Perennial plants may be defined as those which endure or persist from the same root part year to year. Once a prominent part of nearly every Texas landscape, perennials are often overlooked by today’s gardeners and nurserymen. Although many species still can be found in private gardens, their availability is often restricted to sharing among friends and neighbors.
Most perennials are easily propagated by division, seed or cuttings. Division is particularly successful since it not only provides new plants but is often necessary for the continued vigor of plants. Perennials can be highly useful and attractive in the home landscape. They often persist for many years and usually require less maintenance than annuals. They can provide long seasons of color and cut flowers while enhancing overall landscape development. If a perennial border is more than you care to attempt as your initial experience with perennials try adding a few to existing plantings. Many perennials have attractive foliage and are an asset even when not in flower. Division is an important cultural requirement of many perennials. Without an occasional thinning, most of these plants will slowly lose their vigor. Most perennials will tolerate relatively poor growing conditions but respond very favorably to well-prepared planting areas containing high percentages of organic materials and moderately high fertility rates.
Click on a link below to go to the perennial group you’re looking for:
Local Perennial Favorites
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- YARROW (Achillea millefolium): selection available in red, pink, or white (white form is weedy); fern-leafed foliage; blooms spring and fall; drought tolerant; good groundcover; excellent cut or dried flowers; full sun to part shade; 1 foot.
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- OXBLOOD LILY (Rhodophiala bifida): dark red flowers which resemble half-size amaryllis; dry, slightly alkaline soils; sun to part shade; 1 foot.
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- HINCKLEY’S COLUMBINE (Aguilegia Hinkleyana): exotic yellow flowers, delicate foliage; Texas native; moist organic soil; susceptible to spider mites; shade to part shade; 18 inches.
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- GERMAN RED CARNATION (Dianthus carophyllus): fragrant, red flowers; everblooming; good cut flower, cool weather plant; sun to part shade; 1 foot.
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- HARDY AGERATUM (Eupatorium coelestinum): blue flowers; fall blooming; invasive; Texas native; hardy; drought tolerant; shear in summer to promote business; sun to part shade; 2 feet.
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- SUMMER PHLOX (Phlox paniculata): magenta pink flowers; blooms in summer; hardy; drought tolerant; 3 feet.
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- MEXICAN HEATHER (Cuphea hyssopifolia): small, lavender flowers; compact foliage; tender; sun; 6 inches.
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- ‘NEW GOLD’ LANTANA (Lantana camara): many flower colors; shear occasionally; everblooming; heat and drought tolerant; sun; 2 feet.
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- ROCK ROSE (Pavonia lasiopetala): pink, mini-hibiscus flowers; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; sun; 3 feet.
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- BLUE SHADE (Ruellia “squarrosa”): lavender flowers; everblooming; shear occasionally; excellent groundcover, drought tolerant; sun to shade; 8 inches.
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- ‘INDIGO SPIRES’ SALVIA (Salvia hybrid): purple flowers; shear occasionally; very vigorous; excellent; sun; 3 feet.
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- FIREBUSH (Hamelia patens): red-orange, tubular flowers, prized by hummingbirds; red fall foliage; everblooming; drought tolerant; shear occasionally; sun to part shade; hardy; 2 – 3 feet.
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- MEXICAN HONEYSUCKLE (Justicia spicigera): orange, tubular flowers; everblooming; drought tolerant; shear occasionally; sun to part shade; hardy; 2 feet.
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- MEXICAN MINT MARIGOLD – “Yerba anise” (Tagetes lucida): yellow flowers; fragrant “licorice” scented foliage; blooms in fall; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 2 feet.
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- MEXICAN PETUNIA (Ruellia Brittoniana): purple flowers; everblooming invasive; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 2 feet.
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- MEXICAN OREGANO (Poliomintha longiflora): lavender flowers, aromatic foliage; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally, drought tolerant; hardy; sun; 3 feet.
