Martin Byhower 7/26/26 Martin Byhower 7/26/26

Prairie Coneflower

Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) is a cheerful, long-blooming native Texas wildflower that produces distinctive yellow petals surrounding a tall, reddish-brown central cone. Blooming from late spring through fall, it provides an abundant nectar source for butterflies, native bees, and other pollinators while its seeds feed songbirds later in the season. Exceptionally heat- and drought-tolerant, Prairie Coneflower thrives in full sun and poor, well-drained soils, making it an excellent choice for wildflower meadows, pollinator gardens, and water-wise landscapes. Its carefree nature and extended bloom season make it one of the easiest and most rewarding Texas natives to grow.

Martin Byhower 7/19/26 Martin Byhower 7/19/26

Inland Sea Oats

Inland Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium is one of the finest native ornamental grasses for shaded Texas landscapes. Its graceful, arching foliage and distinctive dangling seed heads add texture and movement from summer through winter, while the seeds provide food for songbirds and cover for wildlife. Inland Sea Oats spreads slowly to form attractive colonies, making it an excellent choice beneath trees, along woodland edges, or in naturalized gardens where it thrives in shade or part sun.

Martin Byhower 7/19/26 Martin Byhower 7/19/26

Texas Prickly Pear

Texas Prickly Pear
Opuntia engelmannii
Texas Prickly Pear is an iconic native cactus that adds bold texture, year-round interest, and outstanding drought tolerance to Central Texas landscapes. Its broad blue-green pads are topped in spring with large, cheerful yellow flowers that often develop orange centers as they mature, followed by colorful reddish-purple fruits that provide food for birds and other wildlife. Thriving in full sun and well-drained soils, Texas Prickly Pear is an excellent choice for rock gardens, xeriscapes, wildlife gardens, and natural landscapes where its striking form creates a dramatic focal point.

Martin Byhower 7/15/26 Martin Byhower 7/15/26

Coral Honeysuckle

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is one of the finest native vines for Central Texas, producing clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers from spring through fall that are irresistible to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. This vigorous but well-behaved vine thrives in full sun to part shade, tolerates drought once established, and is perfect for covering fences, arbors, pergolas, and trellises while adding beauty and wildlife value to the landscape.

Martin Byhower 7/14/26 Martin Byhower 7/14/26

Chinquapin Oak

Chinkapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)

Chinkapin Oak is one of the finest native shade trees for Central Texas, admired for its handsome form, dependable growth, and outstanding adaptability. Its glossy dark green leaves create a broad, dense canopy that provides abundant summer shade before turning beautiful shades of golden yellow and bronze in autumn. Native to limestone hills and river valleys, Chinkapin Oak thrives in the alkaline soils common throughout Georgetown and the Hill Country while tolerating heat and periods of drought once established. Its sweet acorns are an important food source for birds and wildlife, and its long lifespan makes it an exceptional investment for future generations. Strong, beautiful, and relatively fast growing, Chinkapin Oak is an excellent choice for homeowners seeking a durable native shade tree.

Martin Byhower 7/14/26 Martin Byhower 7/14/26

Texas Red Oak

Texas Red Oak (Quercus buckleyi)

Texas Red Oak is one of the most beautiful native shade trees for Central Texas, prized for its spectacular fall color and excellent adaptation to the rocky limestone soils of the Hill Country. Its glossy green leaves transform into brilliant shades of red, orange, and burgundy each autumn, creating one of the region’s finest seasonal displays. Moderate in growth and exceptionally long-lived, Texas Red Oak develops into a handsome shade tree that supports birds and other wildlife with its acorns while thriving in heat and periodic drought. Its beauty, durability, and outstanding fall color make it an exceptional choice for residential landscapes.

