Top 10 Lists
Here are lists of my favorite plants native to Houston, and also a list of the top 8 native trees! In order to make my top 10, a plant must have: (1) a long lasting bloom, (2) rich nectar and pollen source, and (3) drought and heat tolerance. BONUS: Hosts butterfly caterpillars such as milkweed. To search for native plants in your region, go to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center database.
Here are all the lists, plus info on soil preparation, ready to print and take to the nursery!
Top 10 Pollinator Plants
Plant thyme for natural fungicide and beautiful groundcover. Rattlesnake master is difficult to find.
Top 10 Plants for Shade
You can still have a pollinator garden in shady areas.
Top 10 Hummingbird Plants
Good rule of thumb: If it’s red or orange it attracts hummingbirds.
Top 10 Butterfly Host Plants
Plant a butterfly nursery for baby butterflies! Kids love this garden.
Top 10 Companion Plants
Companion plants attract pollinators and predators – insects that eat pests!
Plant a Year-Round Buffet
Ensure there is always food available in your yard with plants that bloom during every season!
Host and Nectar Plants for Butterflies of Southeast Texas. Compiled by BEST (Butterfly Enthusiasts of SE TX)
Top 8 Native Trees for Houston
Research was conducted on regional native tree species to determine the best for Houston that provide: (1) optimal carbon sequestration, (2) air pollution absorption, (3) water absorption (flood mitigation), and (4) urban heat island reduction.
Trees help humans and wildlife. Read about urban heat islands “How hot is your neighborhood” and help plant trees. Nonprofit Trees For Houston distributes and plants trees throughout Houston. The Kinder Campus headquarters is at 2001 W. 34th St. Houston. https://www.treesforhouston.org/
This awesome tree chart was published in the following study: A simple tree planting framework to improve climate, air pollution, health, and urban heat in vulnerable locations using non-traditional partners. Loren P. Hopkins, Houston Health Dept.; Deborah J. January-Bevers, Houston Wilderness; Erin K. Caton, Houston Health Dept.; Laura A. Campos, Rice University; New Phytologist Foundation, December 2, 2021.
6 Trees Making Houston Healthier
By Geneva Diaz, May 1, 2023, Published in the Summer 2023 issue of Houstonia Magazine (houstoniamag.com)
SHADE TREES ARE critical to a city’s infrastructure. They soak up significant volumes of water to reduce stormwater runoff, contribute significantly to the energy efficiency of buildings, and remove pollutants (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide) from the air. And much like Houston’s parks, the city desperately needs more of them. Which makes one nonprofit’s ambitious plans all the more welcome. In partnership with the City’s Climate Action Plan and Resilient Houston, Houston Wilderness plans to plant 4.6 million trees in and around the city by the year 2030 to help capture harmful carbon particles and reduce the effects of climate change. These are the top six tree species being planted and the impact they’ll have on the environment.
