Plants & Grasses Native to Central Texas
The dry, rocky soils of Central Texas lack the moist fertility of East Texas, yet aren't as arid as West Texas. The limestone hills around the Texas capital of Austin in the central portion of the state are home to a wide variety of native grasses and plants that thrive in the alkaline soil and summer heat. Many of these native plants are popular with homeowners in the area because of the plants' ability to thrive with little care.
Big Muhly
Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri) is a native Central Texas grass often used as an ornamental in home landscape. Growing 3 to 5 feet tall, big muhly likes a sunny location. It has delicate blue-green spikes that produce feathery blossoms in the fall.
Agarita
Agarita (Berberis trifoliata) is a small shrub with spiky leaves and bright red berries. The shrubs grows 3 to 5 feet tall and the narrow leaves resemble holly. The evergreen plants are drought-tolerant.
- The dry, rocky soils of Central Texas lack the moist fertility of East Texas, yet aren't as arid as West Texas.
- Big muhly (Muhlenbergia lindheimeri) is a native Central Texas grass often used as an ornamental in home landscape.
Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) is a native perennial that grows 1 to 3 feet tall. The golden, daisy-like flowers with brown, velvety centers fill Central Texas fields and line roadsides in the summer months. In the home garden, the flowers will grow large and profuse if the plant receives plenty of water, though black-eyed Susans are also drought tolerant.
Buffalo Grass
Buffalo Grass (Buchloe dactyloides) is a native grass that is now cultivated as a turf grass. The fine-bladed, light green grass forms a thick carpet that requires little water to remain green.
Coreopsis
Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), also known as tickseed sunflower, produces masses of golden blooms on feathery, gray-green foliage. Plants grow from 1 to 3 feet tall. This perennial does well in full sun to partial shade.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida) is a native perennial that grows 1 to 3 feet tall.
- In the home garden, the flowers will grow large and profuse if the plant receives plenty of water, though black-eyed Susans are also drought tolerant.
Aster
Aster (Aster oblongifolium) is a shrubby perennial that produces masses of lavender, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers. The flowers bloom in the fall until first frost and the plants grow from 1 to 3 feet tall.
Little Bluestem
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is another native grass that has been adapted for use in landscaping as an ornamental. Little bluestem grows up to 5 feet tall. Though the young grass stalks have a blueish appearance, the mature plant has rusty foliage.
Missouri Primrose
Missouri primrose (Oenothera missouriensis) produces large yellow blossoms on low-growing, silver-green foliage. The flowers open in the evening in late spring and early summer.
- Aster (Aster oblongifolium) is a shrubby perennial that produces masses of lavender, daisy-like flowers with yellow centers.
- The flowers bloom in the fall until first frost and the plants grow from 1 to 3 feet tall.
References
- "How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest"; Jill Nokes; 2001
- City of Austin: Native Plant Guides
Resources
Writer Bio
Cynthia Myers is the author of numerous novels and her nonfiction work has appeared in publications ranging from "Historic Traveler" to "Texas Highways" to "Medical Practice Management." She has a degree in economics from Sam Houston State University.
