Native plants · Texas

Native plants of Travis County

532 plant species are recorded as native to Texas in Kew’s World Checklist of Vascular Plants and USDA PLANTS, and recorded in Travis County by USDA PLANTS. 195 of them have growing records you can filter by light, moisture, height and estimated cold hardiness. 6 more species are listed as both native and introduced and kept in a separate section.

County summary · USDA PLANTS and Kew WCVP

Travis County, Texas

Native species: 532 Typical Texas county: 145 (median of 254 counties)
Garden-ready natives: 195 Typical Texas county: 61
Share by type (all 532 native species): Percent of the 532 native species in each growth type

Tree 9% (47)
Shrub 2% (11)
Wildflower (forb) 58% (311)
Grass or grass-like 23% (120)
Vine 7% (35)
Fern 2% (8)

Wildflowers make up the largest share of the native list (58%), followed by grasses and grass-like plants (23%).

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 zones 8b to 9a (2023 map).

The native plant list

Garden-ready natives 195

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

Garden-ready native plants of Travis County, Texas
Plant	Type	Height	Light	Water use	Hardy to
American basswood Tilia americana	Tree	100 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
American beautyberry Callicarpa americana	Shrub	6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6b
American elm Ulmus americana	Tree	120 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 2b
American pokeweed Phytolacca americana	Wildflower (forb)	7.3 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
American sycamore Platanus occidentalis	Tree	100 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
American water-willow Justicia americana	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
Arizona cottontop Digitaria californica	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
Arizona walnut Juglans major	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
Atlantic camas Camassia scilloides	Wildflower (forb)	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
bald cypress Taxodium distichum	Tree	130 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5b
beaked spikerush Eleocharis rostellata	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
bearded beggarticks Bidens aristosa	Wildflower (forb)	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
big bluestem Andropogon gerardii	Grass or grass-like	6 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 2b
black cherry Prunus serotina	Tree	80 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
black walnut Juglans nigra	Tree	100 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
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
broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae	Shrub	1.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
brownseed paspalum Paspalum plicatulum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
buffalograss Bouteloua dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
butterfly milkweed Asclepias tuberosa	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
California bulrush Schoenoplectus californicus	Grass or grass-like	6.6 ft	Sun	High	Zone 9a
Canada germander Teucrium canadense	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
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
Canadian horseweed Conyza canadensis	Wildflower (forb)	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12b
cane bluestem Bothriochloa barbinodis	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7b
cardinalflower Lobelia cardinalis	Wildflower (forb)	5.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
Carolina buckthorn Frangula caroliniana	Tree	20 ft	Shade-tolerant	—	Zone 4b
Carolina fanwort Cabomba caroliniana	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Carolina foxtail Alopecurus carolinianus	Grass or grass-like	1.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3a
cedar elm Ulmus crassifolia	Tree	90 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6a
clasping coneflower Dracopis amplexicaulis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
climbing hempvine Mikania scandens	Vine	1 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
coast cockspur grass Echinochloa walteri	Grass or grass-like	6.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 10b
cockspur hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli	Tree	30 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 4a
common blue violet Viola sororia	Wildflower (forb)	4 in	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4b
common buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis	Tree	15 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common hackberry Celtis occidentalis	Tree	60 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 2b
common hoptree Ptelea trifoliata	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
common maidenhair Adiantum capillus-veneris	Fern	1.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
common sneezeweed Helenium autumnale	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
common spikerush Eleocharis palustris	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
composite dropseed Sporobolus compositus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
coon's tail Ceratophyllum demersum	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
coralberry Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
cucumberleaf sunflower Helianthus debilis	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 9b
curly-mesquite Hilaria belangeri	Grass or grass-like	10 in	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
cursed buttercup Ranunculus sceleratus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 12b
cylinder jointtail grass Coelorachis cylindrica	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
deergrass Muhlenbergia rigens	Grass or grass-like	4.5 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 9b
delta arrowhead Sagittaria platyphylla	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 6a
