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

Rudbeckia triloba

Bouteloua curtipendula

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Asclepias verticillata

Juncus effusus

Carex vulpinoidea

Dalea purpurea

Echinacea pallida

Sorghastrum nutans

Liatris aspera

Sisyrinchium angustifolium

Salvia azurea

Lonicera sempervirens

Rhus aromatica

Juniperus virginiana

Iris virginica

Betula nigra

Salvia lyrata

Polystichum acrostichoides

Acer rubrum

Carpinus caroliniana

Nyssa sylvatica

Amsonia tabernaemontana

Quercus alba

Amorpha canescens

Ratibida columnifera
Ruellia humilis

Phlox pilosa

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Polygonatum biflorum

Hibiscus laevis

Liatris pycnostachya

Quercus macrocarpa

Callirhoe involucrata

Salvia coccinea

Ptelea trifoliata

Aesculus pavia

Liquidambar styraciflua

Elymus virginicus

Tilia americana

Elymus canadensis

Osmunda regalis

Viola sororia

Dalea candida

Teucrium canadense

Liatris punctata

Monarda citriodora

Gaillardia pulchella

Osmunda cinnamomea

Symphyotrichum oolentangiense

Carex brevior

Aesculus glabra

Ipomopsis rubra

Lythrum alatum

Symphyotrichum ericoides

Mitchella repens

Carex cherokeensis

Penstemon cobaea

Salvia farinacea

Rivina humilis

Andropogon ternarius

Capsicum annuum

Quercus velutina

Carya ovata

Peltandra virginica

Baptisia sphaerocarpa

Ostrya virginiana

Carex albicans

Carex blanda
Bouteloua dactyloides

Coreopsis grandiflora

Glandularia bipinnatifida

Tradescantia occidentalis

Packera obovata

Mimosa strigillosa
Lupinus texensis

Engelmannia peristenia

Helianthus occidentalis

Osmundastrum cinnamomeum

Helenium flexuosum

Prunus caroliniana

Tetraneuris scaposa

Viburnum rufidulum

Scutellaria ovata

Asclepias asperula

Rosa setigera

Vernonia baldwinii

Quercus lyrata

Dyschoriste linearis

Eupatorium rotundifolium

Rhus trilobata

Ungnadia speciosa

Sporobolus junceus

Marsilea macropoda

Rhynchospora colorata

Ruellia strepens

Sisyrinchium albidum

Calylophus berlandieri

Vaccinium arboreum

Helianthus debilis

Gleditsia triacanthos

Carex amphibola

Phacelia congesta

Bacopa monnieri

Lantana urticoides

Quercus nigra

Diospyros texana

Mimulus alatus

Justicia americana

Marshallia caespitosa

Asclepias oenotheroides

Simsia calva

Antennaria parlinii

Hypericum hypericoides

Clematis pitcheri

Brickellia eupatorioides

Boehmeria cylindrica

Ruellia caroliniensis

Asclepias viridiflora

Pediomelum tenuiflorum

Carex flaccosperma

Sideroxylon lanuginosum

Quercus stellata

Carex cephalophora

Gaillardia suavis
Rudbeckia amplexicaulis

Carya cordiformis

Frangula caroliniana

Carex annectens

Packera plattensis

Verbesina encelioides

Celtis laevigata

Carex tribuloides

Carex grisea

Quercus marilandica

Phlox drummondii

Dalea multiflora

Forestiera angustifolia

Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii

Dalea aurea

Persicaria virginiana

Eryngium leavenworthii

Sporobolus cryptandrus

Coreopsis basalis

Bidens laevis

Coleataenia rigidula

Dalea compacta

Bouteloua hirsuta

Rhamnus caroliniana

Carex leavenworthii

Baptisia leucophaea

Thelesperma filifolium

Festuca subverticillata

Symphyotrichum dumosum

Berlandiera pumila

Carex frankii

Symphyotrichum drummondii var. texanum

Heterotheca subaxillaris

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Ruellia nudiflora

Rubus trivialis

Salvia texana

Gaillardia aestivalis

Amblyolepis setigera

Bouteloua rigidiseta

Senegalia greggii

Silphium radula

Verbesina helianthoides

Callirhoe papaver

Bothriochloa barbinodis

Pellaea atropurpurea

Polytaenia texana

Carex crus-corvi

Hypoxis hirsuta

Viola missouriensis

Lindheimera texana

Geum canadense

Monarda pectinata

Plectocephalus americanus

Iris brevicaulis

Zephyranthes drummondii

Sphenopholis obtusata

Helianthus hirsutus

Eustoma grandiflorum

Baptisia australis var. minor

Opuntia engelmannii

Echinacea sanguinea

Solidago nitida

Allium fraseri

Asclepias rubra

Carex bushii

Ranunculus macranthus

Eriochloa sericea

Juncus biflorus

Helenium amarum

Osmunda spectabilis

Pinus echinata

Crataegus mollis
Hydrolea ovata

Zephyranthes chlorosolen

Symphyotrichum patens

Dichondra carolinensis

Tradescantia humilis

Cirsium texanum

Echinodorus cordifolius

Chasmanthium laxum

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

Monarda punctata

Eupatorium perfoliatum

Cercis canadensis

Diospyros virginiana

Amorpha fruticosa

Silphium laciniatum

Callicarpa americana

Prunus serotina

Cornus florida

Platanus occidentalis

Onoclea sensibilis

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Wisteria frutescens

Taxodium distichum

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Coreopsis tripteris
Helianthus angustifolius

