Remarkable Riparian

A field guide to riparian plants within the Nueces River Basin of Texas. A publication of the Nueces River Authority. This user-friendly guide introduces the most commonly observed riparian vegetation in the Edward's Plateau and Rio Grande Plains. However, most of the plants presented herein occur in riparian areas all across Texas, including the Cross Timbers, Trans-Pecos and Rolling Plains.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Abutilon fruticosum Indian mallow, Texas Indian mallow Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Acacia greggii Catclaw acacia, Gregg acacia, Long-flower catclaw, Una de gato Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Acacia rigidula Blackbrush acacia, Blackbrush, Catclaw, Chaparro prieto, Gavia Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Acalypha phleoides Shrubby copperleaf, Three-seeded mercury Perennial Herb Part-shade
Acer negundo Ash-leaf maple, Ash-leaved maple, Box elder, Boxelder, Fresno de guajuco Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Adiantum capillus-veneris Southern maidenhair fern, Common maidenhair fern, Maidenhair fern, Venus hair fern Perennial Fern Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ambrosia psilostachya Cuman ragweed, Western ragweed, Perennial ragweed, Common ragweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Ambrosia trifida var. texana Giant Ragweed, Texan great ragweed Annual Subshrub
Andropogon gerardii Big bluestem, Turkeyfoot Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Andropogon glomeratus Bushy bluestem, Brushy bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet, Moist
Anemia mexicana Mexican fern, Mexican Flowering Fern Perennial Herb
Aristida purpurea Purple threeawn, Purple 3-awn, Purple three-awn, Red threeawn Annual Grass/Grass-like Sun Dry
Baccharis neglecta False Willow, Jara dulce, Poverty Weed, Roosevelt Weed Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Bacopa monnieri Coastal Water-hyssop, Herb-of-grace, Water hyssop Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Boehmeria cylindrica Smallspike false nettle, Bog Hemp Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana Silver Beard Grass, Silver beardgrass, Silver Bluestem Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist, Dry
Brickellia cylindracea Brickell-Bush, Brickellbush, Gravelbar brickellbush Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Brickellia dentata Leafy brickellbush Perennial Subshrub
Calyptocarpus vialis Straggler daisy, Horseherb, Hierba del caballo, Lawnflower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Carya illinoinensis Pecan Perennial Tree Sun Moist
Catalpa bignonioides Southern catalpa, Cigar tree, Indian bean Perennial Tree Part-shade Wet
Celtis laevigata var. reticulata Netleaf hackberry, Netleaf sugar hackberry, Sugar Hackberry, Texas Sugarberry, Palo Blanco, Acibuche Perennial Tree Part-shade
Cenchrus spinifex Coastal sandbur, Field Sandspur, Southern sandbur, Spiny burrgrass Annual Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common buttonbush, Buttonbush, Button willow Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Chamaesyce serpens Matted sandmat, Prostrate spurge, Creeping spurge Annual Herb
Chasmanthium latifolium Inland sea oats, Indian wood oats, Wild oats, River oats, Flathead oats, Upland Oats, Upland Sea Oats Perennial Grass/Grass-like Shade, Part-shade Moist
Chilopsis linearis Desert willow, Flowering willow, Willow-leaved catalpa, Trumpet flower Perennial Tree Sun Moist, Dry
Chloris cucullata Hooded windmill grass, Hooded windmillgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Moist
Cicuta maculata Spotted water hemlock, Water-Hemlock, Beaver Poison Biennial Herb Wet
Cladium mariscus ssp. jamaicense Jamaica swamp sawgrass, Jamaican Saw-grass, Saw-grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Clematis drummondii Drummond's clematis, Old man’s beard, Texas virgin’s bower, Goat’s beard Perennial Vine Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Clematis pitcheri Purple clematis, Purple leatherflower, Leatherflower, Bluebill Perennial Vine Sun, Part-shade Moist
Cocculus carolinus Carolina snailseed, Carolina coralbead, Carolina moonseed, Red berried moonseed, Carolina red berried moonseed Perennial Vine Part-shade Moist
Coreopsis tinctoria Plains coreopsis, Golden tickseed, Goldenwave, Calliopsis Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Cornus drummondii Roughleaf dogwood, Drummond's dogwood, Rough-leaf dogwood Perennial Tree Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Desmanthus illinoensis Illinois bundleflower, Bundleflower, Prairie bundle flower, Prickleweed, Illinois Desmanthus, Prairie mimosa Perennial Shrub Sun Moist
Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri Lindheimer Panicgrass, Lindheimer's Rosettegrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade
Diospyros texana Texas persimmon, Mexican persimmon, Black persimmon, Chapote, Chapote prieto Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Eleocharis cellulosa Gulf Coast spikerush Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Eleocharis montevidensis Sand spikerush Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Wet, Moist
Eleocharis rostellata Beaked spikerush, Leap Frog Spike Rush Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Wet
Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye, Canadian wildrye, Prairie wildrye, Nodding wildrye Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist
