Common Coastal Prairie Plants

Written By Coastal Prairie Conservancy

by Wanda Anglin

Photo courtesy of Don Pine.

Introduction

Texas’ Coastal Prairie stretches along the Gulf Coast from the Louisiana border to Brownsville, forming a diverse landscape of flat grassy plains, estuaries, shallow bays, salt marshes, dunes, and tidal flats. Spanning about 60 miles across, most of the terrain lies close to sea level, with the highest point reaching just 150 feet. This unique ecoregion is shaped by wind, rain, the Gulf, and rivers that empty into the coastline, creating a dynamic environment rich in plant and animal life.

This article focuses on the prairie itself, rather than the nearby marshes and dunes. Coastal prairie plants endure extreme conditions: high heat, heavy humidity, drought, and occasional flooding. The prairie’s diversity stems from its river basins, which create contrasting habitats—upland tallgrass prairies and lowlands that support trees, sedges, and rushes.

The Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) works to protect the small fragments of native coastal prairie that remain. After centuries of European settlement, the coastal prairie is an endangered ecosystem, with much of it converted for agriculture, urban development, and infrastructure. These remaining prairies, though rare, are critical for their ecological value and the variety of plants they harbor. Here, we explore some of the most common species that call the coastal prairie home.

9 Natives

Let’s begin with the plants featured in the 9 Natives program, a collaborative effort between the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, the Houston-based landscape architecture firm Clark Condon, and the Houston Chapter of Native Prairies ofTexas (HNPAT). These species are commonly seen on coastal prairie walks and make excellent additions to urban landscapes. Not only are they visually appealing, but they also support native insect populations and thrive in our hot, humid climate with minimal irrigation.

9 Natives for Sun

Texas bluebonnet on the left, and Sandy bluebonnet on the right.

Bluebonnet

The bluebonnet, a beloved springtime favorite, is known for its vibrant blue and white blooms that readily reseed, expanding their coverage each year. This iconic flower is one of seven Texas state flowers and serves as a larval host for Hairstreak, Sulphur, and Elfin butterflies. Did you know that all bluebonnet species native to Texas are considered state flowers? While Lupinus texensis Texas Bluebonnet is the most common, the Sandyland Bluebonnet (Lupinus subcarnosus) dominates the dry, sandy areas of the Texas Coastal Prairie with its smaller, more subdued flowers and rounded leaves.

Here’s a list of Texas’ bluebonnet species and their ranges:

  • L. concinnus (Annual Lupine/Bajada Lupine) – Rare, Trans-Pecos

  • L. havardii (Big Bend Bluebonnet) – Endemic to the Big Bend region

  • L. perennis (Wild Lupine) – Rare, Beaumont/Jasper area

  • L. perennis ssp. gracilis (Sundial Lupine) – Rare, Beaumont/Jasper area

  • L. plattensis (Dune Bluebonnet/Nebraska Lupine) – Rare, Hartley County, Panhandle

  • L. subcarnosus (Sandyland Bluebonnet) – Coastal Plains and Blackland Prairies

  • L. texensis (Texas Bluebonnet) – Common statewide except in the Panhandle and far West Texas; less common in East Texas

These bluebonnets showcase the rich diversity of Texas' native wildflowers and their adaptability across various regions.

Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea)

A perennial in the warm coastal plains and a reseeding annual in colder climates, Scarlet Sage features red tubular flowers blooming from spring to the first frost. It thrives in heat and full sun but adapts well to shade and both moist and dry soils. This easy-to-grow plant is a favorite nectar source for hummingbirds, bees, and other insects.

Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)

A short-lived perennial in the coastal plains and a reseeding annual in colder climates, Indian Blanket is often seen alongside bluebonnets along Texas roadsides. Its distinctive red and yellow daisy-like blooms appear from spring to the first frost. Growing 1-2 feet tall and 1 foot wide, it prefers sunny, well-drained sandy soils but can tolerate part shade. Cutting back leggy stems (while leaving some for seedheads to mature) and watering during summer can prolong its bloom. This beautiful flower is also a valuable pollen source for pollinators.

