Texas Ecoregion
10 native plants suited to the Post Oak Savannah of Texas.
The Post Oak Savannah is a transitional ecoregion that sits between the wetter Pineywoods to the east and the drier Blackland Prairie and Cross Timbers to the west. It is characterized by mixed sandy loam soils, scattered post oak woodlands, and grassland openings. Plants that do well here tolerate variable soil and a bit more rainfall than the prairies but less than East Texas.
Conditions: Sandy loam soils, mildly acidic to neutral, 35–45 inches annual rainfall, oak-dominated savannah-and-woodland mix.
Cities and areas: Bryan, College Station, Brenham, Bastrop, Lufkin, Tyler.
All non-toxic per the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center plant database. Click a plant for full ecoregion-specific maintenance and HOA-friendly notes.

Bignonia capreolata

Sabal minor

Phyla nodiflora
Muhlenbergia capillaris

Calyptocarpus vialis

Chasmanthium latifolium
Schizachyrium scoparium

Prunus mexicana
Tradescantia ohiensis

Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
From our full plant database, HOA-friendly picks first. Pet-safety status varies by species; each plant page shows its sourced ASPCA status.

Monarda fistulosa

Lobelia cardinalis

Rudbeckia hirta

Liatris spicata

Asclepias tuberosa

Achillea millefolium

Eryngium yuccifolium

Zizia aurea

Panicum virgatum

Coreopsis lanceolata

Ceanothus americanus

Hibiscus moscheutos

Eragrostis spectabilis

Bouteloua curtipendula

Rudbeckia triloba

Asclepias verticillata

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Juncus effusus

Dalea purpurea

Sorghastrum nutans

Echinacea pallida

Carex vulpinoidea

Liatris aspera

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Rhus aromatica

Lonicera sempervirens

Salvia azurea

Iris virginica

Betula nigra

Juniperus virginiana

Acer rubrum

Carpinus caroliniana

Nyssa sylvatica

Salvia lyrata

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Polystichum acrostichoides

Ratibida columnifera
Ruellia humilis

Phlox pilosa

Quercus alba

Amorpha canescens

Polygonatum biflorum

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Hibiscus laevis

Salvia coccinea

Quercus macrocarpa

Callirhoe involucrata

Liatris pycnostachya

Liquidambar styraciflua

Ptelea trifoliata

Aesculus pavia

Elymus virginicus

Elymus canadensis

Tilia americana

Osmunda regalis

Dalea candida

Viola sororia

Monarda citriodora

Liatris punctata

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Gaillardia pulchella

Osmunda cinnamomea

Carex brevior

Teucrium canadense

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Mitchella repens

Salvia farinacea

Ipomopsis rubra

Penstemon cobaea

Aesculus glabra

Lythrum alatum

Carex cherokeensis

Capsicum annuum

Andropogon ternarius

Rivina humilis

Quercus velutina

Carya ovata

Carex albicans
Bouteloua dactyloides

Carex blanda

Baptisia sphaerocarpa

Peltandra virginica

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Ostrya virginiana

Coreopsis grandiflora

Mimosa strigillosa

Tetraneuris scaposa

Tradescantia occidentalis

Packera obovata

Engelmannia peristenia

Helenium flexuosum

Asclepias asperula
Helianthus occidentalis

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Lupinus texensis

Scutellaria ovata

Viburnum rufidulum

Prunus caroliniana

Sisyrinchium albidum

Vaccinium arboreum

Rosa setigera

Carex amphibola

Dyschoriste linearis

Rhynchospora colorata

Gleditsia triacanthos

Eupatorium rotundifolium

Ruellia strepens

Rhus trilobata

Calylophus berlandieri

Ungnadia speciosa

Sporobolus junceus

Vernonia baldwinii

Quercus lyrata

Helianthus debilis

Marsilea macropoda

Clematis pitcheri

Ruellia caroliniensis

Hypericum hypericoides

Antennaria parlinii

Asclepias viridiflora

Phacelia congesta

Marshallia caespitosa

Quercus nigra

Diospyros texana

Mimulus alatus

Simsia calva

Bacopa monnieri

Justicia americana

Asclepias oenotheroides

Boehmeria cylindrica

Brickellia eupatorioides

Lantana urticoides

Carex grisea

Carex leavenworthii

Coleataenia rigidula

Phlox drummondii

Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii
Rudbeckia amplexicaulis

