Native plants for Dawson County, Texas
82 native plants recorded in Dawson County, Texas
USDA has only 117 plant records of any kind for Dawson County, against 4,671 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 82 below as a floor.
By type: 34 wildflowers and herbs, 22 grasses and sedges, 8 shrubs, 11 low woody plants, 4 trees, 3 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 17 of them (21%), and only those can be matched to a spot below.
What fits each kind of spot in Dawson County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 17 | 0 | 65 |
| Half shade | 16 | 1 | 65 |
| Under trees | 14 | 3 | 65 |
| Heavy clay | 10 | 7 | 65 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 14 | 3 | 65 |
| Never watered | 15 | 2 | 65 |
| Stays soggy | 4 | 13 | 65 |
Sun all day in Dawson County: 17 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 vines. 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Dawson County: 16 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 trees. 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high shade tolerance - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Dawson County: 14 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 3 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 trees. 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Dawson County: 10 rated natives
4 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Tobosagrass (Pleuraphis mutica) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · perennial - Little barley (Hordeum pusillum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · rapid growth
Sandy, drains fast in Dawson County: 14 rated natives
5 grasses and sedges, 4 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 1 vines, 1 wildflowers and herbs, 1 trees. 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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 - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 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
Never watered in Dawson County: 15 rated natives
4 shrubs, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 low woody plants, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 vines. 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 - Missouri gourd (Cucurbita foetidissima) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - 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 - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · 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 - Lyreleaf greeneyes (Berlandiera lyrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Dawson County: 4 rated natives
3 grasses and sedges, 1 trees. The first 4, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Little barley (Hordeum pusillum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · rapid growth - Eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Dawson County has that most of Texas does not
3 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Jones' selenia (Selenia jonesii): 5 counties
- Narrowleaf rhombopod (Cleomella angustifolia): 11 counties
- Cory's jointfir (Ephedra coryi): 11 counties
Where to start in Dawson County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Dawson County gives you the most rated choice (17 plants), and Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 4 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 65 unrated natives too.