Prairie Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis)

A perennial with clusters of blue or pink three-petaled blooms that appear from spring to summer. It grows in sun to part shade and thrives in moist to dry, sandy, or clay soils. While it’s a summer bloomer, it may go dormant during extended dry periods.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
A reseeding annual or short-lived perennial with iconic yellow flowers and dark centers that bloom from late spring to fall. It prefers full sun and dry to moist, well-drained soil. This plant serves as a larval host for butterflies, provides nectar for pollinators, and offers seeds for birds.

Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citriodora)
A reseeding annual with whorled lavender-pink to white blooms that flower from May to July or longer with summer watering. It grows in sun or part shade and tolerates dry soils of any type. The plant’s lemony aroma and nectar make it a favorite for pollinators.

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)
A self-seeding perennial with yucca-like foliage and greenish-white, thistle-like flowerheads that bloom in summer. It thrives in full sun and moist, well-drained soils and is one of the best pollinator-attracting wildflowers.

Gulf Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
A perennial bunchgrass known for its stunning pink and purple feathery blooms in October that fade to tan in winter. It grows in full sun and is adaptable to moist or dry sandy and clay soils. Maintenance involves cutting it back to about 8 inches in January or February.

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
A perennial bunchgrass with dense, colorful stems that range from blue-green in late summer to golden rust in fall. It thrives in sun or part shade and dry, sandy, or clay soils. As a dominant climax prairie grass, it serves as a larval host for skipper butterflies and provides seeds for small birds with its silver-white seed heads.

Native Prairie Plants for Shade

While prairies are often associated with sun-soaked grasslands, shady areas along riparian zones also support a variety of unique plants. Here are some standout native prairie plants that thrive in shade:

  • Cherokee Sedge (Carex cherokeensis): Grass-like perennial with deep green leaves and red to brown seed spikes (May–August). Prefers medium to wet soils in part shade and serves as a larval host for butterflies like the Eufala Skipper.

  • Spearbract Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium sagittiferum): Clumping perennial with light-blue, star-shaped flowers (spring–mid-summer). Thrives in moist to wet conditions and attracts native bees.

  • Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): Perennial grass known for its drooping seed heads and bright green leaves that turn coppery in fall. Grows in part to full shade.

  • Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum): Perennial with clusters of wispy blue-purple flowers (mid-summer–fall). Adapts to part shade or full sun in various soils.

  • Pigeon Bloodberry (Rivina humilis): Perennial with pink and white blooms and bright red berries (March–October). Thrives in light shade with moist, well-drained soil.

  • Heartleaf Skullcap (Scutellaria ovata): Perennial with blue-violet flowers (April–June). Prefers part to full shade and dry to medium, well-drained soils.

  • Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides): Evergreen fern forming fountain-like clumps. Grows in dry to medium, well-drained soils in full shade.

  • American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): Deciduous shrub with clusters of deep purple fruits and small flowers (May–July). Thrives in part shade with moist clay soil or enriched sand.

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii): Deciduous shrub with red hibiscus-like flowers (July–September). Grows in part to full shade and provides nectar for hummingbirds and butterflies. Turk’s Cap fruit is edible, raw or cooked, tasting a bit like apple.

Photo courtesy of Gene Ellison.

For more information on Nine Native for Sun and Nine Natives for Shade, click on the link here.

Grasses

Urban landscapes often feature non-native grasses like St. Augustine, Bermudagrass, or Zoysia, but native prairie grasses offer a tall, beautiful, and architecturally striking alternative. These grasses not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of urban spaces but also provide ecological benefits. Here are the top native tall prairie grasses of the coastal prairieThe top native tall prairie grasses in the coastal prairie include the following in roughly dominant order: 

Little bluestem.

Riparian Lowlands

Riparian habitat. Photo courtesy of Alexander Neal.

