Native plants for Brooks County, Texas
290 native plants recorded in Brooks County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 356 plants recorded growing wild in Brooks County. 290 of them are native to the lower 48, and 10 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 153 wildflowers and herbs, 66 grasses and sedges, 16 shrubs, 38 low woody plants, 8 trees, 9 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 23 of them (8%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum), Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Brooks County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 23 | 0 | 267 |
| Half shade | 21 | 2 | 267 |
| Under trees | 18 | 5 | 267 |
| Heavy clay | 12 | 11 | 267 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 20 | 3 | 267 |
| Never watered | 19 | 4 | 267 |
| Stays soggy | 5 | 18 | 267 |
Sun all day in Brooks County: 23 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Brooks County: 21 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Brooks County: 18 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Brooks County: 12 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Turkey tangle fogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Brooks County: 20 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Brooks County: 19 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Plains lovegrass (Eragrostis intermedia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Brooks County: 5 rated natives
4 grasses and sedges, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 5, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bushy bluestem (Andropogon glomeratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Gulf cordgrass (Spartina spartinae) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Natives Brooks County has that most of Texas does not
48 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Mexican evening primrose (Oenothera mexicana): 2 counties
- Cory's croton (Croton coryi): 4 counties
- Lundell's nailwort (Paronychia lundelliorum): 4 counties
- South Texas prairie clover (Dalea austrotexana): 5 counties
- Texas holdback (Pomaria austrotexana): 5 counties
- Swallen's lovegrass (Eragrostis swallenii): 6 counties
- Velvet spurge (Euphorbia innocua): 6 counties
- Amelia's sand verbena (Abronia ameliae): 7 counties
- Sand Brazos-mint (Brazoria arenaria): 7 counties
- Tailed nicker (Caesalpinia caudata): 7 counties
Where to start in Brooks County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Brooks County gives you the most rated choice (23 plants), and Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 5 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 267 unrated natives too.