Where to Buy Native Plants in Austin

Buy Local, Buy Native

Where you buy matters. Local nurseries grow plants adapted to Central Texas conditions. Big box stores import from out-of-state growers — those plants may be root-bound, stressed, or varieties not suited for our climate.

Here are the best places to find native plants in the Austin area.

Top Nurseries for Natives

The Natural Gardener

📍 South Austin (8648 Old Bee Caves Rd)

The go-to nursery for Austin native plant gardeners. Huge selection of natives, knowledgeable staff who actually garden with natives themselves, and fair prices. If you only visit one nursery, make it this one.

What they’re known for: Largest native selection in Austin, helpful staff, organic approach

Barton Springs Nursery

📍 South Austin (3601 Bee Caves Rd)

Excellent quality plants with a strong native and adapted plant section. The staff gives great advice, especially for beginners. Slightly smaller native selection than Natural Gardener but consistently high quality.

What they’re known for: Quality plants, expert staff, beautiful setting

Great Outdoors

📍 North Austin (2730 S Congress Ave)

Convenient for north Austin gardeners. Good native selection that’s grown over the years. Regular sales make it affordable to stock up. Friendly, approachable vibe.

What they’re known for: Convenient location, regular sales, good variety

Leaf Landscape Supply

📍 Multiple locations

While primarily a landscape supply company, they carry a solid selection of native trees and larger shrubs. Great option if you’re doing a bigger landscaping project.

What they’re known for: Larger specimens, landscape-scale quantities

Seasonal Plant Sales

NPSOT Austin Chapter Plant Sales

The Native Plant Society of Texas holds plant sales in spring and fall. This is where you find hard-to-source natives at excellent prices, grown by people who really know the plants. Mark your calendar — they sell out fast.

When: Spring (usually March) and Fall (usually October)

Wildflower Center Plant Sales

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center hosts occasional plant sales with an excellent curated selection of natives. Check their events calendar.

Sunshine Community Gardens

Periodic plant sales with a mix of natives and edibles. Great community atmosphere.

Online Sources (Ship to Austin)

• Native American Seed (Junction, TX) — Native grass and wildflower seed
• Turner Seed — Native Texas seed mixes
• Mail-order nurseries — Can work for harder-to-find species, but local is always preferred for plant health

Tips for Buying Natives

1. Go in fall — Best selection AND best planting time
2. Ask the staff — “What natives do well in [sun/shade] in Austin clay?” Staff at these nurseries actually know
3. Check root health — Gently tip the plant out of the pot. You want white, healthy roots — not a solid circling mass
4. Buy small — Smaller pots (1-gallon) establish faster than large specimens and catch up within a year or two
5. Skip the soil amendments — If the nursery tries to sell you soil amendments for native plantings, politely decline

What to Avoid

• Big box stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s) — Plants often aren’t locally grown, may be stressed, limited native selection
• “Native-ish” plants — Some nurseries label adapted plants as native. Ask for the botanical name and verify it’s actually native to Central Texas
• Buying in summer — Nursery stock is stressed in July/August. Wait for fall for healthiest plants and best establishment

Ready to decide what to buy? Browse our Plant Directory for detailed profiles of the best natives for Austin yards.