Want a plant that thrives in full sun and blooms through the hot Texas summer? You need some Esperanza plants in your life! Also known as Yellow Bells, the scientific name for this plant is Tecoma stans. This shrub has bright yellow bell-shaped flowers paired with olive green leaves. It is one of the few Texas native ornamental shrubs that is frequently used by San Antonio landscapers. I have one in my garden and love it!
These five native Texas fall flowers not only look good, they DO good in your garden beds! They serve as host plants for butterflies and moths and provide a critical nectar source for Monarch butterflies which migrate through the state at this time of year. In fact, several of these native species are considered keystone species – some of the best pollinator plants around!
This post is for those of you that live in the San Antonio area (like me!). I am giving you my best tips on where to find native plants to purchase (or in some cases, get for free)!
Not only can native plants create an even more unique and beautiful garden than traditional landscaping plants, they require less maintenance and little water once established.
Cenizo (Leucophyllum frutescens), also known as Texas Sage, is an awesome evergreen Texas native plant to add to your garden. Its gray-green leaves add beauty throughout the year, while it is periodically has displays of prolific purple blooms after a rain, giving it the nickname “Barometer Bush”.
There are several great native Texas ground covers, and each deserves a spot in your garden. These low-growing plants are often overlooked but they can provide beautiful interest, an additional dose of color, a natural weed barrier, and soil erosion control.
Don’t be turned off by its name: Snake Herb (Dyschoriste linearis). This beautiful Texas native ground cover won’t give you any snake bites! Just lovely petite purple flowers that attract butterflies.
This perennial native ground cover is relatively fast-growing. Add it to a sunny area of your garden with well-drained soil for best results!
Are you looking for a Texas native ground cover to add interest to your garden? Look no further than Woolly Stemodia (Stemodia lanata). This silvery-white ground cover creates a beautiful contrast to leafy green perennials. This low-growing and semi-evergreen is a good choice for your garden bed.
Four-Nerve Daisy is low-growing and evergreen, making it a versatile plant at the front of a landscaping bed, in a zeriscape, or in a container pot. Its delicate flowers sway in the breeze!
Lemon Mint (Monarda citriodora) may just be my favorite Texas wildflower! I love its unique stacked blooms and pretty purple flowers. This plant goes by more than one common name – you may have also heard it called Lemon Beebalm, Horsemint, or Lemon Bergamot. All are referring to the same plant! Native to the southern US, this wildflower can handle full sun to partial shade. It starts putting on basal leaves in early spring and blooms in the summer.