Equisetum hyemale Canuela, Horsetail, Scouring rush, Scouringrush horsetail Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Equisetum laevigatum Horsetail, Smooth horsetail Perennial Herb Sun
Eupatorium serotinum Lateflowering thoroughwort, White boneset, Late boneset, Late-flowering boneset Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Euphorbia dentata Toothed spurge, Toothedleaf poinsettia Annual Herb
Eustoma exaltatum Catchfly prairie gentian, Bluebell gentian, Western blue gentian, Blue marsh lily, Small bluebell, Catchfly gentian, Seaside gentian Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Eysenhardtia texana Texas kidneywood, Kidneywood, Bee-Brush, Vara dulce Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Forestiera pubescens Stretchberry, Elbow bush, Spring herald Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Frangula caroliniana Carolina buckthorn, Carolina false buckthorn, Indian cherry Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Fraxinus greggii Gregg's ash, Littleleaf ash, Escobilla Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Fraxinus texensis Texas ash Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Fuirena simplex Umbrellagrass, Western umbrella-sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel, Indian Blanket Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Galium virgatum Southwest Bedstraw, Southwestern bedstraw Annual Herb
Garrya ovata Eggleaf silktassel, Mexican silktassel, Eggleaf Garrya Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Hedeoma acinoides Slender false pennyroyal, Annual pennyroyal, Slender hedeoma Annual Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Helenium microcephalum Smallhead sneezeweed Annual Herb
Helianthus annuus Common sunflower Annual Herb Sun Dry
Helianthus maximiliani Maximilian sunflower, Max sunflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Heliotropium tenellum Pasture heliotrope, White heliotrope Annual Herb Sun Dry
Heteranthera limosa Blue Mud Plantain, Blue mudplantain Annual Herb
Heterotheca subaxillaris Camphorweed, Camphor Weed Annual Herb
Hibiscus moscheutos Crimsoneyed rosemallow, Crimson-eyed rose-mallow, Marshmallow hibiscus Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Hydrocotyle ranunculoides Floating marshpennywort Perennial Herb
Hydrocotyle umbellata Manyflower marshpennywort, Water-pennywort,  Money-plant Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Hydrocotyle verticillata var. verticillata Pennywort, Water-Pennywort, Whorled marshpennywort,  Money-plant Perennial Herb Sun
Indigofera lindheimeriana Lindheimer's indigo Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ipomoea lindheimeri Lindheimer's morning-glory, Blue Morning Glory Perennial Vine Sun Dry
Jatropha dioica Leatherstem, Leather Stem, Rubber Plant Perennial Subshrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Juglans microcarpa Little walnut, Nogalito, Texas walnut, Texas black walnut, River walnut Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Juncus acuminatus Tapertip rush Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade
Juncus interior Inland rush Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist
Juncus marginatus Grassleaf rush, Grass Leaf Rush Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade
Juniperus ashei Ashe juniper, Ashe's juniper, Mountain cedar, Blueberry juniper Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Justicia americana American water-willow, Water-willow Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Lantana achyranthifolia Brushland shrubverbena, Mexican marjoram, Veinyleaf lantana Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Leucophyllum frutescens Cenizo, Purple sage, Texas ranger, Texas barometer bush, Texas silverleaf, Texas sage Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Liatris punctata Dotted blazing star, Dotted gayfeather Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal flower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ludwigia octovalvis Mexican primrose-willow, Narrow-leaf Water Primrose, Seedbox, Mexican Primrose Willow Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ludwigia peploides Creeping water-primrose, Floating primrose-willow, Water-primrose Perennial Herb Sun
Lygodesmia texana Texas skeletonplant, Texas skeleton weed, Skeleton-plant, Purple dandelion Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Lythrum californicum California loosestrife, Purple loosestrife Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Matelea reticulata Green milkweed vine, Net vein milkvine, Netted milkvine, Pearl milkweed Vine Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Maurandella antirrhiniflora Snapdragon Vine, Roving sailor, Climbing snapdragon, Little snapdragon vine Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Mecardonia procumbens Baby jump-up Annual Herb
Mikania scandens Climbing hempvine, Climbing hempweed Perennial Vine Shade Wet
Mitreola petiolata Lax hornpod Annual Herb
Morus rubra Red mulberry, Moral Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri Lindheimer's muhly, Big muhly, Lindheimer muhly Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist, Dry
Myriophyllum heterophyllum Twoleaf watermilfoil Perennial Herb
Opuntia engelmannii Cactus apple Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun Dry
Palafoxia callosa Small palafox, Small palafoxia Annual Herb Sun Dry
Panicum hallii Hall's panicgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Panicum virgatum Switchgrass, Wand panic grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Parthenium confertum Gray's feverfew Annual Subshrub
