What to Plant
A planting guide for different types of projects
Fish On Aquatic Plants can help you make a customized plant list depending on your goals.
View plants currently available here.
Pond and Lake Plants
Species
Canna flaccida
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Eleocharis spp.
Heteranthera dubia
Iris fulva
Iris virginica
Juncus effusus
Justicia americana
Nuphar lutea
Nymphaea odorata
Panicum hemitomon
Peltandra virginica
Polygonum spp.
Pontederia cordata
Potamogeton illinoensis
Potamogeton nodosus
Sagittaria lancifolia
Sagittaria latifolia
Sagittaria platyphylla
Saururus cernuus
Schoenoplectus americanus
Scirpus tabernaemontani
Sparganium americanum
Thalia dealbata
Vallisneria americana
Common Name
bandanna of the Everglades
common buttonbush
spikerushes
grassleaf mudplantain
copper iris
Virginia iris
common rush
American water-willow
yellow pond-lily
American white waterlily
maidencane
arrow arum
smartweeds
pickerelweed
Illinois pondweed
longleaf pondweed
bulltongue arrowhead
broadleaf arrowhead
delta arrowhead
lizard's tail
chairmaker's bulrush
softstem bulrush
American bur-reed
powdery alligator-flag
American eelgrass
Water Garden Plants
Species
Alisma subcordatum
Canna flaccida
Carex emoryi
Crinum americanum
Eleocharis spp.
Equisetum hyemale
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus moscheutos
Iris fulva
Iris virginica
Justicia americana
Lobelia cardinalis
Nelumbo lutea
Nuphar lutea
Nymphaea mexicana
Nymphaea odorata
Peltandra virginica
Physostegia virginiana
Pontedaria cordata
Sagittaria lancifolia
Sagittaria latifolia
Thalia dealbata
Vallisneria americana
Common Name
American water plantain
bandanna of the Everglades
Emory's sedge
seven sisters
spikerush
scouringrush horsetail
rosemallow
crimsoneyed rosemallow
copper iris
Virginia iris
American water-willow
cardinal flower
American lotus
yellow pond-lily
yellow waterlily
American white waterlily
arrow arum
obedient plant
pickerelweed
bulltongue arrowhead
broadleaf arrowhead
powdery alligator-flag
American eelgrass
Bog Plants
Species
Alisma subcordatum
Asclepias incarnata
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Canna flaccida
Crinum americanum
Eutrochium fistulosum
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus moscheutos
Hymenocallis spp.
Iris fulva
Iris virginica
Vernonia missurica
Lobelia cardinalis
Physostegia virginiana
Pontedaria cordata
Sagittaria lancifolia
Sagittaria latifolia
Saururus cernuus
Sparganium americanum
Common Name
American water plantain
swamp milkweed
common buttonbush
bandanna of the Everglades
seven sisters
hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye weed
rosemallow
crimsoneyed rosemallow
spider lily
copper iris
Virginia iris
Missouri ironweed
cardinal flower
obedient plant
pickerelweed
bulltongue arrowhead
broadleaf arrowhead
lizard's tail
American bur-reed
Riparian Zone Plants
Species
Andropogon glomeratus
Carex emoryi
Eleocharis spp.
Schoenoplectus americanus
Scirpus tabernaemontani
Juncus effusus
Asclepias incarnata
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Chasmanthium latifolium
Eutrochium fistulosum
Helianthus angustifolius
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus moscheutos
Justicia americana
Lobelia cardinalis
Panicum hemitomon
Phyla noidflora
Polygonum spp.
Tripsacum dactyloides
Verbena hastata
Common Name
bushy bluestem
Emory's sedge
spikerush
chairmaker's bulrush
softstem bulrush
common rush
swamp milkweed
common buttonbush
inland sea oats
hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye weed
swamp sunflower
rosemallow
crimsoneyed rosemallow
American water-willow
cardinal flower
maidencane
turkey tangle frogfruit
smartweeds
Eastern gamagrass
blue vervain
Rain Garden Plants
Species
Amsonia illustria
Asclepias incarnata
Canna flaccida
Chasmanthium latifolium
Crinum americanum
Equisetum hyemale
Eutrochium fistulosum
Helianthus angustifolius
Hibiscus lasiocarpos
Hibiscus moscheutos
Hymenocallis spp.
