At Vivero Growers Nursery, we love helping Central Texas gardeners create beautiful, water-wise landscapes that thrive in our heat, drought, and limestone soils. Looking for Texas native perennials in Austin? Texas native perennials are the perfect choice—they’re naturally adapted to our climate, support local pollinators and wildlife, and require far less water and care than non-natives.
Here are our top 10 favorites that look spectacular in Austin-area gardens.
1. Four-Nerve Daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa)
Cheerful lemon-yellow daisies bloom nearly year-round on this compact, rock-garden gem. Tough as nails, it thrives in full sun and well-drained soil with almost no supplemental water once established. Watch our short video on the Four Nerve Daisy. Because they stay low to the ground and love drainage, these are perfect for tucking into the edges of limestone rock walls or gravel paths where other plants might struggle with the heat reflected off the stone.
2. Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
A Central Texas staple available in red, pink, coral, white, and bi-colors. This heat-loving, drought-tolerant salvia blooms from spring until frost, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies while being highly deer-resistant. Tip: To keep your Autumn Sage from getting too ‘leggy,’ give it a light shear (about 4 inches) in late winter and again in mid-summer. This keeps the plant tight and mounded, ensuring a massive explosion of new blooms for the fall season.
3. Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata)
A vigorous semi-evergreen native vine that explodes with trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers in spring (often with a second flush later). Perfect for arbors, fences, or trellises in sun or part shade—and a hummingbird favorite. Learn more about Crossvine. While the massive ‘flower explosion’ happens in early spring, keep an eye out for sporadic blooms throughout the summer and fall. It’s a consistent food source for hummingbirds throughout their entire stay in Austin.
4. Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)
Vibrant clusters of yellow, orange, and pink flowers cover this tough shrub from spring through fall. It laughs at poor soil, full sun, and drought while providing nectar for countless butterflies. In the late summer and fall, Texas Lantana becomes a vital fueling station for migrating Monarch butterflies. If you plant a mass of these, you’ll often see dozens of butterflies at a time darting between the bright orange and yellow clusters.
5. Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida)
Bright golden-yellow daisies on a mounding, scrappy perennial that blooms relentlessly from May to November. Extremely drought-tolerant and deer-resistant—perfect for hot, dry slopes. Zexmenia has a rough, sandpaper-like texture on its leaves that deer absolutely hate. It’s one of our top recommendations for homes in the Hill Country where deer pressure is high, as they usually leave it completely alone.
6. Texas Sage (Leucophyllum frutescens)
Silvery foliage and stunning purple blooms (especially after summer rains) make this evergreen shrub a Hill Country icon. Excellent as a hedge, screen, or specimen—zero fuss and ultra drought-tolerant. The silvery-grey foliage of Texas Sage provides a stunning color contrast against the deep greens of other garden plants. This ‘cool’ color palette is perfect for brightening up hot, sunny corners of the yard where other plants look washed out by the sun.
7. Rock Rose / Pink Pavonia (Pavonia lasiopetala)
Delicate rose-pink hibiscus-like flowers appear almost year-round on this 2–4′ perennial. A Central and South Texas native that shines in rocky, limestone soils and attracts bees nonstop. Don’t be fooled by its delicate looks; Rock Rose is a survivor. In Austin, it often self-seeds gently, meaning you’ll get ‘bonus’ plants appearing in rocky crevices where little else will grow. It’s a fantastic way to fill out a naturalistic garden without any extra cost
8. Aromatic/Fall Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
Clouds of lavender-blue daisies blanket this late-season beauty from September through November—right when gardens need color most. Tough, adaptable, and a pollinator magnet in sun or light shade. While most of your garden is winding down for the year, Fall Aster is just getting started. It provides a massive ‘butterfly buffet’ in October. To get the best flower show, pinch the stems back by half in June—this creates a much bushier plant with twice as many flowers come autumn.
9. Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides / syn. B. congesta)
Fragrant clusters of delicate white-to-pale-pink orchid-like flowers cover this small tree/shrub in spring (often repeating in fall). A rare gem native that thrives in Austin’s alkaline soils. This is the perfect choice for small courtyards or entryways where you want a ‘wow factor’ but don’t have room for a massive tree. Its unique cloven leaves (which look like little butterfly wings) stay green and lush even in the intense heat of a Texas July.
10. Gulf Coast Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
Few sights rival the glowing pink-purple plumes of this native grass in late summer. In October and November they are in full glory. Plant in full sun and well-drained soil for a breathtaking, airy display that needs virtually no maintenance. Our profile on Gulf Coast Muhly Grass. Resist the urge to cut the brown plumes back as soon as winter hits! They provide great texture and cover for small birds during the cold months. Instead, wait until late February to ‘comb’ out the dead grass or cut it back to about 6 inches to make way for fresh green growth.
Ready to transform your yard with plants that belong here? All of these Texas natives are available seasonally at Vivero Growers Nursery. Plant them in fall or early spring, add a light layer of mulch, and let our native flora do the rest. Less water, less work, more beauty—welcome to gardening the Texas way!
And remember, because we grow these Texas native perennials and plants right here in our Austin nursery, they’re stronger, healthier, and better adapted than big-box imports. You’re not just buying a Texas native—you’re bringing home a plant that already knows how to thrive in your yard.
Visit us today and let our team help you pick the perfect natives for your landscape. See you at the nursery! 🌿
**Please note- Any Austin gardener can tell you, deer resistant is not deer proof. Deer do what they want when they want. 🤣 **
