Plants

Flowers of the pale pitcher plant (Sarracenia alata)

NPS Photo / Jane Carlson

A Thicket of Plant Life

Favorable climate and soils enable plants to grow abundantly in the Big Thicket, often creating an impenetrable "thicket" that illustrates how this this area earned its name.

To date, researchers have tallied 89 species of trees, 77 species of shrubs, 817 species of herbs and vines, 346 species of grasses and grass relatives, and 30 species of ferns that grow throughout the Big Thicket.

"Grow" your knowledge of Big Thicket plant life by browsing the topics below!

 

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  Carnivorous Plants

  The Big Thicket is home to 4 of the 5 types of carnivorous plants found in North America.

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  Longleaf Pine

  Once abundant across the southeastern US, these distinctive trees now occupy only about 3% of their former range.

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  Plant Communities

  Learn more about the diverse plant communities found here.

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  Sensitive Species

  The preserve is home to Texas trailing phlox, an endangered wildflower that grows nowhere else.

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  Park Species Lists

  All of Big Thicket's animal and plant species are listed here.