What Grows Best in Austin and the Texas Hill Country?
New to Austin and wondering what to plant? Even longtime Central Texas residents can find landscaping challenging.
At Vivero Growers Nursery, we regularly meet customers who have moved to Austin, Dripping Springs, Lakeway, Bee Cave, and the surrounding Hill Country. One of the first questions they ask is, “What plants will actually grow here?”
Lantana and Butterfly
It’s a good question. Our rocky limestone soils, intense summer heat, periods of drought, occasional hard freezes, and browsing deer can make gardening more complicated than it appears.
Plants that thrive in Houston or other parts of the country may struggle in Central Texas. Fortunately, we have an incredible selection of beautiful Texas native and adapted plants that are well suited to our conditions.
Here are some of our favorites for creating attractive, resilient landscapes.
Texas Native Trees for Austin Landscapes
Trees provide shade, structure, wildlife habitat, and seasonal interest. While large shade trees have their place, smaller native trees can be especially valuable in residential landscapes.
Texas Kidneywood
Texas Kidneywood (Eysenhardtia texana) is an excellent small Texas native tree for sunny, well-drained landscapes.
Its delicate foliage gives it a light, airy appearance, while fragrant white flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
Once established, Kidneywood is drought-tolerant and particularly well suited to naturalistic Hill Country gardens.
Goldenball Leadtree
Goldenball Leadtree (Leucaena retusa) is an unusual Texas native that deserves more attention. Its fine-textured foliage and round golden-yellow flowers create a distinctive appearance.
It performs best in sunny locations with excellent drainage and makes an attractive specimen in a water-wise landscape.
Choose a protected, well-drained location, as severe freezes can damage exposed growth.
Texas Persimmon
Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) is a tough native small tree or large shrub known for its smooth, pale bark and dark fruits on female plants.
It is an excellent choice for rocky soils and naturalistic landscapes.
Its sculptural branching and attractive bark provide interest even when the tree is not in leaf.
Possumhaw Holly
Possumhaw Holly (Ilex decidua) provides a completely different kind of landscape interest.
This deciduous native shrub or small tree is especially beautiful in winter when female plants can be covered in bright red or orange berries after the leaves have fallen.
Possumhaw is valuable for wildlife and can be used as a specimen or in a naturalized planting. Allow room for its mature size and provide suitable moisture during establishment.
Flowering Perennials and Shrubs That Thrive in Austin
One of the best ways to bring color into a Central Texas landscape is to choose flowering plants that can tolerate our long, hot summers. One longtime favorite is Pride of Barbados, known for its vibrant summer flowers. But there are plenty of other flowering perennials and shrubs that can handle Central Texas heat.
Russian Sage
Russian Sage (Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia) offers silvery foliage and airy lavender-blue flowers.
It is particularly attractive planted alongside ornamental grasses, agaves, and other drought-tolerant plants.
Russian Sage performs best in full sun with excellent drainage.
Avoid overly wet locations, especially during winter.
Zexmenia
Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida, also known as Zexmenia hispida) is one of those reliable Texas natives that deserves a place in more gardens.
Its cheerful yellow-orange flowers provide color through much of the warm season, and its foliage offers a softer texture among larger shrubs and grasses.
Once established, Zexmenia tolerates heat and periods of drought. It also attracts butterflies and other pollinators.
Lantana
Lantanas remain some of the most dependable flowering plants for sunny Central Texas landscapes.
Available in a wide range of colors and growth habits, they provide long-lasting summer color and attract butterflies.
Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) is a particularly good native selection. Other cultivated varieties offer additional colors and sizes for borders, containers, and larger planting beds.
Hardiness and mature size vary by variety, so selecting the right Lantana for your location is important.
Ornamental Grasses and Low-Growing Plants
Not every successful landscape needs to be filled with flowering shrubs. Grasses and low-growing plants can provide texture, movement, and contrast throughout the year.
Pine Muhly
Pine Muhly (Muhlenbergia dubia) is a beautiful native ornamental grass with fine-textured foliage and an upright, graceful habit.
It works particularly well in groups, along pathways, and mixed with flowering perennials.
Once established, Pine Muhly is drought-tolerant and performs well in sunny landscapes with good drainage.
Woolly Stemodia
Woolly Stemodia (Stemodia lanata) is an excellent low-growing plant for gardeners who appreciate silver foliage.
Its soft, woolly leaves create a striking contrast against darker green plants, natural stone, and colorful flowers.
This Texas native is particularly useful near the front of sunny, well-drained beds or spilling over edges. Good drainage is essential, and winter performance can vary during severe freezes.
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Austin Property
Even plants native to Texas aren’t necessarily suitable for every location.
Before selecting plants, consider a few important factors.
Sun exposure: A plant that thrives in full sun may struggle in afternoon shade, while other plants benefit from protection during the hottest part of the day.
Soil and drainage: Many Hill Country properties have shallow soils over limestone. Raised beds, carefully prepared planting areas, and plants naturally adapted to rocky conditions can make a tremendous difference.
Deer: Deer browsing is a major consideration in neighborhoods throughout Lakeway, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, and the Hill Country. No plant is completely deer-proof, particularly during drought.
Water requirements: Even drought-tolerant native plants need regular attention and appropriate watering while their roots become established.
Mature size: Consider how large a tree or shrub will become rather than choosing solely by its appearance in a nursery container.
Visit Vivero Growers Nursery for Plants That Thrive Here
At Vivero Growers Nursery, we specialize in Texas native, adapted, and distinctive landscape plants selected for Austin and the surrounding Hill Country.
We grow many of our plants right here at the nursery, where they become accustomed to local conditions.
Whether you’re looking for native trees, flowering perennials, ornamental grasses, agaves, or plants for a challenging landscape, our team can help you choose selections suited to your property.
Our inventory changes seasonally, so please contact us if you’re looking for a particular plant or size.
Visit Vivero Growers Nursery at 12000 US Highway 290 in Austin, between Austin and Dripping Springs. Bring photos of your landscape, information about your sun exposure, or questions about your soil.
We’re happy to help you find plants that will thrive.
