My yard looks great! I am very happy with MasterScapes! It has definitely been a happy marriage so far!
-- J.C.
Let’s talk about a landscaping secret that Texas homeowners are discovering: working with nature instead of against it makes everything easier. After decades of fighting to keep thirsty, high-maintenance exotic plants alive through our brutal summers and unpredictable freezes, more homeowners are asking: “What actually wants to grow here?”
The answer? Native Texas plants. These are the tough, beautiful plants that have been thriving in our state’s varied landscapes for thousands of years—long before anyone was installing irrigation systems or hauling bags of fertilizer from the garden center.
At MasterScapes, we’ve been cultivating beauty across the Abilene, Dallas/Fort Worth and Wichita Falls area since 1992, and we’ve watched the native plant movement transform from a niche interest into smart, mainstream landscaping. Why? Because homeowners are realizing that native plants offer something rare: landscapes that are both stunning and low-maintenance. Beauty without the stress. Curb appeal without the constant work.
If you’re tired of spending weekends (and money) keeping your landscape alive, or if you’re simply looking to create a more sustainable, wildlife-friendly garden, this guide will show you how native Texas plants can transform your property.
Native plants are species that have naturally occurred in a particular region for thousands of years without human intervention. They’ve evolved alongside our soils, our weather patterns, our native insects and animals—they’re essentially the plants that Texas “designed” through millennia of natural selection.
This is different from “adapted” plants (non-natives that can survive here with help) or “naturalized” plants (non-natives that have escaped cultivation and spread). True natives are part of the original Texas ecosystem, and that distinction matters more than you might think.
According to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas, Texas is home to over 5,000 native plant species—more than any other state. This incredible diversity means there’s a native plant perfectly suited for virtually any landscape situation you can imagine.
Let’s get real about why native plants aren’t just an environmental talking point—they’re actually a smarter choice for your landscape, your wallet, and your free time.
Native plants have spent thousands of years figuring out how to thrive in Texas soil, survive Texas droughts, and bounce back from Texas freezes. They don’t need constant babying because they’re designed for exactly the conditions your yard provides.
Many native plants develop deep root systems—some extending 10-15 feet down—that allow them to access moisture even during dry spells. Once established (typically after the first year), many natives can survive on rainfall alone in normal years. In a state where water restrictions are increasingly common and water bills can skyrocket in summer, this matters.
Native plants evolved alongside native wildlife, creating relationships that don’t exist with exotic plants. Native insects, which form the base of the food chain, often can’t digest or survive on non-native plants. By planting natives, you’re supporting the entire ecosystem—from caterpillars to butterflies to the birds that feed on them.
Deep native roots break up compacted soil, create channels for water infiltration, and build soil structure. When leaves drop, they decompose into nutrients perfectly suited for other native plants—it’s a self-sustaining system.
Native plants require less water, less fertilizer, less pesticide, and less replacement than non-natives. Over the years, these savings add up significantly. One study found that native landscaping can reduce maintenance costs by up to 50% compared to traditional landscapes.
Once established, many native landscapes use 30-50% less water than traditional landscapes. In areas with tiered water pricing (where rates increase with usage), this reduction can mean substantial monthly savings.
Well-designed native landscapes enhance curb appeal and can increase property values. According to the National Association of Realtors, attractive landscaping can add 10-15% to property value, and the low-maintenance aspect of native landscaping is increasingly attractive to buyers.
Native Texas plants offer spring wildflowers, summer blooms, fall color, and winter structure. Unlike landscapes that look great for two months and mediocre the rest of the year, well-designed native landscapes provide visual interest in every season.
There’s something magical about a garden filled with butterflies, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Native plants create this activity naturally, turning your yard into a dynamic, living space rather than a static display.
Native plants give your landscape a sense of place—a distinctly Texas character that connects your property to the broader natural landscape of our state.
Texas isn’t one uniform climate—it’s a massive state spanning multiple distinct ecoregions, each with its own native plant communities. Understanding where you live helps you choose the right natives for your specific area.
Coastal Plains stretch from the Gulf Coast to the eastern edge of Central Texas (Houston, Corpus Christi). This humid region supports plants like Southern Sugar Maple and Yaupon Holly.
North Central Plains (the Dallas-Fort Wort, Abilene and Wichita Falls area where MasterScapes operates) is a transition zone between humid coastal areas and drier western regions. This diverse area supports everything from heat-tolerant Texas Sage to beautiful Texas Mountain Laurel.
Great Plains extend from the Panhandle to Central Texas (Amarillo, Lubbock). Plants here must tolerate dramatic temperature swings, high winds, and lower rainfall. The iconic Bluebonnet and Prickly Pear Cactus thrive in this region.
Trans-Pecos Region (El Paso area) is the driest part of Texas, home to desert-adapted plants like Desert Willow and various cacti species.
At MasterScapes, we specialize in native plants suited for the North Central Plains ecoregion, though many of our recommended plants perform well across multiple Texas regions.