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- OBEDIENT PLANT (Physostegia virginiana): pink flowers; blooms in fall; hardy; sun; 2 feet.
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- PINK AUTUMN SAGE (Salvia greggii): pink flowers; aromatic; shrubby; everblooming; shear occasionally; drought tolerant; sun; 3 feet.
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- ‘TEXAS-TUFF’ VERBENA (Verbena hybrid): pink, purple or red flowers; everblooming; shear frequently; excellent groundcover; drought tolerant; susceptible to spider mites; sun; 8 inches.
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- CIGAR PLANT (Cuphea micropetala): orange-yellow, cigar shaped flowers; prized by hummingbirds; blooms in fall; drought tolerant; heat loving; sun; 2 feet.
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- FALL ASTER/MICHALMAS DAISY (Aster sp): lavender-colored flowers; blooms in fall; shear during summer; drought tolerant; sun or partial shade; 2 feet.
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- PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea): hot pink flowers; blooms in spring, summer, and fall; excellent cut flowers; drought tolerant; full sun; 2 feet.
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- DWARF INDIAN BLANKET (Gaillardia grandiflora): red-yellow, bi-color flowers; everblooming, remove spent blooms to extend bloom time; heat and drought tolerant; full sun; 1 foot.
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- OXALIA (Oxalis crassipes): pink flowers, clover-like foliage; blooms in spring and summer; great border plant; sun to partial shade; 8 to 10 inches.
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- SHRIMP PLANT (Justicia brandegeana): yellow or red-brown flowers; blooms in summer, fall; great cut flowers; sun to partial shade; 3 feet.
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- TRAILING LANTANA (Lantana montevidensis): lilac flowers; blooms in spring, summer, fall; very drought tolerant; great as a groundcover, in containers or hanging baskets; sun or partial shade; 1 to 2 feet.
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- BLUE PLUMBAGO (Plumbago auriculata): clusters of baby blue flowers; drought tolerant; well-drained soil; full to part sun; 2 to 3 feet.
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- ROSEMARY (Rosmarinus officinalis): grayish-green, fleshy, needle-like foliage with pale blue flowers; blooms spring, fall, and winter; both upright and trailing forms are available; 1 to 4 feet.
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- MEALY CUP SAGE (Salvia farinacea): blue, white, or purple flower spikes; blooms spring, summer, fall; shear occasionally; full sun; 2 to 3 feet.
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- OX-EYE DAISY (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum): white flowers; blooms in spring; hardy; sun to part shade; 3 feet.
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- COREOPSIS (Coreopsis grandiflora): yellow flowers, blooms late spring to summer; excellent landscape plant (Baby, Sun, and Early Sunrise are dwarf forms); 2 feet.
Bulbs
Although not widely known or available, there are a number of “bulb” plants which do well in South Texas. The more outstanding selections are:
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- OXBLOOD LILY (Rhodophiala bifida): dark red flowers which resemble half-size amaryllis; dry, slightly alkaline soils; sun to part shade; 1 foot.
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- SPRING STAR FLOWER (Ipheion uniflorum): small, pale blue flowers on 6-inch stems; blooms in spring; sun to partial shade; 6 inches.
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- GARDEN CANNA (Canna x generalis): yellow, red, pink, salmon flowers; blooms in summer; drought resistant; 2 to 4 feet.
Other Bulb or Bulb-like Plants
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- CRINUM
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- BYZANTINE GLADIOLUS
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- GRAPE HYACINTH
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- BEARDED IRIS
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- DAYLILY
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- NARCISSUS
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- AMARYLLIS
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- MOREA IRIS
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- GINGER
For more information on this topic:
- The Bexar County Master Gardener Hotline
Speak to one of our volunteer Master Gardeners on duty, 210-631-0400, or E-mail at info@bexarmg.org - David Rodriguez – County Horticulture Agent-Bexar County, 210-631-0400 or E-mail at dhrodriguez@ag.tamu.edu
