Aquilegia caerulea Aquilegia caerulea, the official state flower of Colorado, blooms blue and white and is commonly referred to as the Rocky Mountain Columbine. Simply called Columbine, this plant is a native to Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and northern parts of Nevada and Arizona. The introduction of the “Origami” series provides Texans…

Pink Skullcap This hardy member of the mint family is a very sturdy and tough Texas native. Pink Skullcap is compact and semi-woody with small leaves that resemble thyme. Semi-evergreen and growing to about 8-12 inches tall, skullcap needs an occasional shearing, to keep a nice, uniform, tight habit. Flowers are deep rosy pink and…

Pericallis (Also known as Cineraria or Sunseneribuba) Glowing like Las Vegas lights, the bright daisy flowers of pericalis are guaranteed to give cool season plantings a huge boost and grab lots of attention….. Something that everyone is looking forward to after a long and dreary winter. The Senetti series comes in solid and bi-colors of…

Dasylirion texanum Texas Sotol This drought tolerant Texas Native grows naturally in arid rocky slopes, mesas, and deserts like areas of central and west Texas. It’s the most cold hardy of the Sotols, and contrary to popular belief, it is an evergreen shrub that is not related to the Agave, or the Yucca. Its long,…

Yellow Butterfly Vine or Yellow Orchid Vine Yellow Butterfly Vine is a lush, heat hardy, vigorous and heavy blooming vine that does beautifully in north Texas. Plant in full or part sun and watch it grow. Because of its twining nature, the vine will grow in and around itself creating a large mound. If it…

Hibiscus Mahogany Splendor Picture beautiful, deep burgundy, maple shaped leaves covering a bush three to four feet tall and wide in your summer landscape. Hibiscus Mahogany Splendor is a heat and sun loving annual that loves north Texas summers. It grows rapidly as the temperatures rise, so rapidly that it will create a hedge in…

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…