Martin Byhower 7/14/26 Martin Byhower 7/14/26

Cedar Elm

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia)

Cedar Elm is one of the finest native shade trees for Central Texas, prized for its adaptability, durability, and graceful appearance. Unlike many shade trees, it thrives in the rocky limestone soils of the Hill Country while tolerating drought, heat, wind, and urban conditions. Its small, glossy green leaves create a dense canopy that provides excellent summer shade before turning a beautiful golden yellow in autumn. Tiny flowers appear in late summer, followed by seeds that provide food for birds and other wildlife. Long-lived, low-maintenance, and highly resilient, Cedar Elm is an outstanding choice for homeowners seeking a dependable native shade tree that will add beauty and value for generations.

Martin Byhower 7/4/26 Martin Byhower 7/4/26

Texas Persimmon

Texas Persimmon is one of the most distinctive and beautiful native small trees for Central Texas landscapes. Its smooth, peeling gray bark provides year-round interest, while its glossy, dark green leaves create a dense, attractive canopy. Small, fragrant flowers appear in spring, followed by sweet, dark purple-black fruit on female trees that is enjoyed by birds, other wildlife, and even people. Exceptionally heat and drought tolerant, Texas Persimmon thrives in full sun and the rocky limestone soils of the Hill Country. Its compact size, ornamental bark, edible fruit, and outstanding toughness make it an excellent choice for water-wise landscapes and native gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/30/26 Martin Byhower 6/30/26

Possumhaw Holly

Possumhaw is an outstanding native small tree or large shrub that brings exceptional beauty and wildlife value to Central Texas landscapes. In winter, after its leaves have dropped, the branches become covered with brilliant red berries that create one of the most striking seasonal displays of any native plant. The fruit provides an important winter food source for cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds, mockingbirds, and many other songbirds. Small white spring flowers attract native bees and other pollinators, while the plant’s adaptability makes it well suited to a variety of landscape settings. Possumhaw grows best in full sun to part shade and is moderately drought tolerant once established, making it an excellent choice for adding year-round interest and supporting local wildlife.

Martin Byhower 6/30/26 Martin Byhower 6/30/26

Mexican Plum

Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)

Mexican Plum is a beautiful native small tree that announces the arrival of spring with a spectacular display of fragrant white blossoms before its leaves emerge. The flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators, while the summer fruit is enjoyed by songbirds and other wildlife. Its attractive bark, glossy green foliage, and vibrant yellow fall color add year-round interest to the landscape. Adaptable and relatively drought tolerant once established, Mexican Plum thrives in full sun to part shade and is well suited to the limestone soils of Central Texas. Its ornamental beauty, wildlife benefits, and seasonal interest make it an excellent choice for residential landscapes and native gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/30/26 Martin Byhower 6/30/26

Flameleaf Sumac

Flameleaf Sumac (Rhus lanceolata) is one of the finest native small trees for adding brilliant fall color to Central Texas landscapes. Its glossy green leaves transform into spectacular shades of orange, red, and scarlet each autumn, creating a striking display rarely matched by other native species. Clusters of creamy white flowers in spring are followed by red berries on female plants that provide food for many species of songbirds. Highly drought tolerant once established, Flameleaf Sumac thrives in full sun and adapts well to the rocky, limestone soils common throughout the Hill Country. Its exceptional seasonal color, wildlife value, and low maintenance make it an outstanding choice for naturalized landscapes, pollinator gardens, and residential yards.

Martin Byhower 6/21/26 Martin Byhower 6/21/26

Mexican Buckeye

Mexican Buckeye (Ungnadia speciosa) is a beautiful native small tree or large shrub that brings year-round interest to Central Texas landscapes. In spring, its branches are covered with clusters of fragrant pink to lavender flowers that resemble redbud blossoms and attract bees and other pollinators. Glossy green foliage turns shades of yellow and gold in fall, while the distinctive seed capsules add ornamental interest well into winter.

Mexican Buckeye thrives in full sun to part shade and is well adapted to the limestone soils and periodic droughts common throughout Central Texas. Its moderate size, seasonal beauty, and wildlife value make it an excellent choice as a specimen tree, understory tree, or accent plant in native and water-wise landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Mealy Blue Sage

Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) is one of the most reliable and longest-blooming native perennials for Central Texas gardens. Its spikes of blue to violet flowers provide months of color from spring through fall and are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The cool flower color combines beautifully with yellow, orange, and red flowering natives, making it a valuable addition to mixed garden beds.

