Texas Tough Natives and Herbs | Native Herbs by Herb Society of America

Native Herbs –

– Yaupon Holly/Ilex vomitoria/Aquifoliaceae (Holly)

Historical Herbal Use – Native Americans in E. TX made ceremonial emetic called the “black drink”
Current Herbal Use – Leaves contain caffeine and are sometimes made into a tea.
Description – Yaupon is a picturesque, upright, single- or multi-trunked shrub or small tree, growing 12-45 ft high but usually no higher than 25 ft. Female plants produce prodigious amounts of bright red berries. The leaves are dark green and small. Slow growing.
Preferences – Grows in sun or shade; tolerant of poor drainage and drought. Can take severe hedging & pruning.
Why Grow It? – Leaves and berries make natural holiday decorations.

– Agrarita or Mexican Barberry/Mahonia trifolata/Berberidaceae (Barberry)

Historical Herbal Use – Wood makes a tan orange dye; roots have been used to treat toothache and stomach trouble.
Current Herbal Use – Berries used to make jam; but you must use a stick to beat them off the bush because of the thorns.
Description – Evergreen, three skinny leaflets, with 5 sharp points; fragrant yellow flowers in clusters; red berries in June.
Preferences – Full sun and good drainage.
Why Grow It? – Provides protective cover for birds and small mammals; flowers are important source of bee forage. Flowers and berries are attractive in the landscape.

– Wafer Ash, Hop Tree/Ptaelea trifolata/Rutaceae (Citrus)

Historical Herbal Use – Settlers used fruit instead of hops to make beer; used bark & roots as a substitute for quinine for malaria; also used for fevers and fatigue.
Current Herbal Use – Used today in some homeopathic remedies.
Description – Aromatic shrub or small tree with a rounded crown. The trunk is slender and crooked, bearing interwoven, ascending branches. Bark, crushed foliage, and twigs have a slightly lemon-like, unpleasant musky odor. Trifoliate, deciduous leaves. Seeds are wafer shaped.
Preferences – Takes a wide range of soil types and exposures.
Why Grow It? – Bright fall color for shady locations; attractive small tree.

– Texas Lantana, Calico Bush/Lantana urticoides/Verbenaceae– Texas Lantana, Calico Bush/Lantana urticoides/Verbenaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Often used in Mexico to treat fever, stomach distress and snakebite.
Current Herbal Use – None found.
Description – Low, wide shrub, 2-6 ft. tall, many branches, rough leaves, bright multicolored flowers, pungent aroma.
Preferences – Requires light, well-drained soil, but tolerates other types. Full sun or light shade. Blooms continually from spring to fall, drought and heat tolerant.
Why Grow It? – Very colorful and easy to care for. Caution: Plant is poisonous to people and pets. Leaves may irritate skin in some people.

– Fringed Puccoon, Narrow Gromwell/Lithospermum incisum/Boraginaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Navajos chewed root for coughs & colds; roots made a red or purple dye; puccoon is an Indian word meaning “dye.”
Current Herbal Use – Sometimes used in wool dyeing today.
Description – Upright, hairy perennial to 12″, with fringed yellow flowers. Genus name means “stone seed,” referring to the nutlets that come late in the season.
Preferences – Prefers sandy soils; tolerates drought.
Why Grow It? – Showy flowers from April -June; interesting in a dye garden.

– Butterfly Weed, Pleurisy Root/Asclepias tuberosa/Asclepiadaecae (Milkweed)

Historical Herbal Use – Root tea for heart trouble; seeds and roots used as laxative. Fibers from stem used to make rope; settlers treated bronchial and lung problems with the root.
Current Herbal Use – Tincture used as a homeopathic remedy.
Description – Clump-forming hairy perennial to 3 ft. Small red-orange or orange flowers in clusters from April-September.
Preferences – Found throughout Texas in a wide variety of soils. Sun, light shade.
Why Grow It? – Attractive flowers bring lots of butterflies & bees.

– Prairie Parsley, Wild Dill/Polytaenia nuttallii/Apiacaeae (Parsley or Carrot)

Historical Herbal Use – One native American group used the tea to cure diarrhea.
Current Herbal Use – Can use as substitute for dill.
Description – Upright, smooth, stout biennial to 3 ft. Related to common herbs parsley, chervil, caraway & celery.Preferences – Often found on blackland prairies; full sun.
Why Grow It? – Interesting addition to the herb garden.

