Texas plants are tough, and they need to be hardy! They have evolved to survive months of triple-digit heat in summer, hard freezes in winter, and extended droughts, sometimes followed by local "rain bombs". Below is a small sampling of the spectacular flora of Central Texas. I have included a few plants that are not strictly native to the area, but found within a few hundred miles, mostly south of the region. Some plants are cultivars. I can provide most of them, depending on the season. Below you will find– in separate sections with a heading above each name–, trees, evergreen shrubs and succulents/cactuses, perennials, grasses, groundcovers, and vines. And I have included a few annual wildflowers: I can get most of these and many others for you and flats depending on the season.
Texas natives are tough and ask much less of the gardener, but they do need a bit of "tough love" . Be sure to mulch, mulch, mulch—but not to overwater them. In most cases, don't spray or fertilize them; and if and when you prune them, do so appropriately and at the right time (usually around Valentine's Day)! Of course, if I help you plan your garden and/or provide your plants, I am available to offer advice or suggestions before, during, and after you plant them-contact me whenever you have any questions.
I can provide, in season, the plants below and many others. These include the deer-distasteful as well as "deer candy". Want a shade loving plant that produces red flowers, attracts hummingbirds, and can live in the worst possible soil? How about a deer resistant evergreen tree with bright berries in mid winter? A drought tolerant groundcover with velvety green leaves and lovely purple flower spikes? There are plants for every possible situation!
To get growing, contact me by calling me at 310-487-3353 or email me at avitropic@sbcglobal.net
Texas natives are tough and ask much less of the gardener, but they do need a bit of "tough love" . Be sure to mulch, mulch, mulch—but not to overwater them. In most cases, don't spray or fertilize them; and if and when you prune them, do so appropriately and at the right time (usually around Valentine's Day)! Of course, if I help you plan your garden and/or provide your plants, I am available to offer advice or suggestions before, during, and after you plant them-contact me whenever you have any questions.
I can provide, in season, the plants below and many others. These include the deer-distasteful as well as "deer candy". Want a shade loving plant that produces red flowers, attracts hummingbirds, and can live in the worst possible soil? How about a deer resistant evergreen tree with bright berries in mid winter? A drought tolerant groundcover with velvety green leaves and lovely purple flower spikes? There are plants for every possible situation!
To get growing, contact me by calling me at 310-487-3353 or email me at avitropic@sbcglobal.net
Native and Adapted Small to medium TREES
Two favorite all purpose ornamental trees: Yaupon and Texas Mountain Laurel
Yaupon: Evergreen, best bet for wildlife, any soil type, sun or shade, can be shrub or tree
Possumhaw in winter
Possumhaw: Deciduous, shade or sun, stunning red berries attract robins, waxwings, and more
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Texas Redbud
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Texas Redbud detail
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Yaupon
Goldenball Lead Tree; Sun or shade, excellent pollinator plant
Ashe Juniper; much maligned but evergreen, deer resistant, any soil, low water
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Goldenball Lead Tree detail
Goldenball Lead Tree
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Yaupon with Cedar Waxwing
Texas Mountain Laurel: Best tree for our region! Relatively slow growing but does well in any soil type, sun or shade, low water, deer-resistant
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Texas Mountain Laurel
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Eve's Necklace: Not deer resistant, great blooms/pollinator plant
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Eve's Necklace detail
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Desert Willow: Great for xeriscaping, light foliage, beautiful flowers attract pollinators
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Desert Willow detail
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Mexican Buckeye: Deciduous, quick growing, lovely blooms attract pollinators, interesting seed pods. Moderate deer resistance
Texas Redbud
Mexican Plum: Small edible fruit, early showy bloom, excellent for pollinators, not deer-resistant
Cherry Laurel: Fast growing, deer resistant, birds and pollinators love it.
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Cherry Laurel detail
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Weeping Yaupon, an ornamental cultivar good for a vertical look
Red/ Scarlet Buckeye
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Evergreen Succulents, Cactuses, and Shrubs
Red Yucca: Deer resistant leaves (not blooms). Shade or sun, low water, hummingbirds love it!
great xeriscape plant
Whale's Tongue Agave
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"Blue" Twistleaf Yucca (shade tolerant and deer resistant!)