desert willow Chilopsis linearis	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5a
devil's beggartick Bidens frondosa	Wildflower (forb)	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12a
disk waterhyssop Bacopa rotundifolia	Wildflower (forb)	1 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
dotted blazing star Liatris punctata	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
dotted smartweed Polygonum punctatum	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
dwarf palmetto Sabal minor	Tree	9 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides	Tree	190 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
eastern gamagrass Tripsacum dactyloides	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
eastern narrowleaf sedge Carex amphibola	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
eastern redbud Cercis canadensis	Tree	30 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4b
eastern redcedar Juniperus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 3a
fall panicgrass Panicum dichotomiflorum	Grass or grass-like	3.3 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3a
false daisy Eclipta prostrata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 10b
false indigo bush Amorpha fruticosa	Shrub	15 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
flatstem spikerush Eleocharis compressa	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4a
forked rush Juncus dichotomus	Grass or grass-like	2.9 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8b
fowl mannagrass Glyceria striata	Grass or grass-like	5.7 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
fragrant flatsedge Cyperus odoratus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11b
fringeleaf wild petunia Ruellia humilis	Wildflower (forb)	2.6 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
giant cutgrass Zizaniopsis miliacea	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 8b
giant goldenrod Solidago gigantea	Wildflower (forb)	8.2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4a
golden crownbeard Verbesina encelioides	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
golden tickseed Coreopsis tinctoria	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
grassleaf rush Juncus marginatus	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
gray goldenrod Solidago nemoralis	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
graybark grape Vitis cinerea	Vine	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 6b
green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 2b
green hawthorn Crataegus viridis	Tree	30 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
green sprangletop Leptochloa dubia	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
hairy grama Bouteloua hirsuta	Grass or grass-like	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
heartleaf peppervine Ampelopsis cordata	Vine	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6b
honey mesquite Prosopis glandulosa	Tree	50 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
honeylocust Gleditsia triacanthos	Tree	70 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
Illinois bundleflower Desmanthus illinoensis	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5b
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
Indianhemp Apocynum cannabinum	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3a
inland rush Juncus interior	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 3b
knotgrass Paspalum distichum	Grass or grass-like	11 in	Sun	High	Zone 6a
lemonscent Pectis angustifolia	Wildflower (forb)	8 in	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
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
little walnut Juglans microcarpa	Tree	20 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 7a
littleleaf leadtree Leucaena retusa	Tree	25 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 8b
live oak Quercus virginiana	Tree	50 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 8a
longleaf pondweed Potamogeton nodosus	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
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
marsh seedbox Ludwigia palustris	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun	High	Zone 4a
Maryland senna Senna marilandica	Wildflower (forb)	6.6 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
mescal bean Sophora secundiflora	Tree	15 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8a
Missouri gourd Cucurbita foetidissima	Vine	1 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium angustifolium	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
narrowleaf silkgrass Pityopsis graminifolia	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 7a
needle spikerush Eleocharis acicularis	Grass or grass-like	8 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
nimblewill Muhlenbergia schreberi	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 4a
nodding lady's tresses Spiranthes cernua	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
northern catalpa Catalpa speciosa	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
northern spicebush Lindera benzoin	Tree	12 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
Nuttall's povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
Osage-orange Maclura pomifera	Tree	35 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
panicledleaf ticktrefoil Desmodium paniculatum	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 6a
partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata	Wildflower (forb)	2.4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 7a
pecan Carya illinoinensis	Tree	120 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
Pennsylvania smartweed Polygonum pensylvanicum	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
peppervine Nekemias arborea	Vine	1 in	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 6a
Philadelphia fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus	Wildflower (forb)	2.8 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 4b
