Summer is rapidly approaching and you want to make a garden that your neighbors will be envious of and that is low maintenance. Which can mean many different things in Texas but the main one is going to be something that can survive the Texas heat! We all know how hot it can get in Texas, with very little to no rain, during those late summer months. Here are our top five suggestions to keep your garden in color, and not break the bank on watering.
One of our favorite plants is Lantana. We happen to have five planted right in front of the breakfast room window, which is perfect for early morning bird watching during the season. Hummingbirds, butterflies and all sorts of pollinators love this bunch of flowers, and can be seen gathering pollen from the plants, once flowers start to bloom until the first freeze. Our secret, we do not water these beauties at all. They keep growing and supplying lovely color, from April until about December, when we cut them back to rest until next year. Nature keeps our lantana in water when it rains, and they seem to be thriving.
Second on our list is Salvia. We typically have the blue variety planted in our garden and this year we added a red and dark purple. This native plant thrives in the Texas heat and can grow to be fairly substantial if given the space to spread it’s foliage. The beautiful blooms give color the whole season, and come back year after year. Of course it attracts pollinators of all kinds. The bees really love the flowers and return every year.
Third, is the Red Yucca. While we just added our first one to our garden this year. This popular plant can be seen along road sides, in multiple businesses around town and even along the freeway in larger cities. Native to West Texas, the Red Yucca thrives in rocky soil and tends to be a little drier. If you are trying to get away from having a yard full of grass and want to add a little xeriscaping, this should be your top pick.
Fourth, is Texas Sage. The silvery foliage gives color and interest all year round and has a profusion of purple blooms during the rainy season. Be sure to have enough space for this beauty to spread out, it can grow up to 6 feet if that is your desire. A great benefit besides being good for those hot Texas summer days, if you have deer, this plant is deer resistant. Add them along the edge of your beds to form a wall of sorts to protect your garden while adding interest and color throughout the year.
Fifth but definitely not the end, Rudbeckia, loves the sun and Texas heat. You can find these flowers blooming in hay fields, along roadsides, and in many gardens. The seeds spread with the wind, so if you only want them in certain locations be sure to move them early before blooming. If you like a little chaos in your garden then let the seeds fall where they may and see just how far mother nature's hand will go. These lovely yellow flowers add great color to any garden and of course the pollinators love them. Be sure to add some to your garden for added color and interest.
While these are some of our favorite plants and flowers to have on hand to combat the Texas heat, there are many more you can find that you might enjoy more. After all your garden is what you make of it and can be as full or as sporadic as you like. We prefer to have our’s be a little chaotic and colorful, with the least amount of maintenance possible. Stop by anytime to explore our garden or ask questions to discover how easy it is to grow heat and sun tolerant plants.
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