Landscaping in central Texas can be a challenge. If you’ve recently moved to Texas, you’ll quickly realize this is due to the dryness of the land and this means your plants need to be drought resistant. If you tried moving with your plants, you might have better luck keeping them alive indoors unless they’re moving to a similar climate.
Thankfully, there are many varieties of beautiful plants available to spruce up your new property. Whether you are looking for trees for landscaping, flowering shrubs to attract hummingbirds or roses for cutting, many species are drought-resistant and heat tolerant to create a colorful and texturally interesting garden or landscape.
1. Cape Plumbago
Because the blossoms on this flower are sky blue, it is also called the Sky Flower. This pretty flower thrives in the heat of central Texas and will bloom from May until the first frost.
2. Chinkapin Oak
This tree is present in the East but grows much taller in Texas. The foliage ranges from green, brown, yellow and orange. This oak is drought and heat tolerant, making it an excellent choice for landscaping.
3. Blue Princess Verbena
This is a plant that needs no pampering. Plant it in the best-drained and sunniest part of your garden. It thrives on heat and dry conditions. It requires at least 6 hours of direct sun daily to bloom profusely. The Blue Princess is drought-resistant and tolerant of the Texas heat.
4. Dwarf Mexican Petunia
If you are looking for a flower that grows for long seasons, this petunia is just the flower. It is colorful and adaptable, making it an excellent choice for heat and dryness of central Texas. The petunia loves to grow in direct sunlight. It will grow in the shade, but the flowering capacity will be lessened.
5. ‘Belinda’s Dream’ Rose
This rose has a double pink blossom and a moderate scent. It was developed in 1992 and is the first Earth-Kind rose hybrid in Texas, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
This distinction means that it is one of the best flowering roses but needs very little care.
6. Grandma’s Yellow Rose
This is another beautiful option for your garden. This rose is hardy and needs at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. Though this is an excellent flower for the heat, it will require some watering and winter care. Grandma’s Yellow Rose is a great choice for freshly cut flowers during its growing season.
7. Fire Cracker Fern
Are you hoping to attract hummingbirds? This is a tubular flower that will provide nice visual interest. The red tubular flowers are irresistible to hummingbirds and bloom all summer. It is recommended that the stems are cut back once a year for the best blooming results.
8. Cold Hardy Pink
This is drought-resistant, hardy sage. It has bright pink blossoms which attract hummingbirds and bees. It has a long blooming time and tolerates the cold. Also called the Salvia greggia, it is a small woody shrub and easily managed due to its size. It was named after Josiah Gregg who was part of a botanical team in 1848.