Mealy Blue Sage thrives in full sun and is remarkably tolerant of heat, drought, and a variety of soil conditions. Easy to grow and low maintenance, it is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, and water-wise designs.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Agarita

Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) is a tough, evergreen native shrub prized for its holly-like foliage, fragrant yellow flowers, and bright red berries. Blooming in late winter and early spring, it provides an important nectar source for early pollinators, while the tart berries are enjoyed by birds and other wildlife.

Agarita thrives in full sun to part shade and is exceptionally drought tolerant once established. Its dense, thorny branches make it an excellent choice for wildlife cover, natural hedges, security plantings, and low-maintenance landscapes adapted to Central Texas conditions.

Martin Byhower 6/19/26 Martin Byhower 6/19/26

Pigeonberry

Pigeonberry (Rivina humilis) is a graceful native perennial that thrives in the dappled shade of Central Texas woodlands and gardens. Its delicate white to pinkish flowers are followed by clusters of bright red berries that often persist for months, providing color and interest through much of the year.

Pigeonberry spreads slowly to form an attractive ground cover beneath trees and shrubs, where it helps soften the landscape while supporting wildlife. The flowers attract small pollinators, and the berries are eaten by birds and other wildlife. Its tolerance of shade, drought, and poor soils makes it an excellent choice for naturalistic and bird-friendly gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Coralberry

Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) is a tough native understory shrub that produces clusters of bright pink to reddish-purple berries that often persist well into winter. The berries provide food for birds and other wildlife, while the dense branching habit offers valuable cover and nesting sites.

Coralberry grows best in part shade but will tolerate a range of conditions, including dry soils once established. Its modest flowers attract pollinators, and its attractive berries and wildlife value make it an excellent choice for naturalistic, bird-friendly landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Possumhaw Holly

Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) is a hardy Texas native shrub or small tree valued for its brilliant display of red berries in fall and winter. After the leaves drop, the colorful berries remain on the bare branches, providing striking winter interest and an important food source for cedar waxwings, robins, mockingbirds, and many other birds.

Possumhaw grows in sun or part shade and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including periodic flooding. Female plants produce the berries, so a male plant must be nearby for pollination. Its wildlife value, seasonal beauty, and adaptability make it an excellent choice for naturalized landscapes and bird-friendly gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

American Beautyberry

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is one of the most attractive native shrubs for Central Texas shade gardens. Its arching branches produce clusters of vivid purple berries in late summer and fall, creating a striking display and providing an important food source for mockingbirds, thrashers, robins, and many other songbirds.

Beautyberry grows best in part shade to filtered sun and is adaptable to a variety of soils. It is drought tolerant once established, deer resistant, and highly valuable for wildlife, making it an excellent choice for bird-friendly native landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is one of the most versatile and valuable native shrubs or small trees for Central Texas landscapes. Its dense evergreen foliage provides year-round beauty, nesting cover, and shelter for birds, while female plants produce bright red berries that are an important winter food source for many species. Yaupon Holly thrives in sun or shade, tolerates drought once established, and can be used as a screening plant, hedge, accent shrub, or small tree.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Texas Lantana

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) is one of the toughest and most colorful native perennials for Central Texas landscapes. Its clusters of bright orange and yellow flowers bloom from spring until frost, attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators throughout the growing season. Texas Lantana thrives in full sun, tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils, and is highly resistant to deer, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly gardens.

Gardeners should take care not to confuse Texas Lantana with the many non-native lantana hybrids commonly sold in nurseries. While some cultivated lantanas are excellent landscape plants, others can be invasive, short-lived, or less beneficial to wildlife. For the greatest ecological value and reliability, I generally recommend the native Texas species whenever possible.