Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Complex

P.O. Box 100

Austwell, Texas 77950

361/286-3559

361/286-3722 Fax

Texas State Relay Service

1 800/735-2989

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

http://southwest.fws.gov

For information on the

National Wildlife Refuge System

1 800/344-WILD

September 2004

Indian Paintbrush

Photograph by Robert C. Brown
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Aransas

National Wildlife Refuge

Wildflowers
Wildflowers of

Aransas National

Wildlife Refuge

How to use this

checklist

Abundance

Habitat

This list contains over 700 plant

species found on Aransas National

Wildlife Refuge. Ringed by tidal

marshes and broken by long, narrow

sloughs, this 59,000-acre refuge

sprawls mostly across the Blackjack

peninsula, where grasslands, live

oaks, and redbay thickets cover deep,

sandy soils.

Storms and waters of the Gulf of

Mexico constantly shape this vital

refuge. Whooping cranes join throngs

of other migratory birds that settle

on tidal marshes stretching before

them like huge banquet tables.

Strong winds push the bay waters

over low-lying shores, forming

fertile, brackish tidal marshes among

short, salt-tolerant plants.

Mild winters, bay waters, and

abundant food provide a winning

combination for water-loving birds.

The information in this checklist is

current as of May 1, 2004.

C Common: suitable habitat is

widespread

U Uncommon: present, but in

moderate numbers

O Occasional: may be present in

small numbers

R Rare: present, difficult to find

Bt Big Tree Trail

Bw Boardwalk

Dp Dagger Point Trail

En Entrance (FM 2040)

Hf Heron Flats Trail

Hl Hog Lake

Hq Headquarters

Jl Jones Lake

Ot Observation Tower

Pa Picnic Area

Rt Rail Trail

Tl Tour Loop

Tr Tower Road

Yt Youth Environmental

Training AreaTraining Area
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Blue Flowers

Baby blue eyes U Hf Hq

Nemophila phacelioides

Blue Curls U Hf

Phacelia congesta

Carolina larkspur O Pa

Delphinium carolinianum

Dayflower C C C O Tr

Commelina erecta

Dotted blue-eyed grass U Hf Tl Tr

Sisyrinchium langloisii

Downy lobelia O O Hf Hq Tr

Lobelia puberula

Sandyland bluebonnet R Hf Tr

Lupinus subcarnosus

Texas bluebonnet R Hf

Lupinus texensis

Purple Flowers

Basket flower U U Tr

Centaurea americana

Bluebell O O Hf

Eustoma russellianum

Meadow aster U U Tr

Aster pratensis

Bull thistle U U Pa Tr

Cirsium horridulum

Butterfly pea C C U Hf Tr

Centrosema virginianum

California (purple) loosestrife O C U Tl

Lythrum californicum

Blue Dayflower

FWS Photograph
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Purple Flowers, continued

Florida bluehearts O O O Tl

Buchnera americana

Hairy-flowered spiderwort U O Hq Tr

Tradescantia hirsutiflora

Herbertia (prairie-nymph) U Hf

Herbertia lahue

Lance-leaf loosestrife U U Tr

Lythrum alatum

Narrowleaf dyschoriste R R Hf

Dyschoriste linearis

Phacelia

Phacelia congestra

Passionflower O O Hf Hl

Passiflora incarnata

Prairie bluet C C U Hf

Hedyotis nigricans

Prairie spiderwort U O Hq Tr

Tradescantia occidentalis

Purple phacelia U Hf Hq

Phacelia patuliflora

Purple pleatleaf O O Tl Tr

Alophia drummondii

Saltmarsh morning glory O O Tr

Ipomoea sagittata

Shaggy portulaca O O Hq

Portulaca pilosa

Sharp gayfeather U Dp Tr

Liatris acidota

Silver-leaf nightshade O Hq

Solanum elaeagnifolium

Snapdragon vine U U U Hf

Maurandya antirrhiniflora

Stemless spiderwort U Hf Hq Tr

Tradscantia subacaulis

Texas thistle U U Tr

Cirsium texanum

Tie vine U U Hf

Ipomea cordatotriloba

Venus looking glass U Hf

Triodanis perfoliata

Vetch U Hf Hq

Vicia leavenworthii

Violet ruellia U O Tr

Ruellia nudiflora

Wild petunia C U O Tl

Ruellia yucatana

Wine cup U Hq

Callirhoe involucrata
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Lavender Flowers