pickerelweed Pontederia cordata	Wildflower (forb)	3.2 ft	Sun	High	Zone 5a
plains lovegrass Eragrostis intermedia	Grass or grass-like	2.7 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 5a
possumhaw Ilex decidua	Tree	33 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
post oak Quercus stellata	Tree	60 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
prairie fleabane Erigeron strigosus	Wildflower (forb)	3 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
pride of Ohio Dodecatheon meadia	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3b
purple locoweed Oxytropis lambertii	Wildflower (forb)	1.4 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
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
red buckeye Aesculus pavia	Tree	25 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
red mulberry Morus rubra	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
redbay Persea borbonia	Tree	70 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
redroot flatsedge Cyperus erythrorhizos	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 11a
rice cutgrass Leersia oryzoides	Grass or grass-like	4.9 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
roving sailor Maurandella antirrhiniflora	Vine	10 in	Sun	Medium	Zone 6b
sago pondweed Stuckenia pectinata	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 3b
salt heliotrope Heliotropium curassavicum	Wildflower (forb)	1.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
sand dropseed Sporobolus cryptandrus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
sand lovegrass Eragrostis trichodes	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 5a
saw greenbrier Smilax bona-nox	Vine	4 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 5b
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
singlewhorl burrobrush Hymenoclea monogyra	Shrub	2 ft	—	—	Zone 10a
skunkbush sumac Rhus trilobata	Shrub	4 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 2a
smallspike false nettle Boehmeria cylindrica	Wildflower (forb)	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
smooth beggartick Bidens laevis	Wildflower (forb)	3.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
smooth horsetail Equisetum laevigatum	Fern	5 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 3b
softstem bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani	Grass or grass-like	9 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides	Tree	66 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
southern waternymph Najas guadalupensis	Wildflower (forb)	1 ft	Sun	High	Zone 3b
Spanish moss Tillandsia usneoides	Vine	—	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 9b
squarestem spikerush Eleocharis quadrangulata	Grass or grass-like	4 ft	Sun	High	Zone 4b
stalkless yellowcress Rorippa sessiliflora	Wildflower (forb)	1.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 12b
stiff marsh bedstraw Galium tinctorium	Wildflower (forb)	10 in	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 4a
strawcolored flatsedge Cyperus strigosus	Grass or grass-like	3.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4a
sugarberry Celtis laevigata	Tree	80 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 5a
sugarcane plumegrass Saccharum giganteum	Grass or grass-like	9.8 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 4b
swamp sawgrass Cladium mariscus	Grass or grass-like	8.2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 8b
swamp smartweed Polygonum hydropiperoides	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	Medium	Zone 10b
sweetscent Pluchea odorata	Wildflower (forb)	4.9 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 6a
switchgrass Panicum virgatum	Grass or grass-like	5 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
tapertip flatsedge Cyperus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	1.3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 3b
tapertip rush Juncus acuminatus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
tiny mousetail Myosurus minimus	Wildflower (forb)	5 in	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 12b
toad rush Juncus bufonius	Grass or grass-like	1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 12a
Torrey's rush Juncus torreyi	Grass or grass-like	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
trumpet creeper Campsis radicans	Vine	2 ft	Sun	Low	Zone 6a
trumpet honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4a
turkey tangle fogfruit Phyla nodiflora	Wildflower (forb)	2 in	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 5b
twoheaded water-starwort Callitriche heterophylla	Wildflower (forb)	—	Sun	High	Zone 4a
upright prairie coneflower Ratibida columnifera	Wildflower (forb)	3.1 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
valley redstem Ammannia coccinea	Wildflower (forb)	1.6 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3b
vine mesquite Panicum obtusum	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 5a
Virginia creeper Parthenocissus quinquefolia	Vine	1 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 4b
Virginia wildrye Elymus virginicus	Grass or grass-like	2.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 4b
western wheatgrass Pascopyrum smithii	Grass or grass-like	2 ft	Sun	Medium	Zone 3a
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
whitegrass Leersia virginica	Grass or grass-like	3.9 ft	Shade-tolerant	Medium	Zone 3a
whiteroot rush Juncus brachycarpus	Grass or grass-like	3 ft	Sun–part shade	Medium	Zone 5a
wild tantan Desmanthus virgatus	Wildflower (forb)	2 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 9a
wingleaf primrose-willow Ludwigia decurrens	Wildflower (forb)	4.5 ft	Shade-tolerant	High	Zone 8a
winter bentgrass Agrostis hyemalis	Grass or grass-like	3.5 ft	Sun–part shade	High	Zone 4a
woolly plantain Plantago patagonica	Wildflower (forb)	6 in	Sun	Low	Zone 12b
yaupon Ilex vomitoria	Tree	25 ft	Sun–part shade	Low	Zone 8a
yellow passionflower Passiflora lutea	Vine	16 ft	Shade-tolerant	Low	Zone 5a