Phyla nodiflora Texas frogfruit, Turkey tangle fogfruit, Frogfruit Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Physalis cinerascens Smallflower groundcherry Perennial Herb
Physostegia correllii Correll's false dragonhead Perennial Herb
Platanus occidentalis American sycamore, Buttonwood, Plane-tree, Sycamore Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Pluchea camphorata Camphor pluchea, Camphor weed Annual Herb
Polygonum hydropiperoides Swamp smartweed Perennial Herb Sun
Polygonum punctatum Dotted smartweed Annual Herb Sun
Populus deltoides Eastern cottonwood, Alamo, Carolina poplar, Necklace Poplar Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Potamogeton illinoensis Illinois pondweed Perennial Herb
Potamogeton pusillus Small pondweed Perennial Herb
Prosopis glandulosa Honey mesquite Perennial Tree Sun Dry
Ptelea trifoliata Wafer ash, Common hoptree, Hop tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Quercus buckleyi Texas red oak, Buckley oak, Spanish oak, Spotted Oak, Rock Oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus fusiformis Escarpment live oak, Plateau live oak, Texas live oak, Scrub live oak, Hill country live oak, Plateau oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Ratibida columnifera Mexican hat, Prairie coneflower, Upright prairie coneflower, Red-spike mexican-hat, Long-headed coneflower, Thimbleflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Rhus virens Evergreen sumac, Tobacco sumac Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Rhynchospora colorata Starrush whitetop, Star sedge, White-topped sedge, Whitetop sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Part-shade Wet
Rhynchospora nivea Showy whitetop Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Rubus riograndis Rio Grande dewberry Perennial Shrub
Ruellia nudiflora Violet ruellia, Common wild petunia, Violet wild petunia, Wild petunia Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Sagittaria platyphylla Delta arrowhead Perennial Herb Part-shade Wet
Salix nigra Black willow, Gulf black willow Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Salvia farinacea Mealy blue sage, Mealy sage, Mealycup sage Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Salvia roemeriana Cedar sage Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Sapindus saponaria Wingleaf soapberry, Soapberry, Wild China tree Perennial Tree
Saururus cernuus Lizard's tail, Lizard's-tail, Breast weed Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Schoenoplectus californicus California bulrush, California club-rush, Giant Bulrush Perennial Herb Sun
Senna lindheimeriana Lindheimer's senna, Velvet leaf senna, Velvetleaf senna, Velvet-leaf wild sensitive-plant, Puppy-dog ears Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Senna roemeriana Twoleaf senna, Two leaved senna Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Setaria parviflora Marsh bristlegrass, Knotroot bristlegrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Moist
Silphium integrifolium Wholeleaf rosinweed, Entire-leaf rosinweed Perennial Herb Sun
Smilax bona-nox Saw greenbrier, Catbrier, Bullbrier Perennial Vine Shade Moist, Dry
Solanum elaeagnifolium Silverleaf nightshade, Silver-leaf nightshade, White horse nettle, Trompillo, Tomato weed Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Solidago altissima Tall Goldenrod, Late goldenrod, Canadian goldenrod, Canada goldenrod Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Sorghastrum nutans Indiangrass, Yellow indian grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Styphnolobium affine Eve’s necklace, Eve's necklacepod, Texas sophora Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Styrax platanifolius ssp. stellatus Hairy sycamore-leaf snow-bell, Sycamoreleaf snowbell Perennial Shrub
Taxodium distichum Bald cypress, Baldcypress, Common bald cypress, Southern bald cypress, Deciduous cypress Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Teucrium canadense Canada germander, American germander, Canadian germander, Germander, Hairy germander, Wood sage Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Thymophylla pentachaeta var. pentachaeta Dogweed, Dyssodia, Fiveneedle pricklyleaf Perennial Subshrub Sun
Tillandsia recurvata Small ball moss, Ball moss Perennial Herb
Toxicodendron radicans Eastern poison ivy, Poison ivy, Poison oak Perennial Shrub, Vine Shade, Part-shade Moist
Tridens muticus Slim tridens Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Tripsacum dactyloides Eastern gamagrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Moist
Typha domingensis Southern cattail Perennial Herb
Ulmus americana American elm, White elm Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm, Fall elm, Olmo Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Ungnadia speciosa Mexican buckeye Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Utricularia gibba Bladderwort, Conespur bladderpod, Humped bladderwort Perennial Herb Sun Wet
Verbena canescens Gray vervain Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Verbesina virginica Frostweed, White crownbeard, Iceplant, Iceweed, Virginia crownbeard, Indian tobacco, Richweed, Squawweed Biennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Viguiera dentata Sunflower goldeneye, Plateau goldeneye, Toothleaf goldeneye, Goldeneye, Chimalacate Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Vitis monticola Sweet mountain grape, Champin Grape Perennial Vine Sun
Vitis mustangensis Mustang grape Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Xanthium strumarium Rough cockleburr Annual Herb