Iris fulva
Iris virginica
Kosteletzkya virginica
Liatris pycnostachya
Lobelia cardinalis
Phyla noidflora
Physostegia virginiana
Rudbeckia fulgida
Tradescantia ohiensis
Tripsicum dactyloides
Vernonia missurica
Common Name
Ozark bluestar
swamp milkweed
bandanna of the Everglades
inland sea oats
seven sisters
scouringrush horsetail
hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye weed
swamp sunflower
rosemallow
crimsoneyed rosemallow
spider lily
copper iris
Virginia iris
Virginia saltmarsh mallow
prairie blazing star
cardinal flower
turkey tangle frogfruit
obedient plant
orange coneflower
bluejacket
Eastern gamagrass
Missouri ironweed
Drought Tolerant Plants
Species
Chasmanthium latifolium
Helianthus angustifolius
Hibiscus moscheutos
Hymenocallis spp.
Iris fulva
Iris virginica
Justicia americana
Kosteletzkya virginica
Lobelia cardinalis
Phyla noidflora
Physostegia virginiana
Polygonum spp.
Tripsacum dactyloides
Common Name
inland sea oats
swamp sunflower
crimsoneyed rosemallow
spider lilies
copper iris
Virginia iris
American water-willow
Virginia saltmarsh mallow
cardinal flower
turkey tangle frogfruit
obedient plant
Smartweeds
Eastern gamagrass
Deer Resistant Plants
Prohibited Plants
Species
Vernonia missurica
Rudbeckia fulgida
Eutrochium fistulosum
Eleocharis spp.
Schoenoplectus americanus
Scirpus tabernaemontani
Potamogeton illinoensis
eleocharis quadrangulata
Common Name
Missouri ironweed
orange coneflower
hollow-stemmed Joe-Pye weed
spikerush
chairmaker's bulrush
softstem bulrush
Illinois pondweed
squarestem spikerush
“The organisms listed here are legally classified as exotic, harmful, or potentially harmful. No person may possess
or place them into water of this state except as authorized by the department. Permits are required for any
individual to possess, sell, import, export, transport or propagate listed species for zoological or research purposes;
for aquaculture (allowed only for Blue, Nile, or Mozambique tilapia, Triploid Grass Carp, or Pacific White Shrimp);
or for aquatic weed control (for example, Triploid Grass Carp in private ponds). Permit applications can be found
on our website. For information about possession of Mozambique Tilapia for personal use, call the Permits
Coordinator at (512) 389-4444. The full text of the regulations can be found in the Texas Administrative Code.”
Texas Parks and Wildlife Invasive, Prohibited and Exotic Species, https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/exotic/prohibited_aquatic.phtml#plant
Species
Alternanthera philoxeroides
Eichhornia azurea
Eichhornia crassipes
Hydrilla verticillata
Ipomoea aquatica
Lagarosiphon major
Landoltia punctata
Limnophila sessiliflora
Lythrum salicaria
Melaleuca quinquenervia
Monochoria hastata
Monochoria vaginalis
Myriophyllum spicatum
Ottelia alismoides
Panicum repens
Pistia stratiotes
Salvinia Spp.
Schinus terebinthifolius
Solanum tampicense
Sparganium erectum
Common Name
alligatorweed
anchored water hyacinth
common water hyacinth
hydrilla
water spinach, swamp morning glory
African elodea, oxygen-weed
dotted duckweed, dotted duckmeat
Asian marshweed
purple loosestrife
punktree
arrowleaf false pickerelweed
heartshape false pickerelweed
Eurasian watermilfoil
ducklettuce
torpedo grass
water lettuce
all Salvinia species
Brazilian peppertree
scramblilng nightshade, wetland nightshade
simplestem bur-reed, exotic bur-reed