Native plants for Zapata County, Texas
338 native plants recorded in Zapata County, Texas
The USDA plant database has 440 plants recorded growing wild in Zapata County. 338 of them are native to the lower 48, and 31 are introduced species that this page leaves out.
By type: 145 wildflowers and herbs, 37 grasses and sedges, 51 shrubs, 64 low woody plants, 25 trees, 16 vines. USDA has rated sun, soil and water needs for 29 of them (9%), and only those can be matched to a spot below. Silver beardgrass (Bothriochloa laguroides), Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) and 4 more are also recorded as introduced.
What fits each kind of spot in Zapata County
| Spot | Rated to fit | Rated not to | Unrated |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun all day | 29 | 0 | 309 |
| Half shade | 26 | 3 | 309 |
| Under trees | 24 | 5 | 309 |
| Heavy clay | 18 | 11 | 309 |
| Sandy, drains fast | 24 | 5 | 309 |
| Never watered | 23 | 6 | 309 |
| Stays soggy | 5 | 24 | 309 |
Sun all day in Zapata County: 29 rated natives
10 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 6 low woody plants, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 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 - 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 - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - 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
Half shade in Zapata County: 26 rated natives
8 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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
Under trees in Zapata County: 24 rated natives
7 grasses and sedges, 6 wildflowers and herbs, 5 low woody plants, 3 trees, 2 shrubs, 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 - 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 - Rough menodora (Menodora scabra) low woody plants
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - 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 - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial
Heavy clay in Zapata County: 18 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 4 low woody plants, 3 grasses and sedges, 2 trees, 1 vines, 1 shrubs. 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) 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 - 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 - Mescal bean (Sophora secundiflora) trees
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
Sandy, drains fast in Zapata County: 24 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 7 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 2 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 - Purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 ft mature · moderate 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 - Roving sailor (Maurandella antirrhiniflora) vines
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 0.8 ft mature · rapid 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 - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial - Yellow trumpetbush (Tecoma stans) trees
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · 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 Zapata County: 23 rated natives
7 wildflowers and herbs, 6 grasses and sedges, 5 low woody plants, 2 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 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 - Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 1 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 - Featherplume (Dalea formosa) shrubs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · perennial · high drought 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
Stays soggy in Zapata County: 5 rated natives
2 wildflowers and herbs, 1 grasses and sedges, 1 low woody plants, 1 trees. The first 5, ranked by how easy a start they make:
- Cursed buttercup (Ranunculus sceleratus) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 2 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil - Golden tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria) wildflowers and herbs
USDA growing data on file · conspicuous flowers · photo available · about 3 ft mature · rapid growth · perennial - Dwarf spikerush (Eleocharis parvula) grasses and sedges
USDA growing data on file · photo available · about 1.2 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 - Black willow (Salix nigra) trees
USDA growing data on file · photo available · rapid growth · perennial · takes saturated soil
Natives Zapata County has that most of Texas does not
63 natives here are on file in no more than 13 of Texas's 254 counties. A few of them:
- Correll's bluet (Houstonia correllii): only here
- Prostrate milkweed (Asclepias prostrata): 2 counties
- Zapata bladderpod (Lesquerella thamnophila): 2 counties
- Chihuahuan balloonvine (Cardiospermum dissectum): 3 counties
- Mexican croton (Croton ciliatoglandulifer): 3 counties
- Johnston's seaheath (Frankenia johnstonii): 3 counties
- Falfurrias milkvine (Matelea radiata): 3 counties
- Ashy pricklyleaf (Thymophylla tephroleuca): 3 counties
- Sanddollar (Astrophytum asterias): 4 counties
- Boxthorn fiddlewood (Citharexylum brachyanthum): 4 counties
Where to start in Zapata County
If you have only one spot to fill, sun all day is where Zapata County gives you the most rated choice (29 plants), and Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is the easiest start on that list. Stays soggy is the hard one here: 5 rated plants, so for that spot it is worth asking a local native-plant society about the 309 unrated natives too.