Gaillardia suavis

Bidens laevis

Baptisia leucophaea

Carex tribuloides

Quercus stellata

Frangula caroliniana

Quercus marilandica

Persicaria virginiana

Verbesina encelioides

Symphyotrichum dumosum

Sporobolus cryptandrus

Sideroxylon lanuginosum

Dalea multiflora

Thelesperma filifolium

Berlandiera pumila

Bouteloua hirsuta

Forestiera angustifolia

Carex annectens

Eryngium leavenworthii

Carya cordiformis

Carex flaccosperma

Festuca subverticillata

Rhamnus caroliniana

Dalea compacta

Dalea aurea

Celtis laevigata

Coreopsis basalis

Carex frankii

Symphyotrichum drummondii var. texanum

Packera plattensis

Carex cephalophora

Pediomelum tenuiflorum

Helenium amarum

Opuntia engelmannii

Osmunda spectabilis

Pinus echinata

Crataegus mollis

Asclepias rubra
Hydrolea ovata

Carex crus-corvi

Pellaea atropurpurea

Hypoxis hirsuta

Viola missouriensis

Juncus biflorus

Callirhoe papaver

Silphium radula

Verbesina helianthoides

Senegalia greggii

Bouteloua rigidiseta

Zephyranthes chlorosolen

Geum canadense

Monarda pectinata

Iris brevicaulis

Gaillardia aestivalis

Salvia texana

Sphenopholis obtusata

Ruellia nudiflora

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Chasmanthium laxum

Helianthus hirsutus

Heterotheca subaxillaris

Echinodorus cordifolius

Cirsium texanum

Symphyotrichum patens

Echinacea sanguinea

Tradescantia humilis

Ranunculus macranthus

Rubus trivialis

Allium fraseri

Solidago nitida

Amblyolepis setigera

Polytaenia texana

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Dichondra carolinensis

Carex bushii

Eriochloa sericea

Lindheimera texana

Plectocephalus americanus

Zephyranthes drummondii

Eustoma grandiflorum

Baptisia australis var. minor

Juncus interior

Sida lindheimeri

Mecardonia acuminata

Chaptalia texana

Carya myristiciformis

Hymenopappus scabiosaeus

Rudbeckia texana

Eryngium hookeri

Indigofera miniata

Krameria lanceolata

Phanopyrum gymnocarpon

Carex oxylepis

Aristida longespica

Carya alba

Penstemon laxiflorus
Nemophila phacelioides

Dichanthelium lanuginosum

Carex willdenowii

Carex retroflexa
Monarda clinopodioides

Lithospermum incisum

Setaria scheelei

Leptochloa dubia

Matelea cynanchoides

Mecardonia procumbens

Crataegus spathulata

Thymophylla pentachaeta

Symphyotrichum pratense

Oenothera berlandieri

Aristolochia reticulata

Urtica chamaedryoides

Eragrostis secundiflora

Neptunia pubescens

Dichanthelium lindheimeri

Xanthisma texanum

Berlandiera betonicifolia

Physostegia pulchella

Dichanthelium polyanthes

Sisyrinchium rosulatum

Chloris cucullata

Ratibida peduncularis

Castilleja indivisa

Paspalum plicatulum

Linum medium

Setaria parviflora

Melica mutica

Palafoxia callosa

Acacia angustissima

Aphanostephus skirrhobasis

Carex louisianica

Ziziphus obtusifolia

Tradescantia tharpii

Rudbeckia grandiflora

Justicia pilosella

Bradburia pilosa

Nassella leucotricha

Carex caroliniana

Penstemon murrayanus

Senna roemeriana

Iresine rhizomatosa

Solanum triquetrum

Agalinis heterophylla

Physostegia angustifolia

Juncus diffusissimus

Onosmodium bejariense var. bejariense

Athyrium asplenioides

Commelina virginica

Lygodesmia texana

Palafoxia rosea

Asplenium platyneuron

Digitaria californica

Hymenocallis liriosme

Polygala alba

Lespedeza violacea

Nemastylis geminiflora

Linum berlandieri

Zanthoxylum hirsutum

Sceptridium biternatum

Juncus marginatus

Rhus copallinum

Bothriochloa saccharoides

Eragrostis intermedia

Oxalis drummondii

Helenium microcephalum

Paspalum setaceum

Verbena halei

Mirabilis albida

Lobelia puberula
Tridens albescens

Portulaca pilosa

Dichanthelium dichotomum

Cyperus haspan

Callirhoe leiocarpa

Carex festucacea

Dichanthelium scoparium

Juncus torreyi

Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon

Dalea villosa

Dichanthelium linearifolium

Sporobolus clandestinus

Anemone berlandieri

Polygala sanguinea

Tridens strictus

Monarda lindheimeri

Yucca louisianensis

Vachellia rigidula

Ranunculus hispidus var. nitidus

Triplasis purpurea

Cyperus pseudovegetus

Castilleja purpurea

Sporobolus pyramidatus

Hedeoma drummondii

Eragrostis trichodes

