Native plants for Shelby County, Texas
286 native plants recorded in Shelby County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 365 plants recorded growing wild in Shelby County. 286 of them are native to the lower 48, and 23 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 160 wildflowers and herbs, 66 grasses and sedges, 10 shrubs, 12 low woody plants, 24 trees, 14 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 89 of them (31%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Shelby County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 89 | 0 | 197 |
| Half shade | 56 | 33 | 197 |
| Under trees | 27 | 62 | 197 |
| Heavy clay | 66 | 23 | 197 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 51 | 38 | 197 |
| Never watered | 35 | 53 | 198 |
| Stays soggy | 46 | 43 | 197 |
Sun all day in Shelby County: 89 rated natives
32 wildflowers and herbs, 30 grasses and sedges, 18 trees, 4 vines, 4 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 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 - 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Shelby County: 56 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 20 wildflowers and herbs, 11 trees, 1 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - 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 - Spring spiderlily (Hymenocallis liriosme) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Under trees in Shelby County: 27 rated natives
11 wildflowers and herbs, 9 grasses and sedges, 6 trees, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spring spiderlily (Hymenocallis liriosme) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Blunt spikerush (Eleocharis obtusa) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Heavy clay in Shelby County: 66 rated natives
23 wildflowers and herbs, 23 grasses and sedges, 12 trees, 4 shrubs, 3 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 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 - 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 - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Lanceleaf tickseed (Coreopsis lanceolata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Shelby County: 51 rated natives
19 grasses and sedges, 15 trees, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 2 shrubs, 1 low woody plants, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Autumn bluegrass (Poa autumnalis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Never watered in Shelby County: 35 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 10 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Cardinalflower (Lobelia cardinalis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.9 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Swamp sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 5.6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial - Sawtooth blackberry (Rubus argutus) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8.2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Stays soggy in Shelby County: 46 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 13 wildflowers and herbs, 7 trees, 3 shrubs, 2 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Bulbous bittercress (Cardamine bulbosa) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.4 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 - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Spring spiderlily (Hymenocallis liriosme) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid 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 - Jack in the pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · toxicity: slight - Parsley hawthorn (Crataegus marshallii) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Shelby County has that most of Texas does not
44 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Perfoliate bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata): 3 counties
- Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys): 4 counties
- Broad beechfern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera): 5 counties
- Granite gooseberry (Ribes curvatum): 5 counties
- Roughleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia scabrifolia): 5 counties
- Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix): 5 counties
- Nodding fescue (Festuca subverticillata): 6 counties
- Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia): 6 counties
- Dotted duckmeat (Landoltia punctata): 6 counties
- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis): 6 counties
Where to start in Shelby County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Shelby County gives you the most rated choice (89 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 27 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 197 unrated natives too.