Green Twistleaf Yucca
Blue Agave
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Twistleaf Yucca great in sun or shade, hardy, deer proof!
Green Twistleaf Yucca, good in shade, pots, borders. This one in my backyard was a bit battered by the big freeze, but it’s doing fine now!
Green Texas Sage: This and other Texas Sages are best bet for screening. Deer resistant, beautiful blooms after rains.
Green Texas Sage: Best evergreen + color option!
Compact and manageable, Compact Texas Sage
Agarita: Native, evergreen, deer resistant, and more! Delicious berries, early flowers, early spring pollinator magnet!
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Careful of spiny leaves when picking berries!
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Skeletonleaf Goldeneye
Flame Acanthus, another best bet. Hummers and butterflies love it!
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Flame acanthus is a perfect hedge, ground cover, visual screen, or garden accent
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Texas Sotol
Texas Dwarf Palmetto: Great for shade, deer resistant
Big Bend Yucca
Wax Myrtle and "poodled" Dwarf Yaupon
“Un-poodled” Dwarf Yaupon
Desert Mallow
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Desert Mallow detail
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Common Tree Senna
Gold Star Esperanza. Great shrub for sunny locations, Perennial, you can trim to shape.
Mexican Oregano
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Fragrant Mimosa
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Perennials
American Beautyberry (with Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider): Shade tolerant, unique berries can be made into yummy jelly (also loved by songbirds)
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Detail of Berries. Leaves are a great mosquito-repellent alternative to DEET!
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Autumn Sage (pink variety)
Salvia greggi, detail of "Lipstick" variety
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Mealy Blue Sage
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Indigo Spires
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Damianita
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Turk's Cap, a best bet! Sun or shade, any soil, low water, deer-resistant, pollinators and hummingbirds love it!
Turk's Cap is great for low maintenance shade in a native landscape
Turk's Cap
Perennial Mix
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Turk's Cap detail (with Gulf Fritillary)
Perennial Mix
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Perennial Mix
Mexican Mint Marigold
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Mexican Mint Marigold
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Gregg's Blue Mistflower with Queen Butterfly
Four-nerve Daisy
Autumn Sage, "Hot Lips"
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Cedar Sage
Autumn Sage, "Hot Lips" detail
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Button Bush
Zexmenia
Damianita
Golden Groundsel
Mealy Blue Sage
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Button Bush detail with Buckeye butterfly
Hill Country Penstemon
Golden Groundsel
Gregg's Mistflower
Mealy Blue Sage
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Sangria Esperanza
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Sangria Esperanza
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Tropical Sage
Gaura
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Wright's Purple Skullcap: Tidy Perennial
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Native Texas Lantana (best for butterflies!) Avoid all other lantana
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Rock Penstemon
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Datura: great in xeriscape gardens
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Texas Betony
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Texas Star Hibiscus
Fragrant Mistflower; Does well in shade or sun and is highly deer resistant.
Fragrant Mistflower detail
Grasses
Gulf Muhly
Inland Sea Oats
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Visually interesting most of year, grows in shade, cut back to manage, if desired
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Webberville Sedge (with Woolly Stemodia)
Woodland Sedge
Bamboo Muhly
Groundcovers
Heartleaf Skullcap
Straggler Daisy (Horse Herb)
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Bicolor Sage (Mexican native)
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Woolly Stemodia: perfect low-growing native groundcover for full sun. Low water, deer resistant
Fall Obedient Plant, can be used as a tall groundcover or as an accent perennial
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Gregg's Mistflower makes an excellent groundcover and, as a bonus, butterfly garden mainstay!
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Vines
Coral Honeysuckle
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Crossvine
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Nothing better than Virginia Creeper for fall color
Alamo Vine
Annuals (many now available in flats)
Eryngo
Texas Bluebonnet (with Prairie Verbena)
Firwheel (Indian Blanket)
Mexican Hat
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Lemon Mint (Beebalm)
Basketflower
A bed of Beebalm
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Prairie Verbena
