Native plants · Texas

Native plants of Burleson County

287 plant species are recorded as native to Texas in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Burleson County by USDA PLANTS. 103 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 1 more species is listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Burleson County, Texas

Native species: 287 Typical Texas county: 145 (median of 254 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 103 Typical Texas county: 61
Share by type (all 287 native species): Percent of the 287 native species in each growth type

Tree 10% (29)
Shrub <1% (1)
Wildflower (forb) 51% (147)
Grass or grass-like 32% (91)
Vine 5% (15)
Fern 1% (4)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (51%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (32%).

Recorded native ranges can include long-established populations that spread from gardens; check your state’s native plant society list for local guidance. How native status is decided.

ZIP codes mainly in this county fall in USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 103

Native species with PLANTS growing records (height, light, moisture, minimum temperature). “—” means PLANTS has no value.

Garden-ready native plants of Burleson County, Texas
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American cupscale Sacciolepis striata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5b
autumn bluegrass Poa autumnalis	Grass or grass-like	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
black willow Salix nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 1b
blackeyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
blackjack oak Quercus marilandica	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
blue mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
blunt spikerush Eleocharis obtusa	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
boxelder Acer negundo	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
broadleaf cattail Typha latifolia	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
brownseed paspalum Paspalum plicatulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
bur oak Quercus macrocarpa	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
burningbush Euonymus atropurpureus	Tree	10 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	—
Bush's sedge Carex bushii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
calico aster Symphyotrichum lateriflorum	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Canada goldenrod Solidago altissima	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
Canada wildrye Elymus canadensis	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
Carolina elephantsfoot Elephantopus carolinianus	Wildflower (forb)	2.7 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
catbird grape Vitis palmata	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
common goldstar Hypoxis hirsuta	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
common persimmon Diospyros virginiana	Tree	55 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
common rush Juncus effusus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
crested pricklypoppy Argemone polyanthemos	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
cylinder jointtail grass Coelorachis cylindrica	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
dwarf St. Johnswort Hypericum mutilum	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern swampprivet Forestiera acuminata	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5b
eastern woodland sedge Carex blanda	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4b
farkleberry Vaccinium arboreum	Tree	28 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
flowering dogwood Cornus florida	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Indian blanket Gaillardia pulchella	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
Indian woodoats Chasmanthium latifolium	Grass or grass-like	4.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
jointed spikesedge Eleocharis equisetoides	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
late purple aster Symphyotrichum patens	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
little barley Hordeum pusillum	Grass or grass-like	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
longspike tridens Tridens strictus	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
Malabar sprangletop Leptochloa fusca	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
marsh flatsedge Cyperus pseudovegetus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8a
muscadine Vitis rotundifolia	Vine	30 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5b
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needleleaf rosette grass Dichanthelium aciculare	Grass or grass-like	1.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 7b
nodding fescue Festuca subverticillata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
Osage-orange Maclura pomifera	Tree	35 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
overcup oak Quercus lyrata	Tree	80 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
parsley hawthorn Crataegus marshallii	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
plains lovegrass Eragrostis intermedia	Grass or grass-like	2.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
planertree Planera aquatica	Tree	50 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
prairie wedgescale Sphenopholis obtusata	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3a
purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
purple poppymallow Callirhoe involucrata	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
purple threeawn Aristida purpurea	Grass or grass-like	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
purpletop tridens Tridens flavus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
ravenfoot sedge Carex crus-corvi	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
redtop panicgrass Panicum rigidulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roughfruit amaranth Amaranthus tuberculatus	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
roughleaf dogwood Cornus drummondii	Tree	20 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
roundhead rush Juncus validus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 7a
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
shortbristle horned beaksedge Rhynchospora corniculata	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
Shumard's oak Quercus shumardii	Tree	100 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
sideoats grama Bouteloua curtipendula	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
splitbeard bluestem Andropogon ternarius	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5b
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
summer grape Vitis aestivalis	Vine	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5a
sweetscent Pluchea odorata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tenangle pipewort Eriocaulon decangulare	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
variable panicgrass Dichanthelium commutatum	Grass or grass-like	4.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
velvet panicum Dichanthelium scoparium	Grass or grass-like	4.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
white ash Fraxinus americana	Tree	90 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
white avens Geum canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
white panicle aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum	Wildflower (forb)	6 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a

Other native species recorded here 184

PLANTS has no growing records for these, so light, moisture, height and zone filters cannot include them. Many are wild species seldom sold by nurseries.

Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
American buckwheat vine Brunnichia ovata
American white waterlily Nymphaea odorata
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
arrowfeather threeawn Aristida purpurascens
arrowleaf violet Viola sagittata
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bigtop lovegrass Eragrostis hirsuta
blackfoot quillwort Isoetes melanopoda
blackfruit spikerush Eleocharis melanocarpa
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluntlobe cliff fern Woodsia obtusa
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada toadflax Nuttallanthus canadensis
carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina horsenettle Solanum carolinense
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina sedge Carex caroliniana
Carolina woollywhite Hymenopappus scabiosaeus
Cherokee sedge Carex cherokeensis
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
compassplant Silphium laciniatum
creeping burhead Echinodorus cordifolius
creeping eryngo Eryngium prostratum
creeping lespedeza Lespedeza repens
creeping lovegrass Neeragrostis reptans
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
densetuft hairsedge Bulbostylis capillaris
dwarf umbrella-sedge Fuirena pumila
early buttercup Ranunculus fascicularis
early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
eastern fox sedge Carex triangularis
ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron
Elliott's bentgrass Agrostis elliottiana
elmleaf goldenrod Solidago ulmifolia
erect centella Centella erecta
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
fewflower beaksedge Rhynchospora rariflora
fewflower nutrush Scleria pauciflora
Florida paspalum Paspalum floridanum
garden dewberry Rubus aboriginum
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy pinweed Lechea mucronata
hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
hairyfruit chervil Chaerophyllum tainturieri
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
kidneyshape sedge Carex reniformis
lace grass Eragrostis capillaris
lanceleaf blanketflower Gaillardia aestivalis
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora
littlehip hawthorn Crataegus spathulata
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
maidencane Panicum hemitomon
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
Maryland meadowbeauty Rhexia mariana
matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
meadow garlic Allium canadense
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Michaux's croton Croton michauxii
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
netted nutrush Scleria reticularis
Nuttall's sensitive-briar Mimosa nuttallii
openflower rosette grass Dichanthelium laxiflorum
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
Parlin's pussytoes Antennaria parlinii
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
Pickering's dawnflower Stylisma pickeringii
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pink sundew Drosera capillaris
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
potato dwarfdandelion Krigia dandelion
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
prairie broomweed Amphiachyris dracunculoides
prairie cupgrass Eriochloa contracta
prairie groundsel Packera plattensis
prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
purple passionflower Passiflora incarnata
queen's-delight Stillingia sylvatica
ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
red lovegrass Eragrostis secundiflora
redseed plantain Plantago rhodosperma
reflexed sedge Carex retroflexa
Richard's yelloweyed grass Xyris jupicai
roundfruit hedgehyssop Gratiola virginiana
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sessileleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium sessilifolium
shortbeak sedge Carex brevior
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender beaksedge Rhynchospora gracilenta
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender yelloweyed grass Xyris torta
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
small skullcap Scutellaria parvula
smallflower fumewort Corydalis micrantha
smallfruit spikerush Eleocharis microcarpa
smallhead doll's daisy Boltonia diffusa
smooth false buttonweed Spermacoce glabra
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
soft goldenaster Chrysopsis pilosa
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spring forget-me-not Myosotis verna
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
standing-cypress Ipomopsis rubra
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
Texas bluegrass Poa arachnifera
Texas signalgrass Urochloa texana
Texas star Sabatia campestris
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
Texas vervain Verbena halei
threadleaf evening primrose Oenothera linifolia
three-lobe violet Viola triloba
threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
twisted spikerush Eleocharis tortilis
twoflower melicgrass Melica mutica
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
Vahl's fimbry Fimbristylis vahlii
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western rough goldenrod Solidago radula
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitetinge sedge Carex albicans
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
yankeeweed Eupatorium compositifolium
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 1

PLANTS labels these species both native and introduced in this state: some forms are native and others were brought in from elsewhere. Most gardeners should choose plants from the main list.

Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides

Compared with Texas

The typical county is the median of the 254 Texas counties with PLANTS county records; the statewide figure counts every species native anywhere in the state. More species is not better or worse: counties differ in size, habitat and how thoroughly they have been surveyed.

Native species counts, Burleson County and Texas
Measure	Burleson County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	287	145	1,683
Garden-ready natives	103	61	656
Tree	29	—	164
Shrub	1	—	90
Wildflower (forb)	147	—	877
Grass or grass-like	91	—	431
Vine	15	—	83
Fern	4	—	38

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Burleson County.

Milam County, TX 100 garden-ready

Source & data date

Source: USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: county distribution records, native status and plant characteristics. CC0 (public domain dedication, per the data.gov catalog record).; Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP): native or introduced status by state. CC BY 3.0.; USGS US-RIIS (ver. 2.0): species listed as introduced are excluded. CC0.
Citation: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov, 11/04/2026). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC USA.; Govaerts R. (ed.) (2026). WCVP: World Checklist of Vascular Plants. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Data file dated 2026-06-04, http://sftp.kew.org/pub/data-repositories/WCVP/ (retrieved 2026-11-04). Paper: Govaerts R. et al. (2021) The World Checklist of Vascular Plants, a continuously updated resource for exploring global plant diversity. Scientific Data 8, 215.
Data date: Retrieved from PLANTS on November 4, 2026; WCVP data file dated June 4, 2026.
Zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) ZIP table: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 3, 2026. Plant zones on this site are our estimate, not the official map.
Scope: Burleson County (county FIPS 48051), Texas. 287 native species from PLANTS county distribution records; garden-ready = species with a PLANTS characteristics record.
Method: A species is listed when it is recorded as native to the state in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in the county by USDA PLANTS. Species PLANTS labels both native and introduced are listed separately. Full method · All sources

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