Drought, Heat and Cold Tolerant Plants?

Question:

We had nasty below freezing weather this week. I am thinking we are going to have to replace some shrubbery and decorative perennials. I have decided to use drought, heat and cold tolerant plants that don't have a bad spreading habit. Short of hiring a professional, do you have any suggestions. We have blazing sunlight and deep shade.

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Thanks,
Holly

Answer:

If you're looking for low maintenance, drought, heat and cold tolerant plants for your garden, your best bet is going to be native plants. Texas gardeners are fortunate in that there are many species native to your state that are highly decorative.

Once established, these natives require very little water and much less care than non-native varieties. They will also provide habitat for beneficial insects, provide cover for wildlife and attract several species of native birds.

Here are just a few examples:

• Flowers: black eyed Susan, golden hibiscus, indian blanket, jimsyn weed, prairie phlox, purple aster, and wild petunia.
• Vines: Carolina jasmine, morning glory, and passion flower.
• Shrubs: Texas lantana and turks cap.

And of course, there are many beautiful native tree species as well.

There's no need to hire a professional to install native plants. Look in the Yellow Pages or contact your county extension service for a list of native plant nurseries in your area. These experts will be able to recommend the best performing natives for your particular site conditions and help you select plants with different blooming periods for a show of color all season long.

For more information, check out these sites featuring information on native plants:

• http://www.uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium
• http://www.hotx.com/wildflowers/
• http://www.texasstar.org

Ellen