Texas roadsides and fields come alive with Texas wildflowers each spring. But you don’t have to take a drive to see them, you can grow native Texas wildflowers right in your own yard. It is easy to do and a great way to bring your yard to life with butterflies and bees each spring!
One of the trickiest garden challenges can be growing plants successfully in the shade. I’m here to tell you it is easy with the right Texas shade plants! Check out my top 10 favorite Texas native plants to grow in shady areas.
Pigeonberry (Rivina humilis l.) is one cool little plant. If you’re looking to add a new native plant to your yard that provides food for wildlife while looking beautiful, then this plant is a must! Pigeonberry is covered in both bright red berries and pinkish white blooms from spring until fall. Not only that, it thrives in shady areas.
Have you heard of Frostweed (Verbesina virginica)? Any time a plant has “weed” in the name, it automatically gets a bad rap. Unfortunately, some of the absolutely best pollinator plants have the word “weed” in their name! Frostweed is a great plant to add to your wildflower gardens and native to the southeastern United States. It is a pollinator magnet for butterflies, bees, and more.
I’m sharing my best garden tools with you in case you don’t already have some of these in your bag. I find myself using these time and time again for weeding, transplanting and digging. These are the most hardworking tools in my garden!
The fall yard chore of raking leaves, or even worse, blowing leaves with a gas powered blower, isn’t all its cracked up to be. I am hearing more and more calls to “leave the leaves”! As I work hard to convert my San Antonio, Texas yard to a pollinator and insect haven, I’m learning about the important role that leaves play at this time of year.
The first thing you will notice about Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) is its showy blooms. Its ball-shaped flowers that resemble little white pom-poms are beautiful and unique. Upon closer inspection, you’ll see that the fragrant flowers are alive with pollinators!
Want a delicate plant that sways in the breeze, its flowers like tiny butterflies riding the wind? The plant for you is Gaura lindheimeri, also known as Butterfly Gaura or Whirling Butterflies!
Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus) is a great entry level plant if you are looking to add more native plants to your yard. It performs well in a variety of conditions and its prolific blooms attract hummingbirds and pollinators.
If you are looking for a gorgeous ornamental grass that is native to much of the United States, look no further than Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris). It turns into a pink fluffy cloud in the fall!