– Wild Blue Indigo/Baptisia australis/Fabaceae (Legume)

Historical Herbal Use – Has been used as an antiseptic, a purgative and to combat coughs and fevers.
Current Herbal Use – The seed pods make a blue dye for wool; research is ongoing as a treatment for immune system.
Description – Upright, robust, smooth perennial 2-4 ft. Blooms in April-May.
Preferences – Clay soils of prairies and plains; needs full sun.
Why Grow It? – Attractive blue flowers; interesting for a dye garden. Caution: Plant generally said to be toxic.

– Lemon-Mint, Purple Horsemint/Monadra citriodora/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – The Blackfoot Indians used bee balm poultices for skin infections and minor wounds. Bee balm tea was used to treat mouth and throat infections.
Current Herbal Use – Lemon-flavored tea from dried leaves; oil from leaves used in perfumes; dried crushed leaves can be used as an insect repellant.
Description – Upright, aromatic annual or biennials to 32″. Blooms April-October, if watered, with whitish or lavender flowers.
Preferences – Sandy or rocky soils; tolerates drought. Grows in sun or part shade. Can become aggressive; susceptible to powdery mildew.
Why Grow It? – Interesting flowers and fragrant foliage; easily grows from seed. Leaves are edible in tea or used in salads and cooking.

– Wild Bergamot/Monarda fistulosa/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Cherokee used hot leaf tea for heart trouble, fevers, and to induce sleep. Settlers used it to induce sweat in measles & fevers.
Current Herbal Use – Leaves & flowers used in sachets.
Description – Upright, soft-hairy aromatic perennial to 5 ft. Blooms May-July, with dark pink to lavender flowers.
Preferences – Sandy or rocky soils; moderate drought tolerance; heat tolerant.
Why Grow It? Leaves are edible in tea or used in salads and cooking.

– Lindheimer Beebalm/Monarda lindheimeri/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Monardas were widely used by native Americans for skin poultices, tea for sore throat & mouth infections, and as a general stimulant.
Current Herbal Use – Foliage and flowers used in bouquets & potpourri.
Description – Upright, aromatic perennial herb 1-2 ft. Blooms April-August, with green-yellow flowers in umbel-like clusters in June & July.
Preferences – Full sun; prefers gravelly or limestone soils. This Monarda grows only in TX & western LA.
Why Grow It? – Creamy white flowers good for cutting; aromatic foliage used in teas, potpourri and sachets.

– Lyre-Leaf Sage, Cancer Weed/Salvia lyrata/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Cherokee used leaf tea for colds, nervousness and as a laxative. Was also mixed with honey to treat asthma. A folk remedy for cancer. Tea was once a gargle for sore throat.
Current Herbal Use – Used to make tea.
Description – Very upright, hairy perennial, 1-2 ft., with long, pale blue flowers, on a long spike. In winter the leaves are often purple-tinged.
Preferences – Prefers sandy soils; moderately drought tolerant; will grow in sun or shade.
Why Grow It? – Attractive flowers; makes a good evergreen ground cover. Flavor is not as strong as other sages; the tea has a light, minty taste.

– Purple Coneflower/Echinacea purpuea/Asteraceae

Historical Herbal Use – Medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Medicinial
Description – An attractive perennial with purple drooping rays surrounding a spiny, brownish central disk. Rough, scattered leaves on long stems.
Preferences – Prefers full sun. Tolerant of drought, heat, humidity and poor soil.
Why Grow It? – Handsome flowers in late spring; birds eat the seed heads. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

– Texas Star Hibiscus/Hibiscus coccineus/Malvaceae

Historical Herbal Use –
Current Herbal Use – Tea from flowers
Description – Grows 4-8′ with tall canes. Leaves look a little like marijuana plant; saucer-sized red flowers.Preferences – Can grow in wet or dry conditions; grows quickly.
Why Grow It? – Beautiful blooms all summer; great as a tall landscape plant

– Lemon verbena/Aloysia triphylla/Verbenaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Current Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Description – A shrub 36-48″ high, with elongated light green leaves. A good mid-level plant in your garden.
Preferences – Full sun and good drainage. Not reliably winter-hardy
Why Grow It? – One of the best fragrances of the lemon-scented herbs. Makes delicious tea and baked goods.

