Martin Byhower 7/20/26 Martin Byhower 7/20/26

Orange Zexmenia

Orange Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida) is a tough, long-blooming Texas native perennial that lights up the garden with cheerful golden-orange, daisy-like flowers from spring through fall. Adapted to the heat, drought, and limestone soils of Central Texas, it thrives in full sun and asks for very little care once established. Its bright blooms attract a wide variety of native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, while its spreading habit makes it an excellent choice for naturalized plantings, meadows, slopes, and informal borders. Orange Zexmenia combines exceptional resilience with months of color, making it one of the most dependable native wildflowers for water-wise landscapes.

Martin Byhower 7/19/26 Martin Byhower 7/19/26

Inland Sea Oats

Inland Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium is one of the finest native ornamental grasses for shaded Texas landscapes. Its graceful, arching foliage and distinctive dangling seed heads add texture and movement from summer through winter, while the seeds provide food for songbirds and cover for wildlife. Inland Sea Oats spreads slowly to form attractive colonies, making it an excellent choice beneath trees, along woodland edges, or in naturalized gardens where it thrives in shade or part sun.

Martin Byhower 7/16/26 Martin Byhower 7/16/26

Damianita

Damianita ( Chrysactinia mexicana) is one of the brightest little native shrubs for Central Texas landscapes. This compact evergreen forms a tidy mound covered with cheerful golden-yellow daisy-like flowers from spring through fall, often blooming after rains. Its fine, aromatic foliage stays attractive year-round, and once established it thrives in hot, dry conditions with very little maintenance. Damianita is an excellent choice for rock gardens, borders, pathways, and pollinator gardens where its long bloom season provides nectar for native bees and butterflies. It performs best in full sun and well-drained limestone soils and is highly deer resistant.

Martin Byhower 7/15/26 Martin Byhower 7/15/26

Coral Honeysuckle

Coral Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) is one of the finest native vines for Central Texas, producing clusters of brilliant red tubular flowers from spring through fall that are irresistible to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. This vigorous but well-behaved vine thrives in full sun to part shade, tolerates drought once established, and is perfect for covering fences, arbors, pergolas, and trellises while adding beauty and wildlife value to the landscape.

Martin Byhower 6/30/26 Martin Byhower 6/30/26

Mexican Plum

Mexican Plum (Prunus mexicana)

Mexican Plum is a beautiful native small tree that announces the arrival of spring with a spectacular display of fragrant white blossoms before its leaves emerge. The flowers provide an early source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators, while the summer fruit is enjoyed by songbirds and other wildlife. Its attractive bark, glossy green foliage, and vibrant yellow fall color add year-round interest to the landscape. Adaptable and relatively drought tolerant once established, Mexican Plum thrives in full sun to part shade and is well suited to the limestone soils of Central Texas. Its ornamental beauty, wildlife benefits, and seasonal interest make it an excellent choice for residential landscapes and native gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/21/26 Martin Byhower 6/21/26

Texas Mountain Laurel

Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) is one of the most treasured native small trees in Texas, prized for its glossy evergreen foliage and spectacular clusters of fragrant purple flowers. Blooming in early spring, the blossoms fill the air with a sweet grape-like fragrance and attract bees and other pollinators. Its dense, dark green canopy provides year-round beauty and makes an excellent focal point in the landscape.

Texas Mountain Laurel thrives in full sun to part shade and is highly adapted to the heat, drought, and alkaline soils of Central Texas. Slow growing but exceptionally long-lived, it requires little maintenance once established and is one of the finest native trees for residential landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Mealy Blue Sage

Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) is one of the most reliable and longest-blooming native perennials for Central Texas gardens. Its spikes of blue to violet flowers provide months of color from spring through fall and are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. The cool flower color combines beautifully with yellow, orange, and red flowering natives, making it a valuable addition to mixed garden beds.

Mealy Blue Sage thrives in full sun and is remarkably tolerant of heat, drought, and a variety of soil conditions. Easy to grow and low maintenance, it is an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, native plant landscapes, and water-wise designs.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Skeletonleaf Goldeneye

Skeletonleaf Goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba) is a dependable native perennial that brightens Central Texas gardens with masses of cheerful golden-yellow flowers from late summer through fall. Its long bloom season provides valuable nectar for butterflies, bees, and other pollinators at a time when many flowering plants are beginning to fade.

Skeletonleaf Goldeneye thrives in full sun and is highly tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soils. Its attractive dark green foliage and profusion of blooms make it an excellent choice for pollinator gardens, naturalized landscapes, and low-maintenance native plantings.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Gulf Coast Muhly

Gulf Coast Muhly (Muhlenbergia capillaris) is one of the most spectacular native ornamental grasses for Texas landscapes. In fall, airy clouds of pink to lavender flower stalks rise above the foliage, creating a soft, colorful display that glows in morning and evening light. The fine-textured foliage provides year-round interest and movement, adding beauty and contrast to gardens of all styles.

Gulf Coast Muhly thrives in full sun and adapts to a wide range of soils, including clay and occasionally moist conditions. It is drought tolerant once established, highly resistant to deer, and provides cover and nesting material for birds and other wildlife. Its low-maintenance nature and stunning fall color make it one of the finest ornamental grasses for Central Texas landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Gregg’s Mistflower

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii) is one of the finest native plants for attracting butterflies to Central Texas gardens. Its clusters of soft lavender-blue flowers bloom from late summer through fall, often covering the plant with color when many other perennials have finished flowering. Butterflies, bees, and other pollinators are drawn to the abundant nectar produced by its blooms.