Andropogon gerardii

Penstemon digitalis

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Physostegia virginiana

Baptisia australis

Sambucus canadensis

Conoclinium coelestinum

Solidago nemoralis

Cercis canadensis

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Monarda punctata

Diospyros virginiana

Amorpha fruticosa

Silphium laciniatum

Callicarpa americana

Cornus florida

Prunus serotina

Platanus occidentalis

Wisteria frutescens

Onoclea sensibilis

Taxodium distichum

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Coreopsis tripteris

Prunus americana

Asclepias viridis
Helianthus angustifolius

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Passiflora incarnata

Rhus glabra

Juncus tenuis

Tridens flavus

Pontederia cordata

Solidago rugosa

Andropogon virginicus

Rosa carolina

Saururus cernuus

Coreopsis tinctoria
Salix nigra
Desmanthus illinoensis

Helianthus maximiliani

Ilex decidua

Boltonia asteroides

Artemisia ludoviciana

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Solidago odora

Prunus angustifolia

Morus rubra

Verbesina virginica

Tripsacum dactyloides

Prunella vulgaris

Podophyllum peltatum

Oenothera speciosa

Carex lurida

Andropogon glomeratus

Sassafras albidum

Aristolochia tomentosa

Ilex vomitoria

Carex lupulina

Rudbeckia maxima

Forestiera pubescens

Hypericum punctatum

Quercus shumardii

Morella cerifera

Euphorbia corollata

Ulmus americana

Claytonia virginica

Cornus drummondii

Vernonia missurica

Ludwigia alternifolia

Acer negundo

Carya illinoinensis

Apocynum cannabinum

Quercus phellos

Campsis radicans

Baccharis halimifolia

Vachellia farnesiana

Juglans nigra

Danthonia spicata

Ulmus crassifolia

Catalpa speciosa

Alnus serrulata

Ilex opaca

Populus deltoides

Tephrosia virginiana

Crataegus marshallii

Sparganium americanum
Nymphaea odorata

Arnoglossum plantagineum

Quercus virginiana

Prosopis glandulosa

Styphnolobium affine

Heliotropium curassavicum

Eysenhardtia texana

Helianthus grosseserratus

Pinus taeda

Eupatorium altissimum

Euonymus atropurpureus

Glandularia canadensis

Astragalus crassicarpus

Aristida purpurea

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

Orbexilum pedunculatum

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Leersia oryzoides

Bromus pubescens

Pluchea odorata

Allium canadense

Ulmus alata

Malvaviscus arboreus

Oenothera serrulata

Lespedeza virginica

Eupatorium serotinum

Magnolia grandiflora

Delphinium carolinianum

Quercus falcata

Solidago altissima

Passiflora lutea

Apios americana

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Pedicularis canadensis

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Rhus copallina

Pteridium aquilinum

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum

Eleocharis palustris

Verbena urticifolia

Lycopus americanus

Clematis drummondii

Lantana horrida

Maclura pomifera

Berberis trifoliolata

Cirsium altissimum

Distichlis spicata

Yucca arkansana

Oenothera filiformis

Persicaria amphibia

Yucca constricta

Erythronium albidum

Nelumbo lutea

Agalinis tenuifolia

Zanthoxylum fagara

Solidago gigantea

Oxalis violacea

Schoenoplectus pungens

Ceanothus herbaceus

Typha latifolia

Ceratophyllum demersum

Scirpus pendulus

Cyperus erythrorhizos

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Dicliptera brachiata

Proboscidea louisianica

Potamogeton nodosus

Phyla lanceolata

Juncus dudleyi

Agrostis hyemalis

Carex typhina

Juncus bufonius

Funastrum cynanchoides

Phytolacca americana

Argemone albiflora

Ranunculus fascicularis

Matelea reticulata

Opuntia macrorhiza

Phryma leptostachya

Marsilea vestita

Rhexia mariana

Corydalis aurea

Heteranthera limosa

Agrostis perennans

Thalia dealbata

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

Desmodium paniculatum

Cocculus carolinus

Erigeron philadelphicus

Carex emoryi

Aloysia gratissima

Mimosa nuttallii

Trifolium reflexum

Arundinaria gigantea

Ranunculus hispidus

Euthamia gymnospermoides

Stachys tenuifolia

Triodanis perfoliata

Eleocharis acicularis

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Carex muehlenbergii
Strophostyles leiosperma

