Drought Resistant Plants for Texas and BeyondA list of commercially available native plants that perform well during extreme drought. The Distribution section of the plant descriptions lists states where each occurs. Produce a state-specific drought list using the Narrow Your Search option at right. |
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Scientific Name | Common Name | Duration | Habit | Sun | Water |
Acalypha radians | Cardinal's Feather, Cardinal Feather | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Dry |
Agave americana | American Century Plant, Century Plant | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Agave lechuguilla | Lechuguilla, Tula Ixtle, Maguey Lechuguilla, Shindagger | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Ageratina havanensis | Shrubby Boneset, White Mistflower, White Shrub Mistflower, Havana Snakeroot | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Allowissadula holosericea | Velvet-leaf Mallow, Chisos Mountain False Indianmallow | Perennial | Shrub | Part-shade | Moist |
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii | Flame Acanthus, Hummingbird Bush, Wright's Desert Honeysuckle, Wright Acanthus, Mexican Flame, Wright's Mexican Flame | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Artemisia ludoviciana | Louisiana Artemisia, Louisiana Sage, White Sage, Prairie Sage, Silver Sage, White Sagebrush, Louisiana Wormwood, Silver Wormwood, Louisiana Sagewort, Gray Sagewort, Cudweed Sagewort, Mugwort Wormwood | Perennial | Subshrub | Sun | Dry |
Asclepias asperula | Antelope-horns, Spider Milkweed, Green-flowered Milkweed, Spider Antelope-horns, Antelope Horns | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Moist, Dry |
Bauhinia lunarioides | Anacacho Orchid Tree, Anacacho Bauhinia, Orchid Tree, Texas Plume | Perennial | Tree | Part-shade | Dry |
Berlandiera lyrata | Chocolate Daisy, Chocolate Flower, Lyreleaf Greeneyes, Green-eyed Lyre Leaf | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist |
Bouteloua dactyloides | Buffalograss, Buffalo Grass | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Sun | Dry |
Bouteloua gracilis | Blue Grama | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Sun | Dry |
Buddleja marrubiifolia | Woolly Butterflybush, Butterfly Bush, Woolly Butterfly-bush | Perennial | Shrub | Part-shade | Dry |
Callirhoe involucrata | Winecup, Purple Poppy Mallow | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Callirhoe pedata | Palmleaf Poppymallow, Standing Winecup, Finger Poppymallow, Palmleaf Poppy Mallow | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Carex planostachys | Cedar Sedge | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Part-shade | Dry |
Carex texensis | Texas Sedge | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Centaurium beyrichii | Mountain Pink, Meadow Pink, Catchfly, Quinineweed | Annual | Herb | Part-shade | Dry |
Chilopsis linearis | Desert Willow, Flowering Willow, Willow-leaved Catalpa, Willowleaf Catalpa, Bow Willow, Flor De Mimbre, Mimbre | Perennial | Tree | Sun | Moist, Dry |
Chrysactinia mexicana | Damianita | Perennial | Subshrub, Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Conoclinium greggii | Gregg's Mistflower , Palmleaf Thoroughwort, Palm-leaf Mistflower, Palm-leaf Thoroughwort, Purple Palmleaf Mistflower, Purple Palmleaf Eupatorium | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Cooperia drummondii | Evening Rain Lily, Evening Star Rain Lily | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Cooperia pedunculata | Hill Country Rain Lily, Prairie Lily, Rain Lily, Flor De Mayo | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Moist |
Coryphantha sulcata | Pineapple Cactus, Nipple Cactus | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Cucurbita foetidissima | Stinking Gourd, Buffalo Gourd, Missouri Gourd, Stink Gourd, Wild Gourd | Perennial | Herb | Sun | |
Dalea frutescens | Black Dalea, Black Prairie Clover | Perennial | Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Dalea greggii | Gregg Dalea, Gregg's Prairie Clover, Trailing Indigo Bush, Indigo Bush | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Dasylirion texanum | Texas Sotol, Sotol | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Sun | Dry |
Dasylirion wheeleri | Common Sotol, Sotol, Desert Spoon, Desert Candle | Perennial | Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Diospyros texana | Texas Persimmon, Mexican Persimmon, Black Persimmon, Chapote, Chapote Prieto | Perennial | Tree | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Dyschoriste linearis | Snake Herb, Polkadots, Narrowleaf Dyschoriste | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Wet, Moist |
