Change My Luck

Robin says she doesn't have any luck. She says all her plants die. She's not sure why but she wants someone to help her. So we looked at the area where she wants to improve the landscape and I think we can improve it. It's not the easiest area to add plants, but the good news is that she doesn't have any problems with deer, rabbits or other critters. It is a rocky hillside, but if those native forbs, weeds, shrubs, and trees are growing there, then these perennials and annuals I'm suggesting can grow there too. It will take some bed prep, dedicated watering, and landscape management, but it can be done. Here are some plants that will work there.

-Pink Skullcap stays low and blooms on and off during the warm months.

-Drift Roses will bloom from spring through Fall. You have your choice of about 6 different colors.

-Goldsturm Daisy is one that comes back year after year and gets better year after year.

And no landscape in Central Texas would be complete without Autumn Sage. Here are

-Coral

-White

-and Purple. And there are at least 5 more colors to choose from.

-Purple Fountain Grass will add color to a drab landscape. Yes, it's an annual but it grows fast.

-Blackfoot Daisy is a native to our area and it blooms all the time.

-When Thryallis starts blooming in early summer it doesn't stop until old man winter comes knocking.

-Purple Coneflower is a summer favorite. There are many new hybrids available now, but the original purple is still my favorite. Treat it right and it will come back every year.

-Orange Bulbine starts blooming in the spring and doesn't quit until it gets cold

-Zinnia linearis is an annual but it blooms so much it makes it worth replanting every year. You can find it with yellow, white, and gold flowers.

-Society Garlic blooms all the time. I'm not crazy about the smell of the leaves but the flowers make it worth it. Just don't plant it close to the patio.

-Butterfly Weed- this is the host plant for Monarch Butterflies. Plant it and they will come. And sometimes this is a perennial, sometimes an annual. It gets about 2' tall.

-Dahlberg Daisy- Dainty little yellow flowers all summer. Make sure the area is well drained and they will do great. They might come back next year. An if not, they do drop a lot of seeds that will make new plants.

Dwarf Pentas are one of my favorite annuals. You have your choice of flower colors and as long as they get enough water they will reward you will lots of flowers.

-Mexican Heather- aka Allison False Heather- lots of little bitty lavender flowers all the time. It gets about 12" by 15". And it's an annual.

-Whirling Butterflies- The plants about 12" tall and the flower spikes grow up about 24"-30". Does look like butterflies flying all over above it. White flowers or pink.

-Mystic Spires Salvia -one great blooming salvia. It starts in the spring and goes until it gets cold in the late fall. It gets about 3' tall. Sometimes 4' tall.

-There's always room for Lantana. Here's Purple Trailing. It usually blooms at least until Christmas.

-Butterfly Weed is the host plant for Monarch Butterflies. It starts blooming mid summer and continues into the fall.

-Chocolate Chip Ajuga is low growing and blooms in the spring.

-Sparklette Esperanza has a yellow flower with a red throat. It's easy to keep about 3' tall if you trim it once in the summer.

-Gregg's Mist Flower will draw in the butterflies with i's little lavender flowers. And it get's bigger every year.

-Whirling Butterflies is what this might look like in a gentle breeze because the plant is about 12" tall and the blooms are about 2' tall. Either white or pink flowers.

-Angelonias bloom all summer and come in a variety of colors.

-Blue Daze is a great annual for full sun that blooms all summer.

-Bells of Fire Esperanza has orange blooms and will get about 5' tall but you can control it's size with some selective shearing as it grows during the summer.

There are many more choices. But, the flower beds are full for now.

That's it for today...Thanks for stopping by.