Texas native plants are known for drought-tolerance as well as disease- and pest-resistance in Texas landscapes. They are also deer-resistant, but we know deer will eat anything if they are hungry enough. If you want plants with long-term potential it makes sense to use Texas natives, which also have a long-term history right here in our part of Texas.
I am not a Texas native, but I arrived here as fast as I could. I landed in Victoria in 1976 - and this has been my home since then. I was raised on a farm in Iowa, so I brought a little knowledge of gardening with me. I soon realized because of the vast difference in climate here, I would need some education to succeed in growing anything.
I did a lot of trial-and-error container gardening, and I think I had more error than anything else. I learned some valuable gardening tips, but what really changed my knowledge level was joining the Victoria County Master Gardener Association by completing the course with the 2009 class. After graduating, I began rebuilding my landscape plants around the house and the gazebo in the backyard.
Through my training, I began to learn what grows here, and I found wisdom in planting Texas native plants in my landscape. It makes good gardening sense to choose these plants because of their long track record of growth, drought-tolerance and disease- and pest-resistance.
Texas natives added to landscape mix
There are hundreds of Texas native plants, and I chose a few to add into my landscape mix.
I decided to use red Turks cap with blue plumbago, Texas lantana and esperanza for color and texture variation. I used these new plants to blend with viburnums, which were kept in place. These Texas natives all thrive in average South Texas soil and enjoy morning through midday sun.
Red Turks cap with blue plumbago
Red native Turks cap and blue plumbago go well together. I planted some around the gazebo in my backyard.
Native Turks cap is drought-tolerant, grows in various soils and can grow in shady or sunny areas. Its bright red (or white) tightly wound blooms will stay all summer and fall in South Texas. They are pleasing to hummingbirds and butterflies. Turks Caps will freeze back in winter and come back strong in the spring.
The plumbago as a companion plant is a little bit invasive in its growth and must be cut back some to prevent it from taking over the Turks cap. As a Texas Superstar, it does make bountiful blue blooms all summer long and is also disease- and pest-resistant like the Turks cap. It will freeze back in winter but bloom again in spring. If you use red and white Turks cap with blue plumbago you have a patriotic mix.
Texas lantana is very colorful in yellow and orange or yellow and pink and can be used as an accent plant for color and texture blends. It is a low-spreading shrub with rough leaves that are poignantly aromatic. It grows well in some pretty rough soils, including sandy or gravelly and can tolerate hot sun or light shade. The blooms are solid or mixed in color and as a cluster are showy and round.
Esperanza, commonly known as "yellow bells," is both a Texas native and Texas Superstar that has gained recent popularity in our South Texas area as an ornamental shrub.
It is a delightful plant with bright, yellow blooms. It is easy to grow in well-drained soil with full sun. Esperanza is cold-hardy but will die back to the base and roots if we experience a freeze.
The bright yellow blooms highlighted by shiny, green leaves stay all summer and fall. The blooms attract butterflies and bees while the stems produce 4- to 6-inch long capsules containing seeds, which can be used for propagation. The 3- to 6-foot shrub can be pruned to shape as desired.
I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about Texas native plants. I believe my favorite things about them are drought-tolerance and pest-resistance along with the color variation and beauty. Texas natives are fun, colorful, healthy plants with a proven track record right here in South Texas.
Whether you are native to these parts or, like me, got here as soon as you could, plant some and enjoy your gardening and landscaping for years to come.
The Gardeners' Dirt is written by members of the Victoria County Master Gardener Association, an educational outreach of Texas AgriLife Extension - Victoria County. Mail your questions in care of the Advocate, P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77901; or vcmga@vicad.com, or comment on this column at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.
Victoria County Master Gardener Association
