YardNatives

Native plants for Galveston County, Texas

762 native plants recorded in Galveston County, Texas

The USDA plant database has 1,059 plants recorded growing wild in Galveston County. 762 of them are native to the lower 48, and 129 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 364 wildflowers and herbs, 215 grasses and sedges, 24 shrubs, 62 low woody plants, 61 trees, 36 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 197 of them (26%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 15 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Galveston County

SpotRated to fitRated not toUnrated
Sun all day1970565
Half shade15641565
Under trees10691565
Heavy clay14552565
Sandy, drains fast14057565
Never watered96101565
Stays soggy10295565

Sun all day in Galveston County: 197 rated natives

73 grasses and sedges, 51 wildflowers and herbs, 48 trees, 11 low woody plants, 7 vines, 7 shrubs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Bristly buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  4. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Common blue violet (Viola sororia) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Half shade in Galveston County: 156 rated natives

63 grasses and sedges, 42 wildflowers and herbs, 34 trees, 10 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  3. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  4. 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
  5. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
  8. 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

Under trees in Galveston County: 106 rated natives

48 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 19 trees, 9 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Galveston County: 145 rated natives

52 grasses and sedges, 40 wildflowers and herbs, 34 trees, 10 low woody plants, 5 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  2. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  3. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  5. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  6. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Sandy, drains fast in Galveston County: 140 rated natives

53 grasses and sedges, 36 trees, 33 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 7 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  2. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  3. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  4. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Lavender thrift (Limonium carolinianum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  7. Pennsylvania bittercress (Cardamine pensylvanica) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Galveston County: 96 rated natives

30 grasses and sedges, 26 trees, 25 wildflowers and herbs, 8 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 3 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. 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
  2. Trumpet creeper (Campsis radicans) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  3. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
  4. Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) vines
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  5. Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  6. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  7. Fringeleaf wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
  8. Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Galveston County: 102 rated natives

52 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 20 trees, 5 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

  1. American lotus (Nelumbo lutea) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  2. 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
  3. Stiff marsh bedstraw (Galium tinctorium) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  4. Canada germander (Teucrium canadense) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  5. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  6. Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) low woody plants
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
  7. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
  8. Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
    USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial

Natives Galveston County has that most of Texas does not

101 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:

Where to start in Galveston County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Galveston County gives you the most rated choice (197 plants), and Bayhops (Ipomoea pes-caprae) is the easiest start on that list. Never watered is the hard one here: 96 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 565 unrated natives too.