– Lemon balm/Melissa offincinalis/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Culinary, cosmetic, medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Culinary, cosmetic, industrial
Description – Hardy perennial, about 18″ high, spreads easily, can become invasive.
Preferences – Likes high shade. Prune to keep from blooming and spreading seeds.
Why Grow It? – Good lemon flavor and scent for potpourri and cooking.

– Almond verbena/Aloysia virgata/Verbenaceae

Historical Herbal Use –
Current Herbal Use – Bee plant, fragrance
Description – Large deciduous woody shrub or perennial for full sun to light shade. Spikes of white blooms all summer.
Preferences – Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping. Prefers full sun, but can take light shade.
Why Grow It? – This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds. Caution: some people may be allergic to the pollen.

– Yarrow/Achillea millefolium/Compositae

Historical Herbal Use – Medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Medicinal, industrial
Description – Leaves finely cut and feathery; tall bloom spikes in late spring/early summer. Several color varieties available.
Preferences – Easy care; tolerates dry soil. Prefers full sun.
Why Grow It? – Flowers dry well.

– Lamb’s Ear/Stachys byzantina/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Medicinal, as a wound dressing.
Current Herbal Use – Can be used as a dye plant.
Description – Thick, white wooly foliage; sends up flower stalks with small pink or lavender flowers. Low-growing; good for borders.
Preferences – Full sun and well-drained soil; tolerates poor-soil conditions. Wilts in high humidity and heavy rain.
Why Grow It? – Pleasing texture; a fun plant for children. Handsome silver foliage.

– Catmint/Nepita cataria/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Some cats like it; supposedly it repels rats.
Description – Low growing, small leaves, blooms all summer.
Preferences – Full sun and good drainage; low moisture.
Why Grow It? – Attractive low growing border plant; fragrant.

Traditional Herbs –

– Basil/Ocimum basilicum/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Culinary
Description – Basil comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some good ones for cooking include: Ocimum basilicum ‘Genovese,’ ‘Dark Opal,’ and ‘Cinnamon.’
Preferences – Basil is a true sun worshipper. It wants to bolt in the heat, so keep the flower stalks trimmed off to encourage leaf growth.
Why Grow It? – The blossoms attract bees of all kinds; it’s one of the easiest and most rewarding culinary herbs to grow.

– Rosemary/Salvia rosmarinus (previously known as Rosmarinus officinalis)/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Current Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Description – Many cultivars of rosemary exist, including upright and prostrate types. ‘Arp’ and ‘Hill Hardy’ have Texas associations.
Preferences – Requires good drainage, good air circulation, and at least 4-6 hours of sunlight. Mulching will help during drought and heat
.Why Grow It? – Versatile culinary herb; used in potpourri and all sorts of DIY cosmetics.

– Thyme/Thymus vulgaris/Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Food preservative, moth repellant, medicinal, culinary
Current Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, industrial
Description – Thymes fall into 3 groups: upright subshrubs (most culinary varieties), creeping, and flat creepers
Preferences – Thyme needs to be pruned lightly and regularly to keep it from becoming too woody. Needs good drainage and full sun.
Why Grow It? – Another versatile culinary herb; dries well for using in crafts like wreathmaking and pressing.

– Lavender/Lavendula spp./Lamiaceae

Historical Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic
Current Herbal Use – Culinary, medicinal, cosmetic, industrial
Description – 22 species in Lavandula genus. Many hybrids and cultivars.
Preferences – Requires full sun and excellent drainage. Easily overwatered, but have to give enough water in summer.
Why Grow It? – One of the most pleasing fragrant herbs. Fun to try various culinary uses. Lots of craft and cosmetic uses.

– Wormwood/Artemisia absinthium/Compositae

Historical Herbal Use – Medicinal
Current Herbal Use – Industrial, medicinal
Description – Genus Artemisia has many interesting species, from sweet Annie to southernwood to French tarragon.
Preferences – Full sun and good drainage. Easy to grow.
Why Grow It? – Wormwood provides a pop of year-round silver color in the landscape. Dries easily for crafts and decorations.