| i am planning a flower bed on the south facing side of my house any suggestions on flowers and shrubs for the bed |
| Some of the best perennials for Texas gardens include: YARROW (Achillea millefolium): selection available in red, pink, or white (white form is weedy); fern-leafed foliage; blooms spring and fall; drought tolerant; good groundcover; excellent cut or dried flowers; full sun to part shade; 1 foot. HINCKLEY'S COLUMBINE (Aguilegia Hinkleyana): exotic yellow flowers, delicate foliage; Texas native; moist organic soil; susceptible to spider mites; shade to part shade; 18 inches. GERMAN RED CARNATION (Dianthus carophyllus): fragrant, red flowers; everblooming; good cut flower, cool weather plant; sun to part shade; 1 foot. HARDY AGERATUM (Eupatorium coelestinum): blue flowers; fall blooming; invasive; Texas native; hardy; drought tolerant; shear in summer to promote business; sun to part shade; 2 feet. SUMMER PHLOX (Phlox paniculata): magenta pink flowers; blooms in summer; hardy; drought tolerant; 3 feet. MEXICAN HEATHER (Cuphea hyssopifolia): small, lavender flowers; compact foliage; tender; sun; 6 inches. 'NEW GOLD' LANTANA (Lantana camara): many flower colors; shear occasionally; everblooming; heat and drought tolerant; sun; 2 feet. ROCK ROSE (Pavonia lasiopetala): pink, mini-hibiscus flowers; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; sun; 3 feet. BLUE SHADE (Ruellia "squarrosa"): lavender flowers; everblooming; shear occasionally; excellent groundcover, drought tolerant; sun to shade; 8 inches. 'INDIGO SPIRES' SALVIA (Salvia hybrid): purple flowers; shear occasionally; very vigorous; excellent; sun; 3 feet. FIREBUSH (Hamelia patens): red-orange, tubular flowers, prized by hummingbirds; red fall foliage; everblooming; drought tolerant; shear occasionally; sun to part shade; hardy; 2 - 3 feet. MEXICAN HONEYSUCKLE (Justicia spicigera): orange, tubular flowers; everblooming; drought tolerant; shear occasionally; sun to part shade; hardy; 2 feet. MEXICAN MINT MARIGOLD - "Yerba anise" (Tagetes lucida): yellow flowers; fragrant "licorice" scented foliage; blooms in fall; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 2 feet. MEXICAN PETUNIA (Ruellia Brittoniana): purple flowers; everblooming invasive; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 2 feet. MEXICAN OREGANO (Poliomintha longiflora): lavender flowers, aromatic foliage; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally, drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 3 feet. OBEDIENT PLANT (Physostegia virginiana): pink flowers; blooms in fall; hardy; sun; 2 feet. PINK AUTUMN SAGE (Salvia greggii): pink flowers; aromatic; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; sun; 3 feet. 'TEXAS-TUFF' VERBENA (Verbena hybrid): pink, purple or red flowers; everblooming; shear frequently; excellent groundcover; drought tolerant; susceptible to spider mites; sun; 8 inches. CIGAR PLANT (Cuphea micropetala): orange-yellow, cigar shaped flowers; prized by hummingbirds; blooms in fall; drought tolerant; heat loving; sun; 2 feet. FALL ASTER/MICHALMAS DAISY (Aster sp): lavender-colored flowers; blooms in fall; shear during summer; drought tolerant; sun or partial shade; 2 feet. PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea): hot pink flowers; blooms in spring, summer, and fall; excellent cut flowers; drought tolerant; full sun; 2 feet. DWARF INDIAN BLANKET (Gaillardia grandiflora): red-yellow, bi-color flowers; everblooming, remove spent blooms to extend bloom time; heat and drought tolerant; full sun; 1 foot. OXALIA (Oxalis crassipes): pink flowers, clover-like foliage; blooms in spring and summer; great border plant; sun to partial shade; 8 to 10 inches. SHRIMP PLANT (Justicia brandegeana): yellow or red-brown flowers; blooms in summer, fall; great cut flowers; sun to partial shade; 3 feet. TRAILING LANTANA (Lantana montevidensis): lilac flowers; blooms in spring, summer, fall; very drought tolerant; great as a groundcover, in containers or hanging baskets; sun or partial shade; 1 to 2 feet. BLUE PLUMBAGO (Plumbago auriculata): clusters of baby blue flowers; drought tolerant; well-drained soil; full to part sun; 2 to 3 feet. ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis): grayish-green, fleshy, needle-like foliage with pale blue flowers; blooms spring, fall, and winter; both upright and trailing forms are available; 1 to 4 feet. MEALY CUP SAGE (Salvia farinacea): blue, white, or purple flower spikes; blooms spring, summer, fall; shear occasionally; full sun; 2 to 3 feet. OX-EYE DAISY (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum): white flowers; blooms in spring; hardy; sun to part shade; 3 feet. COREOPSIS (Coreopsis grandiflora): yellow flowers, blooms late spring to summer; excellent landscape plant (Baby, Sun, and Early Sunrise are dwarf forms); 2 feet. Hope these suggestions are helpful. |
