Euphorbia myrsinites (Donkey Tail Spurge) Reminiscent of Medusa’s head, E. myrsinites has sprawling arms of spiraling gray green leaves. Donkey tail spurge is a real eye-catcher as it snakes around rocks, walls and edges of urns. In late winter-early spring, chartreuse flower bracts are born on the terminal ends of swirling evergreen stems, causing quite…

Fuchsia Angel Earring Series Ahhh, those beautiful fuchsias, you know the ones you see when you travel to Washington or Oregon, the ones that bask in those cool sunny days. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to grow a fuchsia in sunny hot north Texas? Help has come our way. A more heat tolerant…

Salvia leucantha (Mexican Bush Sage) Salvia leucantha is one “Texas Tough” perennial. I suppose that is why you see one in almost every north Texas landscape. Mexican Bush Sage is considered a Texas Super Star by Texas Agri-Life. Spikes of velvety purple and white flowers appear in the fall. The flower spikes can be 8-…

Dasylirion wheeleri (Common Sotol) For something a little different to spice up a garden, look no further than Dasylirion wheeleri. Its symmetrical, round structure and distinct slim, flat strapped leaves are lined with serrated margins and tipped with light brown tassels, making this plant something to talk about. This evergreen succulent-shrub is scattered throughout the…

Ornamental peppers are a fun way to liven up your fall outdoor spaces. Several varieties are available to consider. Black Pearl produces peppers that look like shiny black marble-sized pearls. With age the peppers turn a brilliant red. Clusters of red and black peppers nestle atop the dark black leaves during the fall season. Black…

This South American native is grown for it lovely foliage, in fact, it can’t be beat for constant color in the warm season landscapes of north Texas. With mankinds manipulations, many cultivars have been created from this rainforest native. Louis Van Houtte and Alfred Blue were the first to breed caladiums in the 1860’s. Their…

Texas Super Star Esperanza is a must for every blistering, hot north Texas summer landscape. Listed as a Texas Super Star, Esperanza is truly Texas tough. It is heat tolerant, pest resistant and can tolerate a wide range of soils. Esperanza has abundant clusters of bright yellow trumpet flowers from spring to fall. The delightful…

It’s shocking to think that these lovely petunias can create a shockwave of color in your north Texas landscape simply by planting early and getting them established before the hot summer temps start to boil. Shockwaves are very vigorous and strongly branched with a mounding/trailing habit, therefore filling spaces quickly. Spreading up to 30” across…

Dreaming of a flower filled mini-hedge? Dream no longer, your dream has come true with the Tidal Wave Petunias. This “Texas Superstar” can spread up to 30” across and rise to 18” to 30” tall. Like a tidal wave this plant rises up only to come back down and cascade over itself forming a dense…

What a great perennial, so pretty to look at and so easy to grow. The word Echinacea comes from the Greek word “echinos” which means hedgehog or sea urchin. This aptly describes the prickly raised central cone that gives this plant the descriptive name of Coneflower. Echinaceas have extended bloom seasons and long lasting flowers….

Not often seen in north Texas landscapes, Galphimia gracilis (sometimes called Thyrallis) is a tropical shrub that should be used more often here for warm season landscape interest. Galphimia, considered a tropical shrub, usually freezes to the ground here, however, if the winter is mild enough, it will come back the following spring. Using Galphinia…

‘Jenny Brook’ Wallflower Wow, purple and apricot, what an unusual color combination for a garden flower! These colors can be found blooming simultaneously on a wallflower discovered in Wales called ‘Jenny Brook’. Narrow, linear leaves line this shrubby evergreen perennial that grows to about 18” tall and wide. The bi-color flower clusters are held above…