Prunus americana

Passiflora incarnata

Asclepias viridis

Andropogon virginicus

Rosa carolina

Pontederia cordata

Tridens flavus

Solidago rugosa

Juncus tenuis

Rhus glabra

Helianthus maximiliani

Coreopsis tinctoria
Desmanthus illinoensis

Saururus cernuus

Boltonia asteroides
Salix nigra

Ilex decidua

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Morus rubra

Prunus angustifolia

Artemisia ludoviciana

Solidago odora

Oenothera speciosa

Prunella vulgaris

Tripsacum dactyloides

Podophyllum peltatum

Carex lurida

Verbesina virginica

Carex lupulina

Sassafras albidum

Ilex vomitoria

Aristolochia tomentosa

Andropogon glomeratus

Morella cerifera

Forestiera pubescens

Quercus shumardii

Rudbeckia maxima

Euphorbia corollata

Ulmus americana

Hypericum punctatum

Cornus drummondii

Vernonia missurica

Ludwigia alternifolia

Acer negundo

Claytonia virginica

Ulmus crassifolia

Alnus serrulata

Danthonia spicata

Vachellia farnesiana

Catalpa speciosa

Apocynum cannabinum

Ilex opaca

Quercus phellos

Campsis radicans

Carya illinoinensis

Baccharis halimifolia

Juglans nigra

Quercus virginiana

Pinus taeda

Sparganium americanum

Arnoglossum plantagineum

Styphnolobium affine

Eupatorium altissimum
Nymphaea odorata

Populus deltoides

Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium

Eysenhardtia texana

Astragalus crassicarpus

Aristida purpurea

Tephrosia virginiana

Prosopis glandulosa

Helianthus grosseserratus

Euonymus atropurpureus

Heliotropium curassavicum

Glandularia canadensis

Crataegus marshallii

Bromus pubescens

Eupatorium serotinum

Delphinium carolinianum

Magnolia grandiflora

Quercus falcata

Ulmus alata

Symphyotrichum praealtum

Orbexilum pedunculatum

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Allium canadense

Fraxinus pennsylvanica

Pedicularis canadensis

Lespedeza virginica

Apios americana

Passiflora lutea

Leersia oryzoides

Solidago altissima

Malvaviscus arboreus

Pluchea odorata

Oenothera serrulata

Ceratophyllum demersum

Nelumbo lutea

Maclura pomifera

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum

Lycopus americanus

Solidago gigantea

Clematis drummondii

Oenothera filiformis

Cirsium altissimum

Agalinis tenuifolia

Erythronium albidum

Yucca constricta

Lantana horrida

Typha latifolia

Pteridium aquilinum

Persicaria amphibia

Distichlis spicata

Ceanothus herbaceus

Oxalis violacea

Verbena urticifolia

Schoenoplectus pungens

Yucca arkansana

Berberis trifoliolata

Eleocharis palustris

Rhus copallina

Zanthoxylum fagara

Desmodium paniculatum

Spiranthes cernua

Ludwigia octovalvis
Euphorbia marginata

Crataegus crus-galli

Ambrosia artemisiifolia

Rhynchospora globularis

Equisetum laevigatum

Carya aquatica

Arundinaria gigantea

Thalia dealbata

Mimosa nuttallii

Carex muehlenbergii

Bidens frondosa

Dicliptera brachiata

Cocculus carolinus

Rhexia mariana

Proboscidea louisianica

Argemone albiflora

Opuntia macrorhiza

Matelea reticulata

Funastrum cynanchoides

Mimosa quadrivalvis

Solidago petiolaris

Carex emoryi

Corydalis aurea

Cylindropuntia leptocaulis

Lespedeza hirta

Ranunculus fascicularis

Daucus pusillus

Rhexia virginica

Juncus dudleyi

Elephantopus carolinianus

Phyla lanceolata

Carex typhina

Phytolacca americana

Phryma leptostachya

Heteranthera limosa
Strophostyles leiosperma

Dioscorea villosa

Trifolium reflexum

Coleataenia anceps

Stachys tenuifolia

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum

Eleocharis acicularis

