Ten Tough Texas Natives: Wild Plants That Thrive in Heat and Drought

Texas natives embody the state's legendary resilience—surviving, even thriving, in relentless heat and historic drought. Here are ten wild herbs and plants (among thousands) worth rediscovering for home gardens.

1. American Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) – Perennial pea-family plant to 3 ft. Creamy-white spikes bloom June–July. Sticky-haired stems may irritate skin. Prefers moist, shaded areas near streambeds; tolerates heavy clay. Rhizomes and leaves used historically for ailments; licorice flavor makes tea palatable. Host to silver-spotted skipper butterfly.
2. Camphor Weed (Heterotheca subaxillaris) – Annual/biennial of roadsides, pastures, prairies. Yellow blooms mid-summer through winter attract pollinators. Thrives in full sun, poor sandy soil, dry or moist. Distinct camphor odor when crushed.
3. Clasping St. Johnswort (Hypericum gymnanthum) – Perennial for part/full sun in wet, loamy areas. Pretty in bog gardens or creek edges. Pale green foliage, small yellow flowers summer to autumn.
4. Desert Savior (Echeveria strictiflora) – Evergreen succulent perennial to ~1 ft with spreading habit. Red flowers on racemes June–autumn. Prefers light shade; drought-tolerant in sandy/gravelly soils (rock gardens).
5. Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) – Perennial lily-family plant to 2 ft. Nodding clusters of white/lavender/pink blooms July–August. Moist, dark loam with gravel/sand; full sun to part shade. Dislikes extreme heat/dryness. *Noxious weed in Arkansas.
6. Rattlesnake Flower (Brazoria truncata) – Annual mint-family plant of South Texas sand sheets. Pink-purple spring racemes. Square stems to 1 ft; purple cast in summer heat.
7. Star Grass (Aletris aurea) – Bog garden perennial, 3 ft tall. Yellow-orange flowers April–July; long narrow leaves. Historically used for stomach ailments but potentially dangerous internally. Lily family; thrives in loamy soil.
8. Turkey/Bird Pepper (Capsicum annuum) – Deciduous annual/perennial to 3 ft. White blooms May–October; edible green-to-red fruits. Southern Texas rivers/woods. Tolerates sun to shade, dry to moist soil, heat and cold. Perennial in warm South Texas.
9. White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) – Widespread (Dakotas to Texas, east to Canada). Shady forests. Historically believed to treat snakebites but toxic—do not use medicinally. Fuzzy white clusters July–October. Aster family; adaptable to garden soils.
10. Yellow-Flowered Onion (Allium coryi) – Western Texas endemic. Rocky slopes, plains; dry sandy or loamy clay soil. Partial shade. 12-inch globular yellow blooms with red-tinted edges March–May.

Note: Nothing here suggests medicinal or edible use. Photos by Todd Boland (Nodding Onion), frostweed (Camphor Weed), htop (Turkey Pepper). Sources: Flora of North America, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, USDA Plants Database, Dave's Garden Plant Files, "Wildflowers of Texas" (Ajilvsgi), "Herbs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia" (Keville).

(Editor's Note: Originally published February 28, 2009.)