PLANT OF THE MONTH
'Confetti' Lantana, spotted along the Riverwalk in the early nineties, was the plant that first inspired my love of plants, in particular Texas plants.
My Bougainvillea has rewarded my "survival of the fittest" gardening techniques (no supplemental irrigation all summer-yikes!) with this gorgeous display. This is an impressive and beautiful plant.
PLANT OF THE MONTH
Here is a spectacular specimen of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Pride of Barbados, which performs best in extreme heat and dryness. The red mulch only adds to the drama.
PLANT OF THE MONTH
'Firecracker Plant' (Rusellia equisetiformis) is very striking, very drought tolerant, and needs little or no maintenance. Give it enough room (about three feet) to show off its natural cascading form. Another interesting option is to plant it as an ornamental hedge where its long bloom time (eight months or more) and unusual, fine texture are featured. It may not be evergreen (may freeze to the ground) but might be worth it.
American Beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, is my favorite plant. It is native to Texas and across southeastern United States. The berries are so bright they almost look artificial. Birds love them. American Beautyberry likes morning sun and dappled shade in the afternoon. It is not as tolerant of heat and sun as Mexican Beautyberry, which has leathery leaves and deep purple berries. They seem to be sold interchangeably in nurseries, so Fall is a good time to buy one to know what you're getting!
November, 2020
The Crape Myrtle has a lot to offer to people who like color and appreciate low maintenance. Although not a native of Texas, it performs very much like one. It is drought tolerant and disease and pest resistant but not invasive. It makes itself right at home here with long bloom periods, and somehow achieves the slightly rugged look of a Texas native. There are many colors and sizes to choose from and many have really good Fall color as well. These photos are of the same tree, a few weeks apart. Hard to resist!
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December, 2020
Firespike (Odontonema strictum) has tropical, lush foliage and bright red spikes. It starts to bloom right around the holidays with its festive colors. Firespike likes some shade and will wilt in the sun in hotter months but makes up for that in the winter. There is a pink version that grows larger than the red, but in my experience, maybe because of its size, seems thirstier (wilts more readily) and has smaller blooms.