Ehretia anacua

Spiranthes cernua

Lespedeza hirta

Elephantopus carolinianus

Solidago petiolaris

Daucus pusillus

Celtis reticulata

Ludwigia octovalvis
Euphorbia marginata

Equisetum laevigatum

Carya aquatica

Rhexia virginica

Dioscorea villosa

Crataegus crus-galli

Coleataenia anceps

Viola sagittata

Carex intumescens

Bidens frondosa

Rhynchospora globularis

Oenothera laciniata

Mimosa quadrivalvis

Palafoxia hookeriana

Solanum ptychanthum

Sporobolus neglectus

Asclepias amplexicaulis

Gamochaeta purpurea

Sida ciliaris

Physostegia intermedia

Amaranthus albus

Euphorbia maculata

Euphorbia serpens

Heteranthera dubia

Digitaria cognata

Froelichia gracilis

Erigeron annuus

Physalis pubescens

Eleocharis flavescens

Ranunculus pusillus

Hieracium gronovii

Sida spinosa

Boerhavia erecta

Cuscuta compacta

Habenaria repens

Acalypha virginica

Melothria pendula

Sabatia campestris

Gratiola neglecta

Nothoscordum bivalve
Rorippa palustris

Myosotis verna

Ipomoea pandurata

Fimbristylis puberula

Plantago patagonica

Smilax tamnoides

Eriogonum annuum

Guaiacum angustifolium

Fimbristylis vahlii

Baccharis neglecta

Mentzelia nuda

Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana

Cnidoscolus texanus

Persicaria hydropiperoides

Polygala incarnata

Cyperus strigosus

Clitoria mariana

Mirabilis nyctaginea

Sceptridium dissectum

Crotalaria sagittalis

Eragrostis capillaris

Brasenia schreberi

Cyperus squarrosus

Physalis cinerascens

Berchemia scandens

Froelichia floridana

Ludwigia glandulosa

Oenothera rhombipetala

Gratiola virginiana

Symphyotrichum subulatum

Lycopus rubellus

Persicaria punctata

Hopia obtusa

Eupatorium capillifolium

Paspalum distichum

Ludwigia decurrens

Rhynchospora perplexa

Lepidium virginicum

Croton capitatus

Erechtites hieraciifolius

Eriochloa contracta

Tragia urticifolia

Hybanthus verticillatus

Cicuta maculata

Lappula occidentalis

Minuartia patula

Crataegus viridis

Ipomoea cordatotriloba
Echinochloa walteri

Leersia virginica

Dichanthelium villosissimum
Pleopeltis polypodioides
Amaranthus polygonoides

Ambrosia psilostachya

Smilax rotundifolia

Mikania scandens

Toxicodendron radicans

Quercus fusiformis

Callitriche heterophylla

Eryngium prostratum

Carex microdonta

Portulaca umbraticola

Drosera brevifolia

Vitis vulpina

Centrosema virginianum

Myosurus minimus

Lycopodiella appressa
Solanum dimidiatum

Euphorbia nutans

Gamochaeta argyrinea

Chaetopappa asteroides

Cenchrus spinifex

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Spermacoce glabra

Geranium carolinianum

Pluchea foetida

Euphorbia dentata

Scutellaria parvula

Sagittaria platyphylla

Ptilimnium nuttallii

Leersia hexandra

Amphiachyris dracunculoides

Hordeum pusillum

Anemone caroliniana

Cuscuta gronovii

Lemna minor

Vitis aestivalis

Eragrostis hypnoides

Ammannia coccinea

Sanicula canadensis

Diodia teres

Forestiera acuminata

Dichanthelium depauperatum

Cyperus retrorsus

Croptilon divaricatum

Veronica peregrina

Oxalis dillenii

Galium tinctorium

Croton texensis

Proserpinaca palustris

Paspalum laeve

Plantago rhodosperma

Persicaria bicornis

Plantago virginica

Leersia lenticularis