Annual sundew O Tl Tr

Drosera annua

Coast mistflower C C U Hf Tr

Conoclinium coelestinum

Drummond phlox C U Hf Tr

Phlox drummondii

Drummond skullcap C HR Tr

Scutellaria drummondii

Eggleaf skullcap U Hf

Scutellaria ovata

Fragrant boneset O O O Ot

Chromolaena odorata

Texas vervain C C C C Tl Tr

Verbena halei

Toadflax U Hf Pa

Nuttallanthus texanus

Sandbell U U O Hf

Nama hispidum

Sea lavender U U U Bw Hf

Limonium carolinianum

White Flowers

Arrowleaf O O Tr

Sagittaria longiloba

Buckwheat C O Tr

Eriogonum multiflorum

Bullnettle U U En Pa Tl

Cnidoscolus texanus

Burhead U U Hl Jl Tl

Echinodorus rostratus

Buttonbush U U Hl Jl Tr

Cephalanthus occidentalis

Catchfly R Hf

Silene antirrhina

Chickweed U Hf

Stellaria media

Climbing hempweed O O Tr

Mikania scandens

Coast germander U U U U Hf

Teucrium cubense

Texas Thistle

FWS Photograph
Species Sp S F W Hbt

White Flowers, continued

Delta arrowleaf U U U Jl

Sagittaria platyphylla

Southern dewberry C Hf

Rubus trivialis

Dodder U U Hf

Cuscuta sp.

Drummond rain lily U O Tr

Cooperia drummondii

False-garlic C U U Hf Tr Tl Hq

(crow poison)

Nothoscordum bivalve

Fleabane daisy C U Hf Tr

Erigeron procumbens

Frostweed U Hf Hq Tr

Verbesina virginica

Green milkweed O C U Hq Pa Tl Tr

Asclepias viridis

Green lily U U Hf

Schoenocaulon drummondii

Heart-leaf euphorbia C C U Hf Yt

Euphorbia cordifolia

Heath aster C Tr

Aster ericoides

Hedge bindweed O Hf

Calystegia sepium

Hoary pea U U Tr Tl

(multi-bloom tephrosia)

Tephrosia onobrychoides

Late-flowering boneset U U Hf

Eupatorium serotinum

Lazy daisy C C Hf Hq Tr

Aphanostephus skirrhobasis

Old man’s beard O O Hf

(Texas virgin’s bower)

Clematis drummondii

Peppergrass U Hf Hq

Lepidium virginicum

Philadelphia daisy (whitetop) U Tr

Erigeron philadelphicus

Pokeweed R Hq

Phytolacca americana

Rattlesnake master U Tl

Eryngium yuccifolium

Rattlesnake weed U Hf Jl Tl

Daucus pusillus

Saltmarsh aster U U Tr Tl

Aster subulatus

Seaside heliotrope U U U Bw

Heliotropium curassavicum
Species Sp S F W Hbt

White Flowers, continued

Snake-cotton O O Hf Tr

Froelichia floridana

Snow-on-the-prairie U U Tr

Euphorbia bicolor

Spider lily O Pa Tl

Hymenocallis liriosme

Spiny aster O O Hf Tr Tl Bw

Chloracantha spinosa

Spring ladies tresses O O Tl Hl

Spiranthes vernalis

Texas bindweed O O Tr Hf

Convolvulus equitans

Texas bull nettle U U En Pa Tl

Cnidoscolus texanus

Texas nightshade (Tomatillo) U U U U Hf

Solanum triquetrum

Tooth frogfruit U C C U Tl Tr

Phyla nodiflora

Tropical mexicanclover U U U Dp Jl

Richardia brasiliensis

White gaura U U Hf

Gaura lindheimeri

White prickly poppy U C U Hq Tl

Argemone albiflora

Wild onion U Hf

Allium canadense

Wild tobacco O O Tl

(fiddle-leaf tobacco) Nicotiana repanda

Windflower U Hf Tr

(ten-petal anenome)

Anemone berlandieri

Spider Lily

Photograph by

Robert C. Brown
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Red Flowers

Bracted sida U U U Hf Tr

Sida ciliaris

Cardinal feather U U U O Hf Tr Pa

Acalypha radicans

Coral bean O Hf Tr

Erythrina herbacea

Indian blanket U C C U Hq Hf Tr

Gaillardia pulchella

Indian paintbrush U Tr Hq

Castilleja indivisa

Roundleaf scurfpea O Hq

Pediomelum rhombifolium

Scarlet pea O U U Hf Pa Tr

Indigofera miniata

Scarlet pimpernel U Hf Tr

Anagallis arvensis

Trumpet-creeper R Hf

Campsis radicans

Turk’s cap O U U Hf Tr Hq

Malvaviscus arboreus

Wooley globemallow O O Hq

(cowboy’s delight)

