Native plants for Ward County, Texas
276 native plants recorded in Ward County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 363 plants recorded growing wild in Ward County. 276 of them are native to the lower 48, and 25 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 119 wildflowers and herbs, 73 grasses and sedges, 18 shrubs, 53 low woody plants, 9 trees, 4 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 42 of them (15%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides), Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and 2 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Ward County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 42 | 0 | 234 |
| Half shade | 41 | 1 | 234 |
| Under trees | 35 | 7 | 234 |
| Heavy clay | 22 | 20 | 234 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 36 | 6 | 234 |
| Never watered | 31 | 11 | 234 |
| Stays soggy | 13 | 29 | 234 |
Sun all day in Ward County: 42 rated natives
22 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 3 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 - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf jointfir (Ephedra trifurca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth
Half shade in Ward County: 41 rated natives
21 grasses and sedges, 7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 3 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 · high shade tolerance - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Longleaf jointfir (Ephedra trifurca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high shade tolerance - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · high shade tolerance
Under trees in Ward County: 35 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 6 low woody plants, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 4 shrubs, 3 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 - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf jointfir (Ephedra trifurca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate 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 Ward County: 22 rated natives
12 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 low woody plants, 1 shrubs, 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 - Salt heliotrope (Heliotropium curassavicum) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Golden crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Sandy, drains fast in Ward County: 36 rated natives
20 grasses and sedges, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 4 low woody plants, 4 shrubs, 3 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 - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Longleaf jointfir (Ephedra trifurca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 15 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial
Never watered in Ward County: 31 rated natives
16 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 5 wildflowers and herbs, 3 shrubs, 2 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 · high drought tolerance - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1.5 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought 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 - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Black grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · high drought tolerance - Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · high drought tolerance
Stays soggy in Ward County: 13 rated natives
8 grasses and sedges, 3 trees, 1 low woody plants, 1 wildflowers and herbs. The first 8, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Spreading alkaliweed (Cressa truxillensis) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Tapertip rush (Juncus acuminatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 3 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 - Grassleaf rush (Juncus marginatus) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 2 ft mature · moderate growth · perennial - Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 6 ft mature · moderate 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 Ward County has that most of Texas does not
40 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Plains flatsedge (Cyperus onerosus): 3 counties
- Havard's panicgrass (Panicum havardii): 3 counties
- Redroot cryptantha (Cryptantha micrantha): 4 counties
- Hinckley's spreadwing (Eurytaenia hinckleyi): 4 counties
- Neglected sunflower (Helianthus neglectus): 4 counties
- Plains flax (Linum puberulum): 5 counties
- Hoary tansyaster (Machaeranthera canescens): 5 counties
- Gypsum blazingstar (Mentzelia humilis): 5 counties
- Silkcotton purslane (Portulaca halimoides): 5 counties
- Sanddune sandmat (Chamaesyce carunculata): 6 counties
Where to start in Ward County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Ward County gives you the most rated choice (42 plants), and Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) 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 234 unrated natives too.