Native plants for Carson County, Texas
212 native plants recorded in Carson County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 307 plants recorded growing wild in Carson County. 212 of them are native to the lower 48, and 43 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 109 wildflowers and herbs, 50 grasses and sedges, 11 shrubs, 33 low woody plants, 3 trees, 6 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 39 of them (18%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Carson County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 39 | 0 | 173 |
| Half shade | 37 | 2 | 173 |
| Under trees | 35 | 4 | 173 |
| Heavy clay | 25 | 14 | 173 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 33 | 6 | 173 |
| Never watered | 30 | 9 | 173 |
| Stays soggy | 13 | 26 | 173 |
Sun all day in Carson County: 39 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Half shade in Carson County: 37 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 11 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance · toxicity: slight - 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 - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Carson County: 35 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 10 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Heavy clay in Carson County: 25 rated natives
14 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 trees, 1 shrubs. 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Curly-mesquite (Hilaria belangeri) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Carson County: 33 rated natives
18 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading yellowcress (Rorippa sinuata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - 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 - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial
Never watered in Carson County: 30 rated natives
15 grasses and sedges, 8 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American vetch (Vicia americana) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Green prairie coneflower (Ratibida tagetes) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance · toxicity: slight - Dotted blazing star (Liatris punctata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · perennial · high drought tolerance - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought 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
Stays soggy in Carson County: 13 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6.1 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 Carson County has that most of Texas does not
8 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Dwarf milkweed (Asclepias involucrata): 2 counties
- Sandhill muhly (Muhlenbergia pungens): 4 counties
- Poison suckleya (Suckleya suckleyana): 7 counties
- American vetch (Vicia americana): 8 counties
- Hillman's panicgrass (Panicum hillmanii): 8 counties
- Carruth's sagewort (Artemisia carruthii): 10 counties
- Nylon hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus viridiflorus): 11 counties
- Mountain springparsley (Cymopterus montanus): 12 counties
Where to start in Carson County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Carson County gives you the most rated choice (39 plants), and American vetch (Vicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 13 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 173 unrated natives too.