Echinocereus pentalophus | Ladyfinger Cactus, Alicoche, Dog Tail, Devil's Fingers | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Echinocereus reichenbachii | Lace Hedgehog Cactus, Lace Cactus, Lace Hedgehog, Purple Candle | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Echinocereus triglochidiatus | Claret Cup, Claret Cup Cactus, Hedgehog Cactus, Kingcup Cactus, Mojave Mound, Mohave Mound | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Euphorbia antisyphilitica | Candelilla, Wax Plant | Perennial | Subshrub | Sun | Dry |
Eysenhardtia texana | Texas Kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee Brush, Vara Dulce, Palo Dulce | Perennial | Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Fallugia paradoxa | Apache Plume, Ponil | Perennial | Shrub | Part-shade | Dry |
Forestiera pubescens | Elbowbush, Stretchberry, Spring Herald, Desert Olive, Tanglewood, Devil's Elbow, Spring Goldenglow, New Mexico Privet, Texas Forsythia | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Shade, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Hechtia glomerata | Guapilla | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Helianthus maximiliani | Maximilian Sunflower, Max Sunflower | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Moist, Dry |
Hesperaloe parviflora | Red Yucca, Coral Yucca, Red-flowered False Yucca, Redflower False Yucca, Yellow Yucca, Hummingbird Yucca, Samandoque | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Hesperocyparis arizonica | Arizona Cypress, Cedro Blanco | Perennial | Tree | Sun | Dry |
Heterotheca canescens | Hoary False Goldenaster, Gray Golden-aster | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Dry |
Indigofera miniata | Scarlet Pea, Coastal Indigo, Texas Indigo, Western Indigo | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Jatropha dioica | Leatherstem, Leather Stem, Rubber Plant | Perennial | Subshrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Lantana urticoides | Texas Lantana, Calico Bush | Perennial | Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Lenophyllum texanum | Coastal Stonecrop | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Leucaena retusa | Goldenball Leadtree, Littleleaf Leadtree, Little Leucaena, Lemonball, Wahoo Tree | Perennial | Tree | Part-shade | Dry |
Leucophyllum frutescens | Cenizo, Purple Sage, Texas Ranger, Texas Barometer Bush, Texas Silverleaf, Texas Sage, Silverleaf | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Lygodesmia texana | Texas Skeleton Plant, Texas Skeleton Weed, Skeleton-plant, Purple Dandelion, Flowering Straw | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Dry |
Mahonia trifoliolata | Agarita, Agarito, Algerita, Laredo Mahonia, Laredo Oregon-grape, Trifoliate Barberry, Wild Currant | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii | Turk's Cap, Drummond's Turk's Cap, Drummond Turk's Cap, Wax Mallow, Drummond's Wax Mallow, Drummond Wax Mallow, Red Mallow, Texas Mallow, Mexican Apple, Sleeping Hibiscus, Bleeding Hearts, Manzanita | Perennial | Shrub | Shade, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Mammillaria heyderi | Little Nipple Cactus, Heyder Pincushion Cactus | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun | Dry |
Manfreda maculosa | False Aloe, Spice Lily, Spice-lily | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Manfreda sileri | Siler's Tuberose | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Matelea reticulata | Pearl Milkweed Vine, Netted Milkvine, Green Milkweed Vine, Net Vein Milkvine | Perennial | Vine | Part-shade | Dry |
Melampodium leucanthum | Blackfoot Daisy, Rock Daisy, Plains Blackfoot, Arnica | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Muhlenbergia rigens | Deergrass, Meadow Muhly, Deer Muhly | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Sun | Moist |
Nolina lindheimeriana | Devil's Shoestring, Devil's-shoestring, Ribbon Grass | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Nolina texana | Texas Sacahuista, Texas Beargrass, Basket Grass, Sacahuista, Bunchgrass, Texas Bear-grass | Perennial | Grass/Grass-like | Part-shade | Dry |