Upland forbs and grasses dominate the sandy wind-blown prairies, but with 11 of Texas’ 14 major rivers flowing through the Coastal Prairie, there are many riparian lowland species in the ecoregion. The Coastal Prairie’s riparian zones are a small percentage of the ecoregion, less than 10%. But this very important habitat offers shelter, shade, and water to the prairie inhabitants and migratory visitors. The riparian zones have a diverse population of trees, shrubs, vines, and water-loving plants.

Trees

Sugar hackberry tree. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Harvey.

The coastal prairie’s river and creek bottoms have a hardwood-dominated canopy with scattered pines and cedar. The trees are supported by wetter conditions of riparian areas when in turn create shade and structure for understory and a different set of plant life to flourish. 

Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) – this is not the hackberry most people think of and refer to as a trash tree

Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia) – an extremely drought tolerant tree that will survive well outside the riparian zone

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis)

Black Willow (Salix nigra)

Water Oak (Quercus nigra)

Texas Live Oak, also called Escarpment or Pisteau Live Oak (Quercus fusiformis) 

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Short-Leaf Pine (Pinus echniata)

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Shrubs

Some riparian areas may lack a tree overstory with the honey mesquite or huisache dominating with the area considered shrubland. But with or without an overstory, the shrub layer often includes: 

Honey Mesquite tree.

Photo courtesy of Eric Keith.

See Coastal Prairie Plants Up and Close

Coastal prairies are rare and becoming rarer, but they do still exist, and many prairies are being restored thanks to organizations like the Coastal Prairie Conservancy. Remnant prairies exist in all ecoregions across the state. See a full list of native grasslands and prairies in Texas . The following highlights the coastal prairie remnants that are open to the public so you can get a closer look at these diverse lands: 

Prairie Location Protected By:
Williams Prairie Brookshire CPC
Matt Cooke Viewing Platform Waller CPC
Indiangrass Preserve Waller CPC
Anahuac NWR Anahuac USFW
Aransas NWR Austwell USFW
Matagorda Island WMA Austwell TPWD
Mad Island WMA Bay City TPWD
San Bernard NWR Brazoria USFW
Brazoria NWR Brazoria USFW
Justin Hurst WMA Brazoria TPWD
Laguna Atascosa NWR Brownsville USFW
Mustang Island State Park Corpus Cristi TPWD
Padre Island National Seashore Corpus Cristi NPS
Eunice Cajun Prairie Eunice, LA Private non-profit
Galveston Island State Park Galveston TPWD
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site La Porte THC
Duralde Prairie Mamou, LA USFW
Brazos Bend State Park Needleville TPWD
Armand Bayou Nature Center Prairie Pasadena Private non-profit
Powderhorn Ranch WMA/State Park Port O'Connor TPWD
Attawater Prairie Chicken NWR Sealy USFW

One way to gain access to some of the prairies that are not open to the public is to become a volunteer! CPC and many prairie conservation organizations eagerly invite you to volunteer to do a wide variety of tasks that get you up close and personal with prairies that are not open to the public. You might help remove invasive species, plant seedlings or seeds, collect seeds from prairies for use in other prairie sites, or even administrative tasks that help researchers and conservation organizations advance their missions.  

Check out this table detailing some major prairie public access points in the area!

Many thanks to Carolyn Fannon, prolific native plant photographer in the coastal prairies and Big Thicket areas of Texas often contributing to wildflower.org, for her generous agreement to permit use of any of her wildflower photos. Also, we wish to credit these photographers for the additional photos

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Bio: Wanda Anglin is a lifelong student and appreciator of the natural world and its interwoven systems. She is fortunate to live on a farm in a unique area of northeast Colorado County near Columbus, TX, where the coastal prairie meets the post oak savannah and Blackland prairie ecoregions as well as being home to the southeastern tail of the Lost Pines belt. All these ecotypes are seen on her small farm. As a Texas Master Naturalist, she participates in many citizen science projects that build on her understanding of how water, air, soil, flora and fauna, climate, and how humans choose to use Earth’s resources, are all inter-related. A change in one results in changes in the other systems. She jumps at every chance to share opportunities to help others understand how they can promote the natural world they want while enjoying Earth’s bounty responsibly.

Coastal Prairie Conservancy
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