Other native species recorded here 337

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 lipfern Cheilanthes alabamensis
Alabama supplejack Berchemia scandens
amberique-bean Strophostyles helvola
American bird's-foot trefoil Lotus unifoliolatus
American bluehearts Buchnera americana
American star-thistle Centaurea americana
American wild carrot Daucus pusillus
angularfruit milkvine Matelea gonocarpos
annual marsh elder Iva annua
annual phlox Phlox drummondii
aromatic aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Atlantic pigeonwings Clitoria mariana
awned halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha aristulata
azure blue sage Salvia azurea
Baldwin's flatsedge Cyperus croceus
Baldwin's ironweed Vernonia baldwinii
beaked cornsalad Valerianella radiata
bearded flatsedge Cyperus squarrosus
biannual lettuce Lactuca ludoviciana
bigbract verbena Verbena bracteata
bighead pygmycudweed Evax prolifera
bigpod sesbania Sesbania herbacea
bigseed alfalfa dodder Cuscuta indecora
blackstem spleenwort Asplenium resiliens
blue mudplantain Heteranthera limosa
bluejacket Tradescantia ohiensis
bluestem pricklypoppy Argemone albiflora
bog yellowcress Rorippa palustris
branched foldwing Dicliptera brachiata
bristly greenbrier Smilax tamnoides
bristly scaleseed Spermolepis echinata
buffalobur nightshade Solanum rostratum
bushy knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum
camphor pluchea Pluchea camphorata
camphorweed Heterotheca subaxillaris
Canada spikesedge Eleocharis geniculata
Canadian blacksnakeroot Sanicula canadensis
carelessweed Amaranthus palmeri
Carolina anemone Anemone caroliniana
Carolina canarygrass Phalaris caroliniana
Carolina clover Trifolium carolinianum
Carolina coralbead Cocculus carolinus
Carolina desert-chicory Pyrrhopappus carolinianus
Carolina draba Draba reptans
Carolina geranium Geranium carolinianum
Carolina larkspur Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina ponysfoot Dichondra carolinensis
Carolina vetch Vicia caroliniana
Carolina woollywhite Hymenopappus scabiosaeus
carpenter's square Scrophularia marilandica
catchfly prairie gentian Eustoma exaltatum
chickenthief Mentzelia oligosperma
churchmouse threeawn Aristida dichotoma
clammy groundcherry Physalis heterophylla
clasping Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata
clustered blacksnakeroot Sanicula odorata
coastal sandbur Cenchrus spinifex
creeping lovegrass Neeragrostis reptans
creeping primrose-willow Ludwigia repens
crested anoda Anoda cristata
crowpoison Nothoscordum bivalve
Cuman ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya
curlytop knotweed Polygonum lapathifolium
curvepod fumewort Corydalis curvisiliqua
cusp dodder Cuscuta cuspidata
cutleaf evening primrose Oenothera laciniata
cutleaf groundcherry Physalis angulata
cylindricfruit primrose-willow Ludwigia glandulosa
cypress panicgrass Dichanthelium dichotomum
Dakota mock vervain Glandularia bipinnatifida
denseflower knotweed Polygonum glabrum
diamond-flowers Stenaria nigricans
downy hawthorn Crataegus mollis
downy lobelia Lobelia puberula
downy milkpea Galactia volubilis
downy ragged goldenrod Solidago petiolaris
Drummond's aster Symphyotrichum drummondii
Drummond's false pennyroyal Hedeoma drummondii
Drummond's halfchaff sedge Lipocarpha drummondii
dwarf horseweed Conyza ramosissima
early wildrye Elymus macgregorii
eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans
Emory's sedge Carex emoryi
Engelmann's daisy Engelmannia peristenia
Engelmann's spikerush Eleocharis engelmannii
erect centella Centella erecta
erect spiderling Boerhavia erecta
