Native plants for Rockwall County, Texas
69 native plants recorded in Rockwall County, Texas
USDA has only 90 plant records of any kind for Rockwall County, against 4,671 natives statewide. That is a gap in who has collected here, not a shortage of plants, so treat the 69 below as a floor.
By type: 29 wildflowers and herbs, 29 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 2 low woody plants, 3 trees, 4 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 21 of them (30%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides) is also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Rockwall County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 21 | 0 | 48 |
| Half shade | 15 | 6 | 48 |
| Under trees | 13 | 8 | 48 |
| Heavy clay | 16 | 5 | 48 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 17 | 4 | 48 |
| Never watered | 12 | 9 | 48 |
| Stays soggy | 12 | 9 | 48 |
Sun all day in Rockwall County: 21 rated natives
12 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 Rockwall County: 15 rated natives
10 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Rockwall County: 13 rated natives
9 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Rockwall County: 16 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 4 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indian woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Rockwall County: 17 rated natives
12 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indian woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Rockwall County: 12 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 3 wildflowers and herbs, 2 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - 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 - Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indian woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Rockwall County: 12 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 vines, 1 trees. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American water-willow (Justicia americana) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Limestone wild petunia (Ruellia strepens) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Green hawthorn (Crataegus viridis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial - Prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Rufous bulrush (Scirpus pendulus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Fragrant flatsedge (Cyperus odoratus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Indian woodoats (Chasmanthium latifolium) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 4.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Natives Rockwall 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:
- Midland fawnlily (Erythronium mesochoreum): 3 counties
- Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis): 13 counties
- Rufous bulrush (Scirpus pendulus): 13 counties
Where to start in Rockwall County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Rockwall County gives you the most rated choice (21 plants), and American water-willow (Justicia americana) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 12 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 48 unrated natives too.