Native plants for Castro County, Texas
116 native plants recorded in Castro County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 162 plants recorded growing wild in Castro County. 116 of them are native to the lower 48, and 20 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 70 wildflowers and herbs, 26 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs, 17 low woody plants, 1 trees, 1 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 27 of them (23%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Gulf cockspur grass (Echinochloa crus-pavonis) and Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Castro County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 27 | 0 | 89 |
| Half shade | 24 | 3 | 89 |
| Under trees | 21 | 6 | 89 |
| Heavy clay | 17 | 10 | 89 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 19 | 8 | 89 |
| Never watered | 15 | 12 | 89 |
| Stays soggy | 11 | 16 | 89 |
Sun all day in Castro County: 27 rated natives
15 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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
Half shade in Castro County: 24 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 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
Under trees in Castro County: 21 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 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
Heavy clay in Castro County: 17 rated natives
11 wildflowers and herbs, 5 grasses and sedges, 1 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Castro County: 19 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 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 - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Castro County: 15 rated natives
6 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 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 - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 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 - Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 Castro County: 11 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 grasses and sedges, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Disk waterhyssop (Bacopa rotundifolia) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.1 ft mature · 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 - Water knotweed (Polygonum amphibium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum pensylvanicum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.9 ft mature · moderate growth - Narrowleaf willow (Salix exigua) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 10 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Castro County has that most of Texas does not
7 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Tailcup lupine (Lupinus caudatus): 4 counties
- Longbeak buttercup (Ranunculus longirostris): 4 counties
- Poison suckleya (Suckleya suckleyana): 7 counties
- Brook cinquefoil (Potentilla rivalis): 8 counties
- Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria): 9 counties
- Scurfymallow (Malvella lepidota): 12 counties
- Poverty threeawn (Aristida divaricata): 13 counties
Where to start in Castro County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Castro County gives you the most rated choice (27 plants), and Alkali buttercup (Ranunculus cymbalaria) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 11 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 89 unrated natives too.