Eurybia hemispherica

Polygonum tenue

Fimbristylis autumnalis

Cyperus acuminatus

Senegalia berlandieri

Cycloloma atriplicifolium

Alopecurus carolinianus

Parietaria pensylvanica

Galium obtusum

Eleocharis quadrangulata

Ophioglossum crotalophoroides

Cyperus compressus

Rumex hastatulus
Samolus parviflorus

Cyperus polystachyos

Galactia volubilis

Juncus scirpoides

Lechea tenuifolia

Hypericum mutilum

Cyperus echinatus

Cabomba caroliniana

Matelea decipiens

Eriocaulon decangulare

Tephrosia onobrychoides

Amaranthus palmeri

Vulpia octoflora

Dichanthelium oligosanthes

Ophioglossum engelmannii

Fraxinus americana

Amaranthus tuberculatus

Spiranthes lacera

Cyperus articulatus

Chenopodium berlandieri

Ipomoea lacunosa

Euphorbia glyptosperma

Utricularia gibba

Spirodela polyrhiza

Cirsium horridulum

Cyperus esculentus

Amorpha paniculata

Isoetes melanopoda
Limnosciadium pinnatum

Cyperus odoratus

Krigia virginica

Persicaria lapathifolia

Lespedeza repens

Desmodium ciliare

Krigia dandelion

Solanum elaeagnifolium

Typha domingensis

Packera tampicana

Ludwigia palustris

Physalis angulata

Eleocharis geniculata

Condalia hookeri

Galium circaezans

Ibervillea lindheimeri

Xyris torta

Anredera vesicaria

Diplachne fusca

Juncus brachycarpus

Euphorbia spathulata

Chamaecrista nictitans

Polygonella americana

Gonolobus suberosus

Rotala ramosior

Oenothera curtiflora

Nuttallanthus canadensis

Solanum carolinense

Cyperus virens

Buchnera floridana

Ambrosia trifida

Eclipta alba

Rubus argutus

Panicum hemitomon

Ranunculus sceleratus

Leucospora multifida

Melochia pyramidata

Cardamine pensylvanica

Eragrostis hirsuta

Strophostyles helvola

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Sesbania drummondii

Persicaria sagittata

Xanthium strumarium

Aristida oligantha

Silene antirrhina

Linum rigidum

Potamogeton pusillus

Grindelia lanceolata

Physalis pumila

Myriophyllum pinnatum

Eragrostis pectinacea

Fallopia scandens

Croton michauxii

Lactuca ludoviciana

Physalis longifolia

Fuirena squarrosa

Botrypus virginianus

Bulbostylis capillaris

Sagina decumbens

Luzula bulbosa

Hydrocotyle verticillata

Colubrina texensis

Linum sulcatum

Ludwigia leptocarpa
Bidens bipinnata

Houstonia pusilla

Cyperus lupulinus

Oplismenus compositus

Azolla caroliniana

Euphorbia prostrata

Desmodium sessilifolium

Verbena xutha

Triodanis biflora

Ranunculus abortivus

Acalypha gracilens

Rorippa sessiliflora

Fleischmannia incarnata

Astragalus nuttallianus

Aristida purpurascens

Plantago wrightiana

Bowlesia incana

Lactuca floridana

Thymophylla tenuiloba

Iva annua

Stenaria nigricans

Hedeoma hispida

Conyza canadensis

Persicaria glabra

Polypremum procumbens

Dichanthelium acuminatum

Aletris aurea

Corydalis curvisiliqua

Mirabilis linearis

Eclipta prostrata

Eleocharis obtusa

Hypericum gentianoides

Juncus dichotomus

Dichanthelium aciculare

Scleria pauciflora

Sesbania vesicaria

Commelina erecta

Ampelopsis cordata

Croton glandulosus

Ptilimnium capillaceum

Physalis heterophylla

Rorippa teres

Smilax smallii

Cardamine parviflora

Agrimonia rostellata

Galium pilosum

Solanum rostratum

Draba cuneifolia