eyebane Chamaesyce nutans
false boneset Brickellia eupatorioides
feather fingergrass Chloris virgata
field pansy Viola bicolor
fire on the mountain Euphorbia cyathophora
fiveangled dodder Cuscuta pentagona
flatspine stickseed Lappula occidentalis
fluxweed Trichostema brachiatum
gaping grass Steinchisma hians
globe beaksedge Rhynchospora globularis
globe flatsedge Cyperus echinatus
grand redstem Ammannia robusta
grassleaf mudplantain Heteranthera dubia
grassy arrowhead Sagittaria graminea
Great Plains flatsedge Cyperus lupulinus
Great Plains lady's tresses Spiranthes magnicamporum
great ragweed Ambrosia trifida
green antelopehorn Asclepias viridis
green carpetweed Mollugo verticillata
green comet milkweed Asclepias viridiflora
green dragon Arisaema dracontium
grooved flax Linum sulcatum
groovestem Indian plantain Arnoglossum plantagineum
groundplum milkvetch Astragalus crassicarpus
Guadeloupe cucumber Melothria pendula
gum bully Sideroxylon lanuginosum
hairy bedstraw Galium pilosum
hairy evening primrose Oenothera villosa
hairy fimbry Fimbristylis puberula
hairy waterclover Marsilea vestita
hairy woodland brome Bromus pubescens
hairyseed paspalum Paspalum pubiflorum
heartleaf nettle Urtica chamaedryoides
heartleaf skullcap Scutellaria ovata
heartwing sorrel Rumex hastatulus
Heller's rosette grass Dichanthelium oligosanthes
herb of grace Bacopa monnieri
herbwilliam Ptilimnium capillaceum
hirsute sedge Carex complanata
hogwort Croton capitatus
honeyvine Cynanchum laeve
hooded arrowhead Sagittaria calycina
horned pondweed Zannichellia palustris
humped bladderwort Utricularia gibba
husk tomato Physalis pubescens
hyssopleaf sandmat Chamaesyce hyssopifolia
Illinois pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis
ivyleaf groundcherry Physalis hederifolia
Java-bean Senna obtusifolia
Jersey tea Ceanothus herbaceus
Juda's bush Iresine rhizomatosa
juniper leaf Polypremum procumbens
keeled bulrush Isolepis carinata
kiss me quick Portulaca pilosa
lanceleaf sage Salvia reflexa
largebracted plantain Plantago aristata
largeseed forget-me-not Myosotis macrosperma
lateflowering thoroughwort Eupatorium serotinum
lax hornpod Mitreola petiolata
least duckweed Lemna minuta
Leavenworth's sedge Carex leavenworthii
lemon beebalm Monarda citriodora
lesser duckweed Lemna aequinoctialis
licorice bedstraw Galium circaezans
limestone adderstongue Ophioglossum engelmannii
limestone calamint Clinopodium arkansanum
lizard's tail Saururus cernuus
longflower beeblossom Oenothera filiformis
longleaf groundcherry Physalis longifolia
Louisiana vetch Vicia ludoviciana
low nutrush Scleria verticillata
low spearwort Ranunculus pusillus
lowland rotala Rotala ramosior
lyreleaf sage Salvia lyrata
manyflower marshpennywort Hydrocotyle umbellata
mapleleaf goosefoot Chenopodium simplex
marsh bristlegrass Setaria parviflora
marsh lady's tresses Spiranthes odorata
matted sandmat Chamaesyce serpens
Maximilian sunflower Helianthus maximiliani
meadow garlic Allium canadense
meadow spikemoss Selaginella apoda
Mexican plum Prunus mexicana
Missouri foxtail cactus Escobaria missouriensis
Missouri violet Viola missouriensis
mucronate sprangletop Leptochloa panicea
Muhlenberg's sedge Carex muehlenbergii
narrowleaf gumweed Grindelia lanceolata
narrowleaf paleseed Leucospora multifida
narrowleaf pinweed Lechea tenuifolia
narrowleaf purple coneflower Echinacea angustifolia
narrowleaf stoneseed Lithospermum incisum
neckweed Veronica peregrina
nits and lice Hypericum drummondii
nodding muhly Muhlenbergia bushii
northern slender lady's tresses Spiranthes lacera
