houston & southeast tx natives

list of my favorite plants native to houston and the southeast texas region and well-adapted non-natives beneficial to an ecological garden


Note: when I use the term native, I am referring to plants and animals native to my fairly specific region: Houston, Harris County, Southeast Texas. A Texas native is not necessarily going to do well in my region, as east, west, north, south, and central are all vastly different from each other.

My Top Native Plants/Small Shrubs (full sun-part sun)

Coral Honeysuckle

latin name: Lonicera sempervirens

habit: vine

size: up to 20′

light: full sun/part sun

water: moist

bloom time: mar-jun

benefits: birds, insects, bees, butterflies, moths,  hummingbirds, bats`

notes: no pests; larval host; prefers rich soil

Passiflora

latin name: Passiflora incarnata

habit: vine

size: up to 25′

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry

bloom time: mar-jun

benefits: bees, butterflies, edible fruit

notes: lemon fragrance; apricot-like fruit Passiflora caerulea is what I have and pictured-not a true native, but has the same benefits; butterfly larvae host

Black-eyed Susan

latin name: Rudbeckia hirta

habit: herb

size: up to 3′

light: full sun

water: dry/moist

bloom time: apr-nov

benefits: birds, insects, bees, butterflies

notes: larval host

Blanket Flower

latin name: Gaillardia pulchella

habit: herb

size: 1-2’h

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry

bloom time: jan-dec, mostly may-aug

benefits: bees, butterflies

notes: can get unruly

Purple Coneflower

latin name: Echinacea purpurea

habit: herb

size: up to 4′

light: full sun

water: dry

bloom time: apr-sep

benefits: birds, bees, butterflies, moths

notes: mine never survive into their second year but I will keep trying; can be aggressive

Bee Balm/Lemon Mint

latin name: Monarda citriodora

habit: herb

size: 1-2’h

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry

bloom time: apr-

benefits: insects, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

notes: can get unruly legs; prone to powdery mildew

Devil’s Trumpet/Datura

latin name: Datura wrightii

habit: shrub

size: up to 6’h x 10’w

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry

bloom time: may-nov (night)

benefits: moths, bats

notes: fragrant; toxic; winter dieback

Dwarf Barbados Cherry

latin name: Malphigia glabra

habit: shrub

size: 3-4’h

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry

bloom time: jan-apr, sep-dec

benefits: birds, insects, butterflies, moths

notes: berries

Aquatic Milkweed

latin name: Asclepias perennis

habit: herb

size: 32″h

light: full sun/part sun

water: wet

bloom time: apr-sep

benefits: bees, butterflies

notes: butterfly larvae host; toxic; prone to aphids

Frogfruit

latin name: Phyla nodiflora

habit: herb/groundcover

size: 3-6″h

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry/moist

bloom time: may-nov

benefits: insects, butterflies

notes: spreads aggressively-if using in a small area, needs borders to contain it; erosion control; drought and flood tolerant

 Yellow Water Lily

latin name: Nymphaea mexicana

habit: herb

size: up to 6″ above water line

light: full sun

water: wet

bloom time: mar-oct

benefits: 

notes:

 Virginia Iris

latin name: Iris virginica

habit: herb

size: 3’h

light: full sun

water: wet

bloom time: may-jul

benefits: birds, dragonflies

notes:

My Top Native Plants/Small Shrubs (part shade-shade; *also tolerate full sun)

Southern Arrowwood*

latin name: Viburnum dentatum

habit: shrub

size: up to 10′

light: all

water: moist

bloom time: may-jul

benefits: birds, bees, butterflies

notes: berries; disease and pest free; flood tolerant

Oakleaf Hydrangea

latin name: Hydrangea quercifolia

habit: shrub

size: 3-12’h

light: shade

water: moist

bloom time: apr-jul

benefits: 

notes: fragrant; pest free

American Beautyberry

latin name: Callicarpa americana

habit: shrub

size: 3-6’h x 4-6’w

light: part sun

water: moist

bloom time: may-jun

benefits: birds, butterflies

notes: berries; prefers rich soil

Texas Wisteria*

latin name: Wisteria fructens

habit: vine

size: 25-30′

light: all

water: moist

bloom time: may-jun

benefits: butterflies

notes: fragrant; nitrogen fixer; prefers slightly acidic soil; butterfly larvae host

Coralberry

latin name: Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

habit: shrub

size: up to 2’h

light: part sun/shade

water: dry

bloom time: apr-jun

benefits: birds, bees

notes: winter berries; erosion control; drought tolerant; spreads

Turk’s Cap

latin name: Malvaviscus arbors v drummondi

habit: shrub

size: 2-9’h

light: part sun/shade

water: dry/moist

bloom time: may-nov

benefits: birds, insects, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds

notes: winter dieback

Pigeonberry

latin name: Rivina humilis

habit: herb

size: up to 1.5’h

light: part sun

water: moist

bloom time: 

benefits: birds

notes: toxic; erosion control

Chili Pequin*

latin name: Capsicum annuum

habit: shrub

size: up to 2’h

light: all

water: moist

bloom time: may-oct

benefits: edible, birds

notes: winter dieback

Texas Sedge*

latin name: Carex texensis

habit: grass

size: up to 1′

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry/moist

bloom time: mar-may

benefits: 

notes: 