Rumex altissimus

Plantago heterophylla

Corydalis micrantha

Senecio ampullaceus

Mitreola sessilifolia

Descurainia pinnata

Lechea mucronata

Paspalum floridanum

Digitaria filiformis

Cynanchum racemosum

Myosotis macrosperma

Lindernia dubia

Solidago tortifolia

Justicia lanceolata

Houstonia micrantha

Isolepis carinata

Pediomelum digitatum

Sicyos angulatus

Cerastium brachypodum

Vitis rotundifolia

Celtis pallida

Eleocharis engelmannii

Agalinis fasciculata

Vitis mustangensis

Viburnum nudum

Silene stellata

Thalictrum dasycarpum

Camassia scilloides

Berlandiera texana

Aureolaria grandiflora

Robinia pseudoacacia

Acmispon americanus

Ulmus rubra

Chasmanthium sessiliflorum
Phalaris caroliniana

Arnoglossum ovatum
What to do right now for plants commonly grown here. Each links to the full regional care guide for that species, with sources.
Cooling fall weather in College Station can bring a lighter second bloom, and the plant spreads by seed if flowers are left to go to seed.
Fall often brings a second wave of bloom along with another round of Gulf Coast rain, so fall care looks a lot like spring care: enjoy the flowers, keep watching the drainage.
Seed production keeps going into fall, and the clump fades from green to pale yellow as it heads toward dormancy. The first freeze in the Bryan-College Station area typically lands by late November, which is what finally browns the whole plant for the year. Leave the seed heads and stems up rather than cutting back now.
Fall stays warm and mild in College Station, with the first real frost usually arriving in November. The plant can put out a smaller second flush of blooms late in the season, and fall is also peak monarch migration through Texas, so late season leaves and flowers get extra visits. Let the curved seed pods the plant is named for dry and split open on their own instead of cutting them off, since that is how the plant reseeds itself.
Fall is a calm, good time to plant or divide golden alexanders around College Station. Cooler weather and fall rain help new plantings root before winter on the sandy soils here.
Bloom fades and seed sets in fall. Decide whether to cut back for neatness or leave seed heads for birds and self-sowing. Watering can basically stop.
Fall is a good time to divide or add Ohio spiderwort in the Post Oak Savanna, and cooler weather can bring a last round of flowers.
Fall is when Indiangrass peaks in the Post Oak Savanna. Golden plume-like seed heads rise above the clump from August into October and the foliage turns deep orange to purple. It is a low-effort seasonal highlight.
Fall is the highlight. Yellow one-sided plumes open into October and feed bees and butterflies late in the season across the Post Oak Savanna. Leave the blooms standing for the pollinators. And the old goldenrod allergy story is a mixup, ragweed is the real culprit.
In fall, compass plant in the Post Oak Savanna finishes seeding and begins to go dormant. Leave heads for birds or collect seed. No fertilizer needed for this lean-soil prairie plant.
Pollinator Patch turns plants like these into a front-yard plan tuned for the soil, climate, and HOA expectations of the Bryan area.