Sphaeralcea lindheimeri

Pink Flowers

American germander U U U Tr Hq

Teucrium canadense

Curlltop smartweed O O O Hf

Polygonum lapathifolium

Drummond wild onion U Hf Tr

Allium drummondii

Grass pink (buckley centaury) U Hf

Centaurium calycosum

Marsh fleabane O U U U Hf Jl

Pluchea odorata

Meadow pink U Hf

Sabatia campestris

Pink evening primrose U Hf Tr

Oenothera speciosa

Pink mint O Hf

Stachys drummondii

Powderpuff U U Hf Tr

Mimosa strigillosa

Rose palfoxia U O Tr

Palafoxia rosea

Rougeberry (baby-peppers) U U U Hf

Rivina humilis

Salt-marsh mallow O O Hf Tr

Kosteletzkya virginica

Spiderflower O O Hq

Cleome gynandra
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Yellow Flowers

Balsam gourd (balsam apple) O O Hf

Ibervillea lindheimeri

Bitterweed O O Tr

Helenium amarum

Blackeye evening primrose U U Hf Tr

(square-bud day primrose)

Calylophus berlandieri

Bladderwort O Tr

Calylophus berlandieri

Brown-eyed susan U C Tr

Rudbeckia hirta

Butterweed U Tl

Senecio tampicanus

Camphor daisy U U U U Bw

Machaeranthera phyllocephala

Camphorweed U U Tr

Heterotheca subaxilaris

Coast sunflower C En

Helianthus debilis

Coffee senna O O Hq

Senna occidentalis

Common broomweed C U Tr

Amphiachyris dracunculoides

Common evening primrose U Hf Tr

Oenothera grandis

Common lantana O O Hf Hq Tr

Lantana horrida

Common sunflower U U Pa

Helianthus annuus

Cowpen daisy U U U U Hq

(golden crownbeard)

Verbesina encelioides

Plains Coreopsis

Photograph by Tom V. Stehn
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Yellow Flowers, continued

Cut-leaf evening primrose U U Hf Hq

Oenothera laciniata

False dandelion U Hq Tl

Pyrrhopappus carolinianus

Fragrant goldenrod U Tl

Solidago odora

Goldenmane coreopsis C U Hq Tl

(Tickseed)

Coreopsis basalis

Greenthread U U U U Hf

Thelesperma filifolium

Groundsel O Hf Bw

Senecio ampullaceus

Hairy carpetweed O Hq

Kallstroemia hirsutissima

Least snout bean C Hf

Rhynchosia minima

Lemon paintbrush R Tr

Castilleja purpurea

Medic (southern corydalis) O Hq

Corydalis micrantha

Mexican hat U C U Hf Tr

Ratibida columnifera

Partridge pea C U U Hf Tl

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Plains coreopsis C U Hf

Coreopsis tinctoria

Prairie goldenrod U Tl Tr

Euthamia gymnospermoides

Prickly sowthistle U U U U Hf

Sonchus asper

Puccoon O Pa

Lithospermum incisum

Queen’s delight O Tl

Stillingia sylvatica

Rattlebush O U Hl Jl Tr

Sesbania drummondii

Rosinwood O U Tr

Silphium gracile

Savannah milkweed U U O Tr

Asclepias oenotheroides

Scratch daisy U Hf Tl Tr

Croptilon divaricatum

Sea ox-eye U U U U Bw Hf Ot

Borrichia frutescens

Seacoast goldenrod U Hf Tl

Solidago sempervirens

Silkgrass O U Tr

Pityopsis graminifolia
Species Sp S F W Hbt

Yellow Flowers, continued

Silver-leaf sunflower C En

Helianthus agrophyllus

Soft camphorweed U U Tr Tl

Chrysopsis pilosa

Sour clover O U Hq Pa

Melilotus indicus

Spotted horsemint U C U Tr

Monarda punctata

Stiffstem flax U U Hf Tr

Linum berlandieri

Tall goldenrod O Tr

Solidago canadensis

Texas prickly pear U Hf

Opuntia engelmannii

Wild indigo U Tl

Baptisia bracteata

Yellow clammyweed O O Dp

Polanisia erosa

Yellow woodsorrel U U U Hf Hq

Oxalis dillenii

Please do not pick wildflowers. If you

should find an unlisted or “rare”

species, or a species not listed for a

particular habitat, contact the refuge

staff and provide a description. We

welcome any additions visitors may

provide to enhance the accuracy of

this checklist.

Most of the information supplied in

this checklist is from An Annotated

List of the Plants of the Aransas

National Wildlife Refuge by Dr.

Wayne H. McAlister.

Suggested reference books include:

Texas Wildflowers by Campbell and

Lynn Loughmiller, Wildflowers of

Texas by Geyata Ajilvsgi, and,

Wildflowers of the United States by

Harold William Rickett.

Other activities that may be enjoyed

at the Aransas National Wildlife

Refuge include wildlife observation,

hunting, fishing, photography,

environmental education. Stop in at

the Claude L. Lard Visitor Center for

further information and activities.

Notice

Source

Information

Evq

Mke

hEt