Native plants for Starr County, Texas
468 native plants recorded in Starr County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 592 plants recorded growing wild in Starr County. 468 of them are native to the lower 48, and 40 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 192 wildflowers and herbs, 52 grasses and sedges, 77 shrubs, 86 low woody plants, 32 trees, 29 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 33 of them (7%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Little hogweed (Portulaca oleracea), Seaside brookweed (Samolus valerandi) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Starr County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 33 | 0 | 435 |
| Half shade | 29 | 4 | 435 |
| Under trees | 26 | 7 | 435 |
| Heavy clay | 25 | 8 | 435 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 9 | 435 |
| Never watered | 19 | 14 | 435 |
| Stays soggy | 13 | 20 | 435 |
Sun all day in Starr County: 33 rated natives
13 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 4 low woody plants, 4 trees, 3 shrubs, 1 vines. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Half shade in Starr County: 29 rated natives
12 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 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 shade tolerance - 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 - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - 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 - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Starr County: 26 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 8 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 3 shrubs, 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 - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 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
Heavy clay in Starr County: 25 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 4 low woody plants, 4 trees, 4 grasses and sedges, 2 shrubs, 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 - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Starr County: 24 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 3 low woody plants, 3 trees, 3 shrubs, 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 - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dotted smartweed (Polygonum punctatum) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Mule-fat (Baccharis salicifolia) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 10 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bushy seaside tansy (Borrichia frutescens) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Starr County: 19 rated natives
6 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 low woody plants, 2 trees, 2 shrubs, 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 - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3.1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Curly-mesquite (Hilaria belangeri) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Starr County: 13 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 3 trees, 2 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- 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 - Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) wildflowers and herbs
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 - Common buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Knotgrass (Paspalum distichum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 0.9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - False daisy (Eclipta prostrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Bushy seaside tansy (Borrichia frutescens) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.6 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Softstem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 9 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Starr County has that most of Texas does not
123 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Palmer's cock's comb (Celosia palmeri): only here
- Lobed-leaf stingbush (Eucnide lobata): only here
- Guapilla (Hechtia glomerata): only here
- McKelvey's century plant (Agave univittata): 2 counties
- Prostrate milkweed (Asclepias prostrata): 2 counties
- Leachlobe cyphomeris (Cyphomeris crassifolia): 2 counties
- Gregg's buckwheat (Eriogonum greggii): 2 counties
- Junior Tom Thumb cactus (Escobaria emskoetteriana): 2 counties
- Croft's bluet (Houstonia croftiae): 2 counties
- Zapata bladderpod (Lesquerella thamnophila): 2 counties
Where to start in Starr County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Starr County gives you the most rated choice (33 plants), and Climbing dayflower (Commelina diffusa) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 13 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 435 unrated natives too.