Nuttall's prairie parsley Polytaenia nuttallii
obedient plant Physostegia virginiana
oneseed bur cucumber Sicyos angulatus
pale dock Rumex altissimus
pale spikerush Eleocharis macrostachya
pasture heliotrope Heliotropium tenellum
Pennsylvania everlasting Gamochaeta pensylvanica
Pennsylvania pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica
Peruvian dodder Cuscuta obtusiflora
pine barren flatsedge Cyperus retrorsus
pineland threeseed mercury Acalypha ostryifolia
pink thoroughwort Fleischmannia incarnata
pinkladies Oenothera speciosa
pitcher's stitchwort Minuartia patula
pitseed goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri
plains snakecotton Froelichia floridana
poorjoe Diodia teres
poverty dropseed Sporobolus vaginiflorus
prairie broomweed Amphiachyris dracunculoides
prairie burnet Sanguisorba annua
prairie spiderwort Tradescantia occidentalis
prairie tea Croton monanthogynus
prairie threeawn Aristida oligantha
prickly fanpetals Sida spinosa
prostrate sandmat Chamaesyce prostrata
purple cliffbrake Pellaea atropurpurea
purple sandgrass Triplasis purpurea
rabbit-tobacco Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium
ram's horn Proboscidea louisianica
red columbine Aquilegia canadensis
Red River scaleseed Spermolepis inermis
redseed plantain Plantago rhodosperma
redwhisker clammyweed Polanisia dodecandra
ribseed sandmat Chamaesyce glyptosperma
rosemallow Hibiscus lasiocarpos
rough dropseed Sporobolus clandestinus
rough false pennyroyal Hedeoma hispida
roughfruit scaleseed Spermolepis divaricata
roundleaf ragwort Packera obovata
roundseed panicgrass Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon
rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum
sacred thorn-apple Datura wrightii
sand grape Vitis rupestris
sand spikerush Eleocharis montevidensis
sandhill amaranth Amaranthus arenicola
sandpaper vervain Verbena scabra
scarlet beeblossom Oenothera suffrutescens
scarlet spiderling Boerhavia coccinea
sensitive partridge pea Chamaecrista nictitans
shaggy dwarf morning-glory Evolvulus nuttallianus
shortleaf spikesedge Kyllinga brevifolia
shortpod draba Draba brachycarpa
shortstalk chickweed Cerastium brachypodum
showy evening primrose Oenothera grandis
sidebeak pencilflower Stylosanthes biflora
silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium
sixangle spurge Euphorbia hexagona
sixweeks fescue Vulpia octoflora
sleepy silene Silene antirrhina
slender crabgrass Digitaria filiformis
slender fimbry Fimbristylis autumnalis
slender lespedeza Lespedeza virginica
slender plantain Plantago heterophylla
slender snakecotton Froelichia gracilis
slender yellow woodsorrel Oxalis dillenii
slickseed fuzzybean Strophostyles leiosperma
slimflower scurfpea Psoralidium tenuiflorum
slimleaf panicgrass Dichanthelium linearifolium
slimpod rush Juncus diffusissimus
slimpod Venus' looking-glass Triodanis leptocarpa
slimspike threeawn Aristida longespica
small pondweed Potamogeton pusillus
small Venus' looking-glass Triodanis biflora
smallflower fumewort Corydalis micrantha
sneezeweed Helenium amarum
snow on the mountain Euphorbia marginata
soft-hair marbleseed Onosmodium bejariense
sorrelvine Cissus trifoliata
southeastern wildrye Elymus glabriflorus
southern annual saltmarsh aster Symphyotrichum divaricatum
southern cattail Typha domingensis
southern dewberry Rubus trivialis
southern sedge Carex austrina
Spanish gold Grindelia papposa
spiked crested coralroot Hexalectris spicata
spiny naiad Najas marina
spoonleaf purple everlasting Gamochaeta purpurea
spotted beebalm Monarda punctata
spotted sandmat Chamaesyce maculata
