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