Trees provide structure, shade, and long-term value to any landscape. Here are outstanding native options for North Texas properties.
This evergreen reaches 15-20 feet and is famous for its fragrant purple flower clusters in early spring that smell remarkably like grape soda. It’s drought-tolerant once established, deer-resistant, and provides year-round interest. Perfect as a specimen tree, large shrub, or screen.
The quintessential Texas shade tree, Live Oak can eventually reach 40-80 feet with an even wider canopy. It’s evergreen (despite being an oak), incredibly long-lived, and provides magnificent shade. While it grows slowly, the investment pays off for generations.
Often overlooked, Cedar Elm is tough, adaptable, and provides a lovely yellow fall color. It reaches 50-70 feet at maturity and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions, including our challenging clay soils.
Despite its name, this isn’t a true willow—it’s actually related to catalpa. It grows 15-25 feet tall with delicate, orchid-like flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white from late spring through fall. Extremely drought-tolerant and heat-loving, it’s perfect for xeriscapes.
In early spring, before leaves emerge, Redbud covers itself in purplish-pink flowers—a spectacular sight. It reaches 15-20 feet, tolerates shade better than most flowering trees, and provides excellent fall color.
Shrubs provide structure, screening, and seasonal interest at a more human scale than trees.
Also called cenizo or purple sage, this shrub is incredibly drought-tolerant with silvery foliage and purple blooms that appear after rain (earning it the nickname “barometer bush”). It thrives in full sun and poor soil—basically thrives on neglect.
Unlike the aggressive non-native lantana, Texas Lantana is well-behaved and beloved by butterflies and hummingbirds. Its clusters of orange and yellow flowers bloom from spring through frost, and it’s cold-hardy in our region.
This shrub produces tubular orange-red flowers that hummingbirds can’t resist. It blooms from summer through fall, tolerates heat and drought, and dies back to the ground in winter, returning vigorously in spring.
This evergreen shrub has holly-like leaves, fragrant yellow flowers in early spring, and edible red berries that birds love. It’s incredibly drought-tolerant and works well as a barrier plant or naturalized shrub.
While it loses its leaves in winter (unlike most hollies), Possumhaw compensates with incredible displays of red or orange berries on bare branches—stunning against winter skies. It tolerates wet or dry conditions and provides critical winter food for birds.
Flowers add seasonal color and support essential pollinators.
The Texas state flower needs no introduction. Plant seeds in fall for spring blooms, provide well-drained soil and full sun, and prepare to enjoy waves of blue flowers (and photo opportunities) each March and April.
These cheerful yellow daisies with dark centers bloom from summer into fall, tolerate heat and drought, and attract butterflies and bees. They reseed readily, creating naturalized drifts over time.
One of the best shade-tolerant native perennials, Turk’s Cap produces distinctive red flowers from summer through frost. Hummingbirds adore it, and it spreads to form colonies over time.
When most flowers are finished, Fall Aster covers itself in purple-blue blooms, providing crucial late-season nectar for migrating monarch butterflies.
With spikes of blue-purple flowers from spring through frost, this perennial is heat-tolerant, deer-resistant, and beloved by bees and hummingbirds. It reseeds moderately, filling in gaps naturally.
Ornamental grasses add a dynamic element to landscapes, moving with every breeze.
In fall, this grass produces airy, pink-purple plumes that seem to glow when backlit—absolutely stunning in mass plantings. It reaches 2-3 feet tall and tolerates a range of soil conditions.
Unusual flattened seed heads dangle from arching stems, creating constant movement. This grass tolerates shade better than most and provides winter interest as seed heads turn bronze.
A versatile prairie grass reaching 3-6 feet with airy flower spikes and excellent fall color (golden yellow to burgundy). Extremely drought-tolerant once established.
Blue-green foliage in summer transforms to coppery-red in fall, persisting through winter. This 2-3 foot grass is drought-tolerant and perfect for naturalized areas or mass plantings.
Having a list of great native plants is one thing—creating a cohesive, beautiful landscape with them is another. Here are key design principles:
Layer for Depth: Use trees as the canopy layer, shrubs as the middle layer, and perennials and grasses as the ground layer. This creates visual depth and mimics natural plant communities.
Think in Drifts: Instead of planting one of everything, use multiple plants of the same species grouped together. This creates visual impact and looks more natural than scattered individual plants.
Plan for Year-Round Interest: Choose plants with overlapping bloom times, varied foliage textures, and different seasonal highlights so your landscape never has an “off” season.
Consider Wildlife: Create habitats by including plants that provide nectar, berries, seeds, and shelter. Position hummingbird plants near windows where you can enjoy watching them.
Match Plants to Site Conditions: Put sun-loving plants in full sun, shade-tolerant plants under trees, and moisture-loving plants in low spots. Working with your site rather than against it is the key to native plant success.
Overwatering Established Natives: The #1 killer of native plants is kindness—specifically, too much water once they’re established. After the first year, most natives prefer infrequent, deep watering.
