Wild Thumb vs. Pollinator Patch
Both apps are free, built for Texas, and help you plan a native garden. Here's an honest breakdown of where they differ — so you can pick the one that actually fits what you're trying to do.
Last updated: February 2026
Short version
- Wild Thumb is made by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, backed by H-E-B. It's polished, free, and great for beginners who want to grow a native garden.
- Pollinator Patch adds filters Wild Thumb doesn't have: pet toxicity (dogs, cats, horses), HOA-conscious design tools, and water rebate guidance by city.
- Many people will want both. Use Wild Thumb to get inspired. Use Pollinator Patch when you have a dog, an HOA, or you're trying to qualify for a rebate.
- Neither app is legal advice. Neither guarantees HOA approval.
What Wild Thumb does well
Wild Thumb launched February 2026 from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation's Pollinators & Prairies program. The mission is straightforward: get more Texans planting native. Presenting sponsor is H-E-B.
The app has a drag-and-drop garden planner, step-by-step planting guides, ecoregion plant recommendations, a Texas nursery finder, and watering and freeze reminders. That last one is genuinely useful, especially for first-time native gardeners who kill plants in the first summer by overwatering.
It's free with no paid tier, backed by H-E-B money. That's a real advantage. The nursery data is also solid, tied directly to TPWF's relationships across the state.
If you want to know what to plant and where to buy it, Wild Thumb is a great starting point. Download it here.
Where Wild Thumb doesn't go
Wild Thumb doesn't filter for pet toxicity. If you have a dog who eats plants, or a cat who chews on things, that matters. Plenty of beautiful Texas natives are toxic, and the safest way to find out isn't a Google search at 2am after your dog got into something.
It also doesn't have HOA tools. No guidance on controlled heights or plant spacing for front yards, no reference to Texas Property Code 202.007, no printable plan format for an HOA board presentation. If you live in an HOA neighborhood and your front yard is what's visible, these things matter.
And there's no rebate integration. Georgetown offers up to $5,000/year for lawn replacement. Austin, San Antonio, and LCRA all have programs. Finding and qualifying for those takes research that Wild Thumb doesn't help with.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Wild Thumb | Pollinator Patch |
|---|---|---|
| Free to useBoth are free. PP has a paid Pro tier. | ||
| Texas ecoregion recommendations | ||
| Native plant browser | ||
| Garden planner / layout toolWild Thumb: drag-and-drop. PP: yard-specific plan generation. | ||
| Step-by-step planting guides | ||
| Pollinator information | ||
| Local nursery finderPP has commercial availability filter; no nursery directory yet. | ||
| Watering and care remindersOn the PP roadmap. | ||
| Pet safety filter (dogs, cats, horses) | ||
| HOA-conscious plant filtering | ||
| Water rebate guidance by city | ||
| Advanced filters (sun, water, growth form) | ||
| Printable PDF exportPro feature. | ||
| TX Property Code 202.007 guidance |
✓ = included — = partial or in progress ✗ = not available as of Feb 2026
Start with Wild Thumb if...
- You're new to native gardening and want guided, step-by-step help
- You want watering and freeze reminders from the start
- You want a curated Texas nursery list
- No pets, no HOA, no rebate applications to worry about
Add Pollinator Patch if...
- You have a dog, cat, or horse with access to the yard
- You live in an HOA neighborhood and your front yard is visible
- You want to check rebate eligibility before you buy plants
- You want advanced filtering (sunlight, water, growth form, ecoregion)
- You need a printable plan for your HOA board or a landscaper
One honest note
Wild Thumb is genuinely good. It's backed by one of the strongest conservation organizations in Texas with real funding and data partnerships. The fact that it exists is good for native plants, full stop.
Pollinator Patch is a one-person project. It covers different ground: the real-world complications that come with visible front yards, HOA boards, pets, and rebate programs. That's the specific problem it was built to solve.
Neither app is a substitute for talking to a Texas Master Gardener or reading your CC&Rs before you start digging. Use both as planning tools, not final answers.
Try Pollinator Patch free
Download on iOS or Android. Browse native plants filtered for your ecoregion, check pet safety, see HOA-friendliness, and find rebate programs in your city.
Download FreePlanning tool only. Not legal advice. Doesn't guarantee HOA approval.