Viola sagittata

Carex intumescens

Triodanis perfoliata

Oenothera laciniata

Euthamia gymnospermoides

Marsilea vestita

Celtis reticulata

Aloysia gratissima

Scirpus pendulus

Ehretia anacua

Ranunculus hispidus

Erigeron philadelphicus

Cyperus erythrorhizos

Agrostis perennans

Juncus bufonius

Potamogeton nodosus

Agrostis hyemalis

Euphorbia nutans

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Chaetopappa asteroides

Cenchrus spinifex

Spermacoce glabra

Euphorbia dentata

Scutellaria parvula

Ptilimnium nuttallii

Leersia hexandra

Dichanthelium depauperatum

Amphiachyris dracunculoides

Hordeum pusillum

Cuscuta gronovii

Lemna minor

Vitis aestivalis

Eragrostis hypnoides

Ammannia coccinea

Sanicula canadensis

Forestiera acuminata

Croptilon divaricatum

Cyperus retrorsus

Veronica peregrina

Galium tinctorium

Plantago rhodosperma

Paspalum laeve

Plantago virginica

Polygonum tenue

Eurybia hemispherica

Cyperus acuminatus

Fimbristylis autumnalis

Cycloloma atriplicifolium

Parietaria pensylvanica

Alopecurus carolinianus

Galium obtusum

Eleocharis quadrangulata

Ophioglossum crotalophoroides

Cyperus compressus
Samolus parviflorus

Juncus scirpoides

Lechea tenuifolia

Hypericum mutilum

Cyperus echinatus

Cabomba caroliniana

Eriocaulon decangulare

Amaranthus palmeri

Dichanthelium oligosanthes

Amaranthus tuberculatus

Spiranthes lacera

Cyperus articulatus

Ipomoea lacunosa

Euphorbia glyptosperma

Spirodela polyrhiza

Cyperus esculentus

Amorpha paniculata

Isoetes melanopoda

Cyperus odoratus

Krigia virginica

Persicaria lapathifolia

Lespedeza repens

Krigia dandelion

Solanum elaeagnifolium

Iva annua

Hedeoma hispida

Persicaria glabra

Aletris aurea

Corydalis curvisiliqua

Eclipta prostrata

Eleocharis obtusa

Hypericum gentianoides

Scleria pauciflora

Ampelopsis cordata

Smilax smallii

Rorippa teres

Cardamine parviflora

Mitreola sessilifolia

Galium pilosum

Plantago heterophylla

Corydalis micrantha

Senecio ampullaceus

Lechea mucronata

Digitaria filiformis

Paspalum floridanum

Acalypha virginica

Drosera brevifolia

Matelea decipiens

Cardamine pensylvanica

Melochia pyramidata

Justicia lanceolata

Cynanchum racemosum

Descurainia pinnata

Rumex altissimus

Draba cuneifolia

Agrimonia rostellata

Dichanthelium aciculare

Physalis heterophylla

Ptilimnium capillaceum

Croton glandulosus

Commelina erecta

Sesbania vesicaria

Packera tampicana

Juncus dichotomus

Mirabilis linearis

Dichanthelium acuminatum

Polypremum procumbens

Conyza canadensis

Stenaria nigricans

Desmodium ciliare

Typha domingensis

Cirsium horridulum
Limnosciadium pinnatum

Utricularia gibba

Galactia volubilis

Chenopodium berlandieri

Fraxinus americana

Ophioglossum engelmannii

Vulpia octoflora

Cyperus polystachyos

Rumex hastatulus

Leersia lenticularis

Persicaria bicornis

Proserpinaca palustris

Croton texensis

Diodia teres

Oxalis dillenii

Sagittaria platyphylla

Anemone caroliniana

Geranium carolinianum

Pluchea foetida

Gamochaeta argyrinea

Centrosema virginianum
Solanum dimidiatum

Carex microdonta

Eryngium prostratum

Smilax rotundifolia

Mikania scandens

Minuartia patula

Ipomoea cordatotriloba

Lepidium virginicum

Hybanthus verticillatus

Crotalaria sagittalis

Physalis cinerascens

Cuscuta compacta

Mirabilis nyctaginea

Fimbristylis vahlii

Guaiacum angustifolium

Boerhavia erecta

Physalis pubescens

Sida spinosa

Froelichia gracilis

Desmodium sessilifolium

Azolla caroliniana

Oplismenus compositus

