Native plants for Smith County, Texas

440 native plants recorded in Smith County, Texas

The USDA plant database has 566 plants recorded growing wild in Smith County. 440 of them are native to the lower 48, and 36 are introduced species that this page leaves out.

By type: 244 wildflowers and herbs, 109 grasses and sedges, 16 shrubs, 23 low woody plants, 22 trees, 26 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 123 of them (28%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.

What fits each kind of spot in Smith County

Sun all day in Smith County: 123 rated natives

46 wildflowers and herbs, 43 grasses and sedges, 16 trees, 8 vines, 8 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 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. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
5. 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
6. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 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

Half shade in Smith County: 84 rated natives

34 wildflowers and herbs, 33 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 4 vines, 3 shrubs, 1 low woody plants. 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 · high shade tolerance
2. 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
3. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
4. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
5. Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
6. 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
7. 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
8. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Under trees in Smith County: 44 rated natives

21 grasses and sedges, 16 wildflowers and herbs, 6 trees, 1 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. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
3. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
4. Missouri ironweed (Vernonia missurica) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.5 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Purplehead sneezeweed (Helenium flexuosum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Cucumberleaf sunflower (Helianthus debilis) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.5 ft mature · perennial
8. American cupscale (Sacciolepis striata) grasses and sedges
   USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Heavy clay in Smith County: 87 rated natives

33 wildflowers and herbs, 31 grasses and sedges, 9 trees, 6 vines, 6 shrubs, 2 low woody plants. 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) low woody plants
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. 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

Sandy, drains fast in Smith County: 83 rated natives

31 grasses and sedges, 27 wildflowers and herbs, 14 trees, 7 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. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
3. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Prairie fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
6. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
7. Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
8. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Never watered in Smith County: 54 rated natives

20 wildflowers and herbs, 16 grasses and sedges, 8 trees, 6 shrubs, 4 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
2. Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 4 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
3. Carolina elephantsfoot (Elephantopus carolinianus) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2.7 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
4. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
5. Common selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
6. Panicledleaf ticktrefoil (Desmodium paniculatum) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 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. St. Peterswort (Hypericum crux-andreae) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Stays soggy in Smith County: 72 rated natives

33 grasses and sedges, 26 wildflowers and herbs, 5 shrubs, 5 trees, 2 vines, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:

1. Groundnut (Apios americana) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
2. 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
3. Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
4. Swamp loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus) shrubs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
5. 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
6. Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
7. Climbing hempvine (Mikania scandens) vines
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
8. Common goldstar (Hypoxis hirsuta) wildflowers and herbs
   USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial

Natives Smith County has that most of Texas does not

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

• Sweet woodreed (Cinna arundinacea): 2 counties
• Slender-fruit beaksedge (Rhynchospora leptocarpa): 2 counties
• Longhair sedge (Carex comosa): 3 counties
• Pale leather flower (Clematis versicolor): 3 counties
• Canadian clearweed (Pilea pumila): 3 counties
• Beggarslice (Hackelia virginiana): 4 counties
• Devil's darning needles (Clematis virginiana): 5 counties
• Roundstem false foxglove (Agalinis gattingeri): 5 counties
• Southern watergrass (Luziola fluitans): 5 counties
• Threebirds (Triphora trianthophora): 5 counties

Where to start in Smith County

If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Smith County gives you the most rated choice (123 plants), and Canadian lousewort (Pedicularis canadensis) is the easiest start on that list. Under trees is the hard one here: 44 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 317 unrated natives too.