldenrod, Dyersweed Goldenrod, Dwarf Goldenrod, Field Goldenrod

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

Sporobolus airoides
Alkali Sacaton, Zacate Alcalino

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

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 var. scaposa
Four-nerve Daisy, Hymenoxys, Stemmy Four-nerve Daisy, Bitterweed

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

Vernonia marginata
Plains Ironweed

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

Xanthocephalum gymnospermoides
Gummy Broomweed, San Pedro Matchweed, Gummy Snakeweed

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Light:
Water:

Yucca treculeana
Spanish Dagger, Spanish Bayonet, Don Quixote's Lance, Palma Pita, Palma De Datil, Palmito

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