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Native Plants for Austin Yards

Last updated: October 2026

A low clump of blackfoot daisy in bloom, with white flowers, growing on rocky limestone ground
Photo by Damian via iNaturalist, CC0 (cropped)

Key takeaways

  • West of I-35, expect thin soil over limestone. East of it, expect deep, dense clay.
  • Only 8.38 of Austin's 36.25 normal inches of rain fall from June through August.
  • Check your soil first, then match the plant to it.

Austin soil, climate and rainfall

Austin sits where the Edwards Plateau meets the Blackland Prairie, and the side your yard is on shapes what will grow there. West of I-35, expect thin soil over limestone. East of it, expect deep, dense clay.

Summer is the other limit. The National Weather Service normal for Camp Mabry is 36.25 inches of rain a year, and only 8.38 inches of that falls from June through August.

The list below leans toward low-water species from limestone country. Dig a test hole before you buy. If you hit rock quickly, start with blackfoot daisy or mealy blue sage. On sticky clay, check that the spot drains first, because mealy blue sage turns leggy and weak in wet soil.

Native plants to start with in Austin

  • Blackfoot Daisy

    Melampodium leucanthum

    Sun to part shade, low water. Wants dry, rocky, limestone-based soil.

  • Mealy Blue Sage

    Salvia farinacea

    Full sun, low water. Grows in limestone soils, and wet soil makes it leggy and weak.

  • Flame Acanthus

    Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

    Blooms best in full sun, low water. Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

  • Lindheimer's Muhly

    Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

    Full sun, medium water. Takes limestone or clay, and both dry and moist soil.

  • Black-eyed Susan

    Rudbeckia hirta

    Full sun, medium water, high drought tolerance. May act as an annual, biennial or short-lived perennial.

Plan your Austin yard

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Sources

Rainfall: NWS Austin/San Antonio monthly normals and Austin climate summary (1991 to 2020).

Soil: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Travis County.

Plants: Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Blackfoot Daisy, Mealy Blue Sage, Flame Acanthus, Lindheimer's Muhly, Black-eyed Susan.