Plant Information & Resources

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Texas SmartScape

Texas SmartScape is a landscape program that promotes the use of plants suited to the region’s soil, climate, and precipitation. The goal is to improve water quality by reducing runoff and conserve local water supplies by selecting ecologically appropriate native or adapted plants that require less water, pesticides, and fertilizers. The list focuses on perennials because they offer variety and diversity, blooming cycles for 7-8 months of the year, as well as foliage rich in color, texture, and shape. (For information on wildflowers, visit the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website.)

Native Plant Society of Texas Database

The Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) Database is an online tool designed to help users identify and select Texas-native plants for landscaping, filtering by ecoregion, sun/shade, and soil type. It provides detailed, searchable information on plants that support local wildlife, conserve water, and are often available at local nurseries.

Online Plant Guide

A FREE information source which showcases materials authored, gathered, and cataloged by Neil Odenwald, Ph.D. and Thomas Pope, Ph.D. over their extensive careers, over a century of collective experience in horticulture and landscape architecture. This site includes information on more than 4,300 species and 15,500 digital images.

Texas Superstar Plant List

Texas Superstar plants are a curated selection of superior plants—ranging from annuals and perennials to trees and edibles—proven to thrive in Texas’s diverse and demanding climate. They are selected by horticultural experts for their exceptional beauty, pest resistance, and reliability.

Choosing Texas Superstar plants guarantees landscape success due to several key benefits:

- Extensive Testing: Every plant undergoes rigorous, multi-year field trials by Texas A&M AgriLife with minimal soil prep and no pesticides, ensuring only the toughest plants earn the title.
- Climate Resilient: These plants are specifically adapted to survive Texas’s scorching heat, drought conditions, and unexpected cold snaps.
- Eco-Friendly: Because they are naturally robust, they require less water, fertilizer, and chemical pesticide use, making them highly sustainable.
- Low Maintenance: They are ideal for both beginner and experienced gardeners, offering maximum visual impact with minimal upkeep.

You can view the complete catalog, find local retailers, and read detailed care guides by visiting the official Texas Superstar Plants website.

Earth-Kind Plant Selector

The Texas A&M Earth-Kind® Plant Selector is an online tool that helps gardeners identify plants best suited for their specific environment. By utilizing zip codes or regions, the tool rates and recommends plants—such as trees, shrubs, and ground-covers—based on their ability to thrive with minimal water, fertilizer, and pesticide use.

To explore the database and find adapted plants for your area, use the Earth-Kind Plant Selector or access the tool via the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension website.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database

The Native Plant Database at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is a comprehensive, free online resource featuring over 9,000 native North American plant species. It allows gardeners, botanists, and landscapers to easily explore plant profiles, search for flora by region or bloom time, and discover sustainable gardening solutions.

Key Features

Massive Catalog: Access over 13,000 records of vascular plants native to the United States and Canada.
Advanced Filtering: Search for plants by geographic distribution, soil type, light requirements, and growth form.
Visuals & References: View tens of thousands of plant images, distribution maps, and propagation methods.
Conservation & Utility: Find species that support local wildlife and pollinators, or use the directory to locate native plant nurseries and suppliers.