Opuntia ellisiana | Spineless Prickly Pear, Tigertongue, South Texas Pricklypear | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Passiflora foetida | Corona De Cristo, Fetid Passionflower | Perennial | Vine | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Pavonia lasiopetala | Rock Rose, Rose Pavonia, Rose Mallow, Pavonia | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Penstemon baccharifolius | Rock Penstemon, Rock Beardtongue, Cut-leaf Penstemon, Cut-leaf Beardtongue, Baccharis-leaf Penstemon, Baccharis-leaf Beardtongue | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Penstemon cobaea | Prairie Penstemon, Prairie Beardtongue, Foxglove Penstemon, Foxglove Beardtongue, False Foxglove, Large-flowered Penstemon, Large-flowered Beardtongue, Cobaea Penstemon, Cobaea Beardtongue, Wild Foxglove | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Penstemon triflorus | Hill Country Penstemon, Hill Country Beardtongue, Scarlet Penstemon, Scarlet Beardtongue, Heller's Penstemon, Heller's Beardtongue | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Dry |
Phyla nodiflora | Texas Frogfruit, Turkey Tangle Fogfruit, Frogfruit | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Portulaca pilosa | Kiss Me Quick, Chisme | Annual | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Ptelea trifoliata | Wafer Ash, Common Hoptree, Hop Tree | Perennial | Tree | Sun, Shade, Part-shade | Wet, Moist, Dry |
Quercus fusiformis | Escarpment Live Oak, Plateau Live Oak, Hill Country Live Oak, Texas Live Oak, Scrub Live Oak, Plateau Oak, Encino Molino, Tesmoli | Perennial | Tree | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Quercus texana | Nuttall Oak, Texas Oak | Perennial | Tree | Part-shade | |
Rhus lanceolata | Prairie Flameleaf Sumac, Flameleaf Sumac, Prairie Sumac, Lance-leaf Sumac, Lance-leaved Sumac, Texas Sumac, Tree Sumac, Limestone Sumac, Prairie Shining Sumac | Perennial | Tree | Sun | Dry |
Rhus trilobata | Skunkbush, Skunkbush Sumac, Fragrant Sumac, Aromatic Sumac, Scented Sumac, Ill-scented Sumac, Basketbush, Squawbush | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Rhus virens | Evergreen Sumac, Tobacco Sumac, Lambrisco, Lentrisco | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Rubus trivialis | Southern Dewberry, Dewberry | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Ruellia humilis | Prairie Petunia, Fringeleaf Wild Petunia, Hairy Ruellia, Low Wild Petunia, Low Ruellia, Fringeleaf Ruellia, Fringe-leaf Wild Petunia | Perennial | Herb | Part-shade | Moist |
Ruellia occidentalis | Western Wild Petunia | Perennial | Herb | Shade, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Salvia farinacea | Mealy Blue Sage, Mealy Sage, Mealycup Sage | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Moist |
Salvia greggii | Autumn Sage, Cherry Sage, Gregg Salvia | Perennial | Shrub | Sun | Dry |
Salvia roemeriana | Cedar Sage | Perennial | Herb | Part-shade | Dry |
Senna lindheimeriana | Lindheimer's Senna, Velvet Leaf Senna, Velvetleaf Senna, Velvet-leaf Wild Sensitive-plant, Puppy-dog Ears | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Sophora secundiflora | Texas Mountain Laurel, Mountain Laurel, Mescal Bean, Mescal Bean Sophora, Frijolillo, Frijolito | Perennial | Shrub, Tree | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Stemodia lanata | Woolly Stemodia, Gray-woolly Twintip | Perennial | Herb | Sun | Dry |
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium | Aromatic Aster, Aromatic American Aster, Fall Aster, Wild Blue Aster, Shale Aster | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist, Dry |
Symphyotrichum oolentangiense var. oolentangiense | Skyblue Aster | Perennial | Herb | ||
Tecoma stans | Yellow Bells, Yellowbells, Esperanza, Yellow Trumpetbush, Yellow Trumpetflower, Trumpetbush, Trumpetflower, Yellow Elder, Hardy Yellow Trumpet, Yellow Trumpet Bush | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Tradescantia gigantea | Giant Spiderwort | Perennial | Herb | Sun, Part-shade | Moist |
Ulmus crassifolia | Cedar Elm, Fall Elm, Basket Elm, Scrub Elm, Lime Elm, Texas Elm, Southern Rock Elm, Olmo | Perennial | Tree | Part-shade | Moist |
Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye, Monilla | Perennial | Tree | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Viguiera stenoloba | Skeleton-leaf Goldeneye, Resinbush | Perennial | Shrub | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Yucca pallida | Pale-leaf Yucca | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Yucca rupicola | Twistleaf Yucca, Twisted-leaf Yucca, Texas Yucca, Spanish Dagger | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Sun, Part-shade | Dry |
Yucca treculeana | Spanish Dagger, Spanish Bayonet, Don Quixote's Lance, Palma Pita, Palma De Datil, Palmito | Perennial | Cactus/Succulent | Part-shade | Dry |