Sesbania drummondii

Grindelia lanceolata

Persicaria sagittata

Eragrostis hirsuta

Anredera vesicaria

Eclipta alba

Solanum carolinense

Rotala ramosior

Polygonella americana

Juncus brachycarpus

Isolepis carinata

Pediomelum digitatum

Sicyos angulatus

Cerastium brachypodum

Vitis rotundifolia

Vitis mustangensis

Eleocharis engelmannii

Agalinis fasciculata

Verbena xutha

Triodanis biflora

Fleischmannia incarnata

Ranunculus abortivus

Acalypha gracilens

Rorippa sessiliflora

Plantago wrightiana

Astragalus nuttallianus

Aristida purpurascens

Lactuca floridana

Bowlesia incana

Thymophylla tenuiloba

Ludwigia palustris

Eleocharis geniculata

Galium circaezans

Condalia hookeri

Diplachne fusca

Xyris torta

Euphorbia spathulata

Chamaecrista nictitans

Gonolobus suberosus

Oenothera curtiflora

Nuttallanthus canadensis

Cyperus virens

Buchnera floridana

Ambrosia trifida

Rubus argutus

Panicum hemitomon

Ranunculus sceleratus

Leucospora multifida

Physalis pumila

Strophostyles helvola

Hydrocotyle ranunculoides

Xanthium strumarium

Aristida oligantha

Silene antirrhina

Linum rigidum

Potamogeton pusillus

Luzula bulbosa

Myriophyllum pinnatum

Eragrostis pectinacea

Fallopia scandens

Croton michauxii

Lactuca ludoviciana

Physalis longifolia

Fuirena squarrosa

Botrypus virginianus

Bulbostylis capillaris

Sagina decumbens

Ludwigia leptocarpa

Hydrocotyle verticillata

Colubrina texensis

Linum sulcatum

Physostegia intermedia
Bidens bipinnata

Houstonia pusilla

Cyperus lupulinus

Euphorbia prostrata

Solanum ptychanthum

Sporobolus neglectus

Asclepias amplexicaulis

Gamochaeta purpurea

Sida ciliaris

Amaranthus albus

Euphorbia maculata

Euphorbia serpens

Heteranthera dubia

Digitaria cognata

Erigeron annuus

Eleocharis flavescens

Ranunculus pusillus

Hieracium gronovii

Gratiola neglecta

Habenaria repens

Melothria pendula

Sabatia campestris

Nothoscordum bivalve
Rorippa palustris

Polygala incarnata

Ipomoea pandurata

Fimbristylis puberula

Plantago patagonica

Eriogonum annuum

Baccharis neglecta

Mentzelia nuda

Pseudolycopodiella caroliniana

Cnidoscolus texanus

Persicaria hydropiperoides

Cyperus strigosus

Clitoria mariana

Sceptridium dissectum

Eragrostis capillaris

Brasenia schreberi

Cyperus squarrosus

Berchemia scandens

Froelichia floridana

Oenothera rhombipetala

Gratiola virginiana

Symphyotrichum subulatum

Lycopus rubellus

Persicaria punctata

Hopia obtusa

Eupatorium capillifolium

Rhynchospora perplexa

Paspalum distichum

Eriochloa contracta

Croton capitatus

Erechtites hieraciifolius

Tragia urticifolia

Cicuta maculata

Lappula occidentalis

Crataegus viridis

Dichanthelium villosissimum

Leersia virginica
Pleopeltis polypodioides

Quercus fusiformis
Amaranthus polygonoides

Ambrosia psilostachya

Toxicodendron radicans

Callitriche heterophylla

Portulaca umbraticola

Vitis vulpina

Myosurus minimus

Lycopodiella appressa

Celtis pallida

Physalis angulata

Ibervillea lindheimeri

Palafoxia hookeriana

Myosotis verna

Smilax tamnoides

Ludwigia decurrens
Echinochloa walteri

Solanum rostratum

Senegalia berlandieri

Tephrosia onobrychoides

Ludwigia glandulosa

Myosotis macrosperma

Lindernia dubia

Solidago tortifolia

Houstonia micrantha

Viburnum nudum

Silene stellata

Thalictrum dasycarpum

Camassia scilloides

Acmispon americanus

Ulmus rubra

Berlandiera texana

Robinia pseudoacacia

Chasmanthium sessiliflorum

Aureolaria grandiflora
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.