spotted water hemlock Cicuta maculata
spring coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana
spurred butterfly pea Centrosema virginianum
St. Andrew's cross Hypericum hypericoides
standing-cypress Ipomopsis rubra
Standley's goosefoot Chenopodium standleyanum
stemless evening primrose Oenothera triloba
stiff yellow flax Linum medium
stream orchid Epipactis gigantea
stretchberry Forestiera pubescens
sunbright Phemeranthus parviflorus
tapered rosette grass Dichanthelium acuminatum
Texas bluegrass Poa arachnifera
Texas croton Croton texensis
Texas signalgrass Urochloa texana
Texas star Sabatia campestris
Texas toadflax Nuttallanthus texanus
Texas vervain Verbena halei
thin paspalum Paspalum setaceum
threeflower melicgrass Melica nitens
tiny bluet Houstonia pusilla
toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata
trailing pearlwort Sagina decumbens
tropical flatsedge Cyperus surinamensis
tufted lovegrass Eragrostis pectinacea
tumble windmill grass Chloris verticillata
tumblegrass Schedonnardus paniculatus
twistspine pricklypear Opuntia macrorhiza
twoleaf watermilfoil Myriophyllum heterophyllum
upright burhead Echinodorus berteroi
Vahl's fimbry Fimbristylis vahlii
velvetweed Oenothera curtiflora
violet woodsorrel Oxalis violacea
Virginia buttonweed Diodia virginiana
Virginia groundcherry Physalis virginiana
Virginia pepperweed Lepidium virginicum
Virginia plantain Plantago virginica
Virginia snakeroot Aristolochia serpentaria
Virginia springbeauty Claytonia virginica
Virginia winged rockcress Sibara virginica
warty caltrop Kallstroemia parviflora
warty spurge Euphorbia spathulata
wedgeleaf Phyla cuneifolia
wedgeleaf draba Draba cuneifolia
western horsenettle Solanum dimidiatum
western rockjasmine Androsace occidentalis
western rough goldenrod Solidago radula
western silver aster Symphyotrichum sericeum
western tansymustard Descurainia pinnata
white crownbeard Verbesina virginica
white four o'clock Mirabilis albida
white heath aster Symphyotrichum ericoides
white snakeroot Ageratina altissima
whitemouth dayflower Commelina erecta
whitestar Ipomoea lacunosa
whorled marshpennywort Hydrocotyle verticillata
whorled milkweed Asclepias verticillata
willowleaf aster Symphyotrichum praealtum
winged lythrum Lythrum alatum
winged pigweed Cycloloma atriplicifolium
witchgrass Panicum capillare
woolly tidestromia Tidestromia lanuginosa
Wright's plantain Plantago wrightiana
yellow thistle Cirsium horridulum
yellowseed false pimpernel Lindernia dubia

Also listed as native and introduced here 6

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.

annual ragweedAmbrosia artemisiifolia
cayenne pepperCapsicum annuum
common pepperweedLepidium densiflorum
floating primrose-willowLudwigia peploides
Mexican teaDysphania ambrosioides
white sagebrushArtemisia ludoviciana

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, Travis County and Texas
Measure	Travis County	Typical county	Statewide
Native species	532	145	1,683
Garden-ready natives	195	61	656
Tree	47	—	164
Shrub	11	—	90
Wildflower (forb)	311	—	877
Grass or grass-like	120	—	431
Vine	35	—	83
Fern	8	—	38

Neighboring counties

Counties that share a ZIP code with Travis County.

Bastrop County, TX 156 garden-ready
Blanco County, TX 89 garden-ready
Burnet County, TX 91 garden-ready
Caldwell County, TX 49 garden-ready
Hays County, TX 122 garden-ready
Williamson County, TX 99 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: Travis County (county FIPS 48453), Texas. 532 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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