Inland Sea Oats

latin name: Chasmanthium latifolium

habit: grass

size: 2-4’h

light: part shade/shade

water: moist

bloom time: jun-sep

benefits: birds, butterflies

notes: butterfly larvae host

Horseherb*

latin name: Calyptocarpus vialis

habit: herb

size: 8-10″h

light: all

water: dry

bloom time: mar-nov

benefits: butterflies

notes: spreads; drought and flood tolerant

Lyreleaf Sage*

latin name: Salvia lyrata

habit: herb

size: 1-2’h

light: all

water: dry/moist

bloom time: mar-jun

benefits: butterflies, hummingbirds

notes: drought and flood tolerant

My Top Non-Native But Highly Beneficial Herbs (full sun)

Dill (in flower)

latin name: Anthem graveolens

habit: herb

size: 2-3’h

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: 

benefits: edible, insects, butterflies

notes: butterfly larvae host; native to the Mediterranean and Southeast Europe

Parsley

latin name: Petroselinum crisp neapolitanum

habit: herb

size: 8-24″h

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: 

benefits: edible, insects

notes: provides K, Ca, Mg, Fe to soil; butterfly larvae host; native to the Eastern Mediterranean

Cilantro (in flower)

latin name: Coriandrum sativum

habit: herb

size: 2’h x 1’w

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: 

benefits: edible, insects

notes: native to Southern Europe

Rosemary

latin name: Salvia rosemarinus

habit: herb

size: up to 6’h x 4’w

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: 

benefits: edible, insects

notes: native to the Mediterranean 

Borage

latin name: Borago officinalis

habit: herb

size: 1-3’h x 9-24″w

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: summer-fall

benefits: edible, insects, bees, butterflies

notes: adds K and Si to the soil; native to Europe

African Blue Basil (in flower)

latin name: Ocimum sp

habit: herb

size: 3’h x 3’w

light: full sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: apr-

benefits: edible, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

notes: native to East Africa

My Top Non-Native But Highly Beneficial Plants (can tolerate some shade)

Spearmint

latin name: Mentha spicata

habit: herb

size: 1-3’h x 3-5’w

light: part sun

water: moist

bloom time: summer

benefits: edible, insects

notes: native to North America, Eurasia, South Africa, and Australia

Oregano

latin name: Origanum vulgare

habit: herb

size: 1-3’h x 2-4’w

light: part sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: 

benefits: edible, insects

notes: native to West and Southwest Europe and the Mediterranean

Thyme

latin name: Thymus vulgeris

habit: herb

size: 6-12″h x 10″w

light: full sun/part sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: summer

benefits: edible, butterflies, bats?

notes: native to Europe, the Mediterranean, Turkey, and Greenland

Chives

latin name: Allium schoenoprasum

habit: herb

size: 6-18″h x 8-12″w

light: part sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: spring

benefits: edible, insects

notes: adds K and Ca to the soil; native to Europe and Asia

Variegated Red Shrimp Plant

latin name: Justicia brandegeana ‘variegata’

habit: shrub

size: 2-6’h x 2-4’w

light: part sun

water: well-drained

bloom time:

benefits: hummingbirds

notes: butterfly larvae host; native to Mexico

Night-Blooming Jasmine

latin name: Cestrum nocturnum

habit: shrub

size: 8’h x6’w

light: part sun

water: well-drained

bloom time: (night)

benefits: moths, bats

notes: fragrant; winter dieback; native to the West Indies

My Top Native Tall Trees

Live Oak

latin name: Cuercus virginiana

habit: tall tree

size: 40-80’h

light: full sun

water: 

bloom time: mar-apr

benefits: birds, butterflies

notes: adds K to the soil, forage

 Pecan

latin name: Carya illinoinensis

habit: tall tree

size: 70-100’h

light: full sun

water: moist

bloom time: spring

benefits: edible, birds, butterflies, moths

notes: would be on my list if I have space

My Top Native Short Trees

 Mexican Plum

latin name: Prunus mexicanus

habit: deciduous short tree

size: up to 35′

light: full sun/part sun

water: dry/moist

bloom time: feb-apr

benefits: edible, birds, moths

notes: on my list; erosion control

 Elderberry

latin name: Sambucus nigra

habit: deciduous short tree

size: up to 12′

light: part sun

water: moist

bloom time: may-jul

benefits: edible, birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds

notes: on my list; prefers rich, slightly acidic soil; fragrant

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