Native riparian plants of Central Texas
Possumhaw Holly
Ilex deciduaMature size: 12-20 ft tall
Restoration role: Mid-story cover, winter wildlife forage
A small understory tree with winter berries that feed songbirds — fills the mid-story layer between canopy and bank.
Pecan
Carya illinoinensisMature size: 70-100 ft tall
Restoration role: Long-term canopy, wildlife forage
A long-lived, deep-rooted overstory tree common on Central Texas creek bottoms, valued for canopy longevity and wildlife forage.
Ashe Juniper
Juniperus asheiMature size: 15-30 ft tall
Restoration role: Karst recharge & soil building (not a riparian species)
Not a riparian species — an upland exception, included for its role in karst recharge and Hill Country soil formation.
Southern Wild Rice
Zizaniopsis miliaceaMature size: 4-8 ft tall
Restoration role: In-channel filtration
Planted directly in shallow water to filter nutrients and sediment in-channel and shelter small aquatic life.
Switchgrass
Panicum virgatumMature size: 3-6 ft tall
Restoration role: Deep-rooted erosion control
Deep, prairie-strength roots planted along the upper bank to slow runoff before it reaches the channel.
Inland Sea Oats
Chasmanthium latifoliumMature size: 2-4 ft tall
Restoration role: Shade-tolerant erosion control
A shade-tolerant native grass that holds bare, shaded bank soil together beneath the tree canopy.
Frostweed
Verbesina virginicaMature size: 3-6 ft tall
Restoration role: Shade-tolerant filtration
A shaded, moisture-loving understory perennial that filters runoff and feeds migrating monarchs in late season.
Turk’s Cap
Malvaviscus arboreusMature size: 3-6 ft tall
Restoration role: Shaded understory cover
Shade-tolerant understory cover with season-long blooms that support hummingbirds and crowd out invasive groundcover.
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalisMature size: 6-12 ft tall
Restoration role: Bank-edge stabilization, pollinator habitat
A dense, water-loving shrub that softens the bank-to-channel transition and supports pollinators through summer bloom.
Black Willow
Salix nigraMature size: 30-40 ft tall
Restoration role: Rapid bank colonization
Our first responder on a freshly eroded bank — roots quickly from live stakes to hold soil while slower trees establish.