Planting Too Close: Many natives grow larger than people expect. Give them room to reach their mature size, or you’ll be constantly pruning to control them.
Expecting Instant Results: Native plants often spend their first year establishing root systems rather than putting on much top growth. Be patient—the payoff comes in years 2 and 3.
Using the Wrong Natives: Just because a plant is native to Texas doesn’t mean it’s native to your part of Texas. Plants from East Texas swamps won’t thrive in West Texas deserts.
“Low-maintenance” doesn’t mean “no-maintenance.” Here’s what your native landscape needs:
First-Year Watering: Even drought-tolerant natives need regular water their first year while establishing roots. Water deeply 1-2 times per week during growing season.
After Establishment: Reduce watering significantly. Many natives will thrive on natural rainfall, though occasional deep watering during extended droughts helps.
Minimal Fertilization: Most natives don’t need fertilizer. If your soil is particularly poor, apply a light application of compost or slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring.
Strategic Pruning: Prune to maintain shape, remove dead wood, or control size. For many perennials, cutting back in late winter before new growth encourages bushier growth and more flowers.
Let It Be: One of the joys of native landscaping is embracing a slightly more natural aesthetic. Seed heads, dried grasses, and fallen leaves all have beauty and provide wildlife value.
Ready to incorporate native plants into your landscape? Here’s how MasterScapes can help:
Site Assessment: We evaluate your property’s soil, sun exposure, drainage, and existing conditions to determine which natives will thrive.
Custom Design: We create landscapes that blend your aesthetic preferences with appropriate native plants, ensuring both beauty and sustainability.
Professional Installation: Proper planting technique makes all the difference in plant establishment. Our team knows exactly how to give your natives the best start.
Maintenance Support: Whether you want ongoing maintenance or just occasional help, we provide services tailored to native landscapes.
Expertise You Can Trust: With over 30 years of experience in Abilene, Dallas/Fort Worth and Wichita Falls area, we know which natives truly perform well in our North Central Texas climate.
Will native plants look too wild or unkempt?
Native plants can be incorporated into any landscape style, from formal to naturalistic. It’s all in the design. Many natives have a refined appearance, and strategic placement and occasional maintenance keep everything looking intentional and polished.
How long until native plants are established?
The general rule is “first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap.” Most natives need one full growing season to establish roots, then they take off. This patience pays dividends in long-term performance.
Can I mix native and non-native plants?
Absolutely! Many successful landscapes combine natives with well-adapted non-natives. The key is choosing compatible plants with similar water and soil needs. We often recommend a foundation of natives supplemented with select non-natives for specific purposes.
Are native plants deer-resistant?
Many natives are deer-resistant (like Texas Sage, Agarita, and Texas Mountain Laurel), though no plant is truly deer-proof when deer populations are high and food is scarce. Generally, natives fare better than exotics because they often contain natural compounds that deter browsing.
Where can I buy native Texas plants?
Native plant availability has improved dramatically in recent years. Many nurseries now carry native sections, and specialized native plant nurseries exist throughout Texas. When working with MasterScapes, we source high-quality natives appropriate for your specific project.
Do native plants really save money?
Yes, especially over time. While initial installation costs are similar to any landscape, the reduced water usage, minimal fertilizer needs, lower replacement rates, and reduced maintenance requirements create substantial savings over the years.
Can I have a native lawn?
Buffalo grass (Bouteloua dactyloides) is a native grass that can be used as a low-water lawn alternative. It doesn’t stay as uniformly green as traditional turf grass, but it requires far less water and mowing. It’s best for lower-traffic areas and works beautifully in the right applications.
Creating a beautiful landscape doesn’t have to mean fighting against nature or sacrificing your weekends to constant maintenance. By choosing native Texas plants adapted to our soils, our climate, and our ecosystem, you can have a landscape that’s both stunning and sustainable—beauty without the stress.
At MasterScapes, we’ve been cultivating beauty across the Abilene, Dallas/Fort Worth and Wichita Falls area since 1992. We’ve watched native landscaping transform from a fringe concept into the smart, mainstream choice it is today. We’re passionate about native plants because we’ve seen firsthand how they transform properties and simplify homeowners’ lives.
Whether you want to convert your entire landscape to natives, add a native pollinator garden, or simply incorporate more sustainable plants into your existing design, we’re here to help. We’ll assess your property, recommend appropriate natives for your specific conditions, design a cohesive landscape that reflects your style, and provide expert installation and maintenance.
Your landscape should enhance your life, not complicate it. Native Texas plants make that possible.
Contact MasterScapes today for a consultation. We respond to all inquiries within 24 hours and provide transparent estimates before any work begins. Let us show you how native plants can transform your property into a beautiful, low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly landscape that truly belongs in Texas.
330 Bacacita Farms Rd, Abilene, TX 79602
325-313-4986 or Email Us
3524 Bell Dr, Hurst, TX 76053
817-318-7384 or Email Us
2200 Mississippi Ave., Wichita Falls, TX 76301
940-240-2836 or Email Us
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