Gregg’s Mistflower thrives in full to part shade and is remarkably drought tolerant once established. It spreads gradually to form attractive colonies, making it an excellent choice for naturalized areas, pollinator gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/20/26 Martin Byhower 6/20/26

Agarita

Agarita (Mahonia trifoliolata) is a tough, evergreen native shrub prized for its holly-like foliage, fragrant yellow flowers, and bright red berries. Blooming in late winter and early spring, it provides an important nectar source for early pollinators, while the tart berries are enjoyed by birds and other wildlife.

Agarita thrives in full sun to part shade and is exceptionally drought tolerant once established. Its dense, thorny branches make it an excellent choice for wildlife cover, natural hedges, security plantings, and low-maintenance landscapes adapted to Central Texas conditions.

Martin Byhower 6/19/26 Martin Byhower 6/19/26

Red Yucca

Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is one of the most reliable and widely used native plants for Central Texas landscapes. Its graceful, arching flower stalks produce coral-red blooms from spring through fall, attracting hummingbirds and other pollinators for months at a time. Unfortunately deer eat the blooms, so caging during blooming is recommended if you want to feed hummingbirds. The evergreen, grass-like foliage provides year-round structure and beauty while thriving in heat, drought, and poor soils.

Red Yucca performs best in full sun and requires very little maintenance once established. Its exceptional drought tolerance, deer resistance, and long bloom period make it an outstanding choice for water-wise gardens, rock gardens, and wildlife-friendly landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/19/26 Martin Byhower 6/19/26

Anacacho Orchid

Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides) is one of the most beautiful small native trees in Texas. In spring it produces a spectacular display of fragrant white, orchid-like flowers that often cover the tree before the leaves emerge, creating a striking focal point in the landscape. The distinctive two-lobed leaves add ornamental interest throughout the growing season.

Native to the limestone canyons of Southwest Texas, the Anacacho Orchid Tree thrives in well-drained soils and full sun to light shade. Once established, it is highly drought tolerant and well suited to water-wise landscapes. Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, while its small size makes it ideal for courtyards, patios, and residential gardens.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

American Beautyberry

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) is one of the most attractive native shrubs for Central Texas shade gardens. Its arching branches produce clusters of vivid purple berries in late summer and fall, creating a striking display and providing an important food source for mockingbirds, thrashers, robins, and many other songbirds.

Beautyberry grows best in part shade to filtered sun and is adaptable to a variety of soils. It is drought tolerant once established, deer resistant, and highly valuable for wildlife, making it an excellent choice for bird-friendly native landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Yaupon Holly

Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria) is one of the most versatile and valuable native shrubs or small trees for Central Texas landscapes. Its dense evergreen foliage provides year-round beauty, nesting cover, and shelter for birds, while female plants produce bright red berries that are an important winter food source for many species. Yaupon Holly thrives in sun or shade, tolerates drought once established, and can be used as a screening plant, hedge, accent shrub, or small tree.

Martin Byhower 6/18/26 Martin Byhower 6/18/26

Texas Lantana

Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides) is one of the toughest and most colorful native perennials for Central Texas landscapes. Its clusters of bright orange and yellow flowers bloom from spring until frost, attracting butterflies, bees, and other pollinators throughout the growing season. Texas Lantana thrives in full sun, tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils, and is highly resistant to deer, making it an excellent choice for low-maintenance, wildlife-friendly gardens.

Gardeners should take care not to confuse Texas Lantana with the many non-native lantana hybrids commonly sold in nurseries. While some cultivated lantanas are excellent landscape plants, others can be invasive, short-lived, or less beneficial to wildlife. For the greatest ecological value and reliability, I generally recommend the native Texas species whenever possible.

Martin Byhower 6/17/26 Martin Byhower 6/17/26

Autumn Sage

Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii) is a versatile native perennial that provides colorful blooms from spring through fall in shades of red, pink, coral, and white. Its nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators. Autumn Sage thrives in full sun to part shade, tolerates heat and drought, and is one of the most reliable flowering plants for Central Texas landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/17/26 Martin Byhower 6/17/26

Turks Cap

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii) is one of the best native plants for shaded and partially shaded gardens in Central Texas. Its distinctive red flowers resemble unopened hibiscus blooms and provide nectar for hummingbirds from spring through fall. Turk’s Cap is easy to grow, tolerant of heat and drought once established, and spreads gradually to form an attractive wildlife-friendly groundcover.

Martin Byhower 6/17/26 Martin Byhower 6/17/26

Flame Acanthus

Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) is one of the finest native shrubs for attracting hummingbirds to Central Texas gardens. Its bright orange-red tubular flowers bloom from summer into fall, providing color during the hottest months when many other plants have stopped flowering. Flame Acanthus thrives in full sun, tolerates drought and poor soils, and is highly resistant to deer, making it an excellent choice for wildlife-friendly, low-maintenance landscapes.

Martin Byhower 6/17/26 Martin Byhower 6/17/26

Damianita

Damianita (Chrysactinia mexicana) is one of the most dependable small native shrubs for Central Texas gardens. Its cheerful yellow flowers appear over a long season, while its aromatic evergreen foliage remains attractive year-round. Damianita thrives in heat, drought, and limestone soils and is highly attractive to bees and butterflies.