Texas Ecoregion
Blackland Prairie
22 native plants suited to the Blackland Prairie of Texas.
The Blackland Prairie is a 200-mile band of dark, deep clay that runs from the Red River south through the DFW metroplex, Waco, Austin, and San Antonio. It is one of the most productive agricultural soils in Texas but also one of the trickiest for gardeners because the heavy clay shrinks and swells with moisture. Plants that thrive here tolerate clay, drainage swings, and the urban heat of the I-35 corridor.
Conditions: Heavy black clay, alkaline-to-neutral pH, 30–40 inches annual rainfall, hot humid summers with occasional hard freezes.
Cities and areas: Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Austin, San Antonio, Round Rock, Waco.
22 Native Plants for the Blackland Prairie
All non-toxic per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center plant database. Click a plant for full ecoregion-specific maintenance and HOA-friendly notes.
Black-eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta
Butterfly Weed
Asclepias tuberosa
Coral Honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens
Crossvine
Bignonia capreolata
Frogfruit
Phyla nodiflora
Gulf Muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris
Horseherb
Calyptocarpus vialis
Indian Blanket
Gaillardia pulchella
Inland Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifolium
Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata
Little Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
Mealy Blue Sage
Salvia farinacea
Mexican Plum
Prunus mexicana
Passionflower
Passiflora incarnata
Prairie Verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida
Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Rain Lily
Zephyranthes drummondii
Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Texas Bluebonnet
Lupinus texensis
Texas Lantana
Lantana urticoides
Turk's Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
Winecup
Callirhoe involucrata
814 More Natives for the Blackland Prairie
From our full plant database, HOA-friendly picks first. Pet-safety status varies by species; each plant page shows its sourced ASPCA status.
Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Wild Red Columbine
Aquilegia canadensis
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Rattlesnake Master
Eryngium yuccifolium
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatum
Golden Alexanders
Zizia aurea
New Jersey-tea
Ceanothus americanus
Purple Lovegrass
Eragrostis spectabilis
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Whorled Milkweed
Asclepias verticillata
Narrowleaf Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
Soft rush
Juncus effusus
Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida
Indiangrass
Sorghastrum nutans
Spicebush
Lindera benzoin
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
Narrowleaf Blue-eyed Grass
Sisyrinchium angustifolium
Aromatic Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Tall Blazing Star
Liatris aspera
Azure Sage
Salvia azurea
Prairie Junegrass
Koeleria macrantha
Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
Lyre Leaf Sage
Salvia lyrata
Eastern Bluestar
Amsonia tabernaemontana
Fall Aster
Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Fragrant Phlox
Phlox pilosa
Prairie Petunia
Ruellia humilis
Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera
Calico Aster
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum
Bur Oak
Quercus macrocarpa
Scarlet Sage
Salvia coccinea
Prairie Gayfeather
Liatris pycnostachya
Halberd Leaf Hibiscus
Hibiscus laevis
Missouri Primrose
Oenothera macrocarpa
Red buckeye
Aesculus pavia
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Wafer Ash
Ptelea trifoliata
American Basswood
Tilia americana
Prairie Wildrye
Elymus canadensis
Virginia Wildrye
Elymus virginicus
Narrow-leaf Coneflower
Echinacea angustifolia
White Prairie Clover
Dalea candida
American Germander
Teucrium canadense
Common Blue Violet
Viola sororia
Short-beak Sedge
Carex brevior
Showing 48 of 814. Enter your ZIP for the natives matched to your yard.
Fall care in the Blackland Prairie
What to do right now for plants commonly grown here. Each links to the full regional care guide for that species, with sources.
- Wafer ash
Fall is a great time to plant hoptree in Dallas, since roots grow over the cool months. The winged seed pods turn light yellow-brown in late summer or early fall, and they can be collected for growing new plants. Seeds need about 3 months of cold before sprouting. Water new trees until winter. Let the leaves drop naturally and leave them as mulch.
- Prairie goldenrod
Fall is a good time to plant goldenrod in Dallas, and the Wildflower Center also lists fall seed sowing. Blooms run through September and feed bees and butterflies. Leave the seed heads in place for a while so pollinators can use them. Water new plants until the cooler weather settles in.
- Bushs sedge
Fall is the easiest time to plant Bush's sedge in Dallas, since cooler weather means less water stress. Water new plants until winter. You can divide big clumps now. Leave the leaves in place so the clump looks full into the cold months.
- Heavy sedge
Fall is an easy and kind time to plant heavy sedge in Dallas. Cooler air and fall rain let roots grow without heat stress. Keep new plants watered until winter. You can also divide a large clump now and replant the pieces. Leave the leaves on, since they keep the plant looking good into winter.
- Missouri violet
Fall is a good time to check how far violets have spread.
- Wingstem
Fall is the main bloom season.
- Willowleaf aster
Fall is when willowleaf aster blooms.
- Big red sage
Fall blooms continue while the plant is still going.
- Wild petunia
Blooms continue into fall, so decide whether to let it seed.
- Sweet coneflower
Fall is for cleanup and watching for mildew.
Build a plan for the Blackland Prairie
Pollinator Patch turns plants like these into a front-yard plan tuned for the soil, climate, and HOA expectations of the Dallas area.