Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Friday - January 06, 2012
From: Palacios, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Lists, Trees, Wildflowers
Title: Trees and wildflowers for Matagorda County, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My family has a fish farm in Palacios, Matagorda county. I would like to plant trees and wild flowers on the property. Can you suggest the appropriate kind that can withstand the salt water around and the constant sea breeze. Thanks.ANSWER:
First of all, I urge you to look at our Texas–South Recommended list. These plants are: "Commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in South Texas." To determine their salt tolerance, there are a couple of resources:
- List 1: Salt Tolerant Plants for East Central Florida, from Rockledge Gardens. This list contains many plants that are not native and some that are native to Florida but not to Matagorda County, Texas. However, if you compare the plants from our Texas–South Recommended list and find them on the Florida list, you will know the salt tolerance for the plant that grows in your county.
- List 2: Landscape Plant Lists for Salt Tolerance Assessment from Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center. This list contains many non-native plants. This publication also lists the spray resistance of plants. You can determine if a plant of interest is native by searching for it (use the scientific name) in our Native Plant Database.
Now here are some choices for you—many are on the Texas-South Recommended list; but, if not, they are plants that have been reported growing in or near Matagorda County. The designations for List 1 are: Moderate Salt Tolerance or High Salt Tolerance. The designations for List 2 are: Sensistive, Moderately Sensitive, Moderately Tolerant, Tolerant, and Highly Tolerant.
TREES:
Acacia farnesiana (Huisache) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Cordia boissieri (Mexican olive) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Ilex vomitoria (Yaupon) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1) or Moderately Sensitive (2)
Quercus virginiana (Coastal live oak) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sabal mexicana (Mexican palm) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sophora tomentosa (Yellow necklacepod) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Prosopis glandulosa (Honey mesquite) Tolerant (2)
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black locust) Tolerant (2)
Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust) Tolerant (2)
SHRUBS:
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1) and Tolerant (2)
Malpighia glabra (Acerola) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Parkinsonia aculeata (Retama) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto) High Salt Tolerance (1)
HERBS—WILDFLOWERS:
Coreopsis tinctoria var. tinctoria (Golden tickseed) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Kosteletzkya virginica (Virginia saltmarsh mallow) Moderate Salt Tolerance (1)
Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Opuntia spp. (prickly pear cactus) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Phlox drummondii ssp. drummondii (Annual phlox) High Salt Tolerance (1)
Here are photos of some of the above from our Image Gallery:
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Lists Questions
Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions
April 29, 2013 - We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h...
view the full question and answer
Native Plants for a Steep Slope in TN
July 15, 2014 - Hello, I live in Knoxville, TN and have a very steep slope in our backyard. There is a lot of water erosion causing our grass to be covered with red dirt. I would love to try to plant something on thi...
view the full question and answer
Removing St. Augustine for natives in Grapevine TX
September 29, 2012 - We have St Augustine in our yard and we hate it. It guzzles water, we have to cut it often, and it's thick and hard to work with.
Anyway, we want to replace it with a combination of some kind of g...
view the full question and answer
Tree Recommendations for Hutto, TX
September 28, 2014 - I live in Hutto, TX. I want shade trees in my back yard. I would like a fast growing tree as well as a slower growing tree. What trees are recommended for my area?
view the full question and answer
Native NW Pennsylvania Plants for Soap
November 06, 2014 - Are there any plants in northwest Pennsylvania that can be used as soap?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |