We all know Texas is big, so it’s not too surprising to learn that it’s one of the most botanically diverse states in the country. That means there’s a lot of plant material to choose from if you decide to “go native.” And why wouldn’t you? Not only do Texas natives stand tall against a host of difficult growing conditions, many of them have been improved by horticulturists trying to meet gardeners’ demands for beauty and adaptability.
Agarita flourishes in high heat and tolerates temperatures as low as 15 degrees F.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Don’t let autumn sage’s name fool you: It blooms from spring to fall.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Bur oak can grow to 95 feet and can live up to 400 years.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Coral honeysuckle is a well-behaved alternative to the aggressive Japanese honeysuckle.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Despite its name, desert willow isn’t a true willow. It’s actually a drought-tolerant member of the trumpet creeper family.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
Here are five of the best and most beautiful Texas natives that just might work in your garden (even if you live across state lines).
Agarita or wild currant (Mahonia trifoliolata). If you’re looking for a surefire bird magnet, give agarita a try. This evergreen’s got grayish-green, holly-like foliage, and its yellow spring flowers turn to brilliant red berries in summertime that attract wildlife (although the plant in general is said to be deer-resistant). These wonderful berries also give you the opportunity to try your hand at canning a real Texas delicacy – agarita jelly!
True to its barberry family, agarita comes barbed with sharp points on the end of its leaflets. This means it works great planted under those windows you want to arm against intruders. In fact, it’ll grow up to 6 feet tall and wide. Agarita flourishes in high heat and can tolerate temperatures as low as 15 degrees F. It’s also drought-tolerant, partial to alkaline soils and prefers full sun.
Autumn sage (Salvia greggii). The reappearance of Salvia greggii in modern Texas gardens is part of the nationwide trend of reintroducing “old” plants into today’s landscapes. This versatile native perennial shrub grows 3 feet tall and wide, and it works well in lots of spaces, from containers to borders, or just as a splash of color.
Despite its name, autumn sage blooms from spring to fall. You’ll mostly find it with red, tube-shaped flowers, but cultivars are being developed in shades of white, salmon, pink and more. Autumn sage tolerates full sun and flourishes in well-drained soil. It’s also considered drought-tolerant and deer-resistant. It should survive winter temperatures of 10-15 degrees F, so it can be used in many areas throughout the South.
Bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa). Often described as “magnificent,” bur oak is a member of the white oak group in the beech family, and it deserves more widespread use. (Its original range extended over a good portion of central North America, but it was decimated by farming and land development.) This mighty oak is a pretty hardy tree, and it’ll grow well in a lot of regions. It’s drought-tolerant, grows fast and handles cold down to -35 degrees F. It can also live for 200-400 years, so it’ll probably outlive your great-great-grandchildren.
Everywhere it’s grown, bur oak is prized for its large, attractive leaves and its generous shade. Its average height is 60 feet, but the largest known bur oak (in Paris, KY) is 95 feet tall with a branch spread of over 100 feet – so if you plant one, make sure it’s in a place where you’ve got lots of room! And you’ve gotta like wildlife, too, because with their abundant acorns, these stately oaks really lure the squirrels and birds.
Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens). Enlightened gardeners are scrupulous about avoiding plants on the noxious-weeds list. That means skipping fragrant, summertime delights offered by plants like Japanese honeysuckle. But luckily there’s a much better-behaved alternative – coral honeysuckle. This heat-tolerant native grows from east Texas to Florida, up the Atlantic coast to Connecticut, and as far north as Nebraska. (That’s some range!)
Coral honeysuckle’s an evergreen to semievergreen plant with moderate water needs. It isn’t picky about soil, but it prefers full sun (although it can stand a bit of shade). This honeysuckle can also live with some drought, but it certainly benefits from a weekly watering.
Use this climber to twine over fences or trellises. It’ll reach up to 18 feet. While not as fragrant as Japanese honeysuckle, this beauty compensates by being a champion attractor of ruby-throated hummingbirds. There are many cultivars of this species, but the red- to orange-flowered varieties are the most popular. The blooms produce clusters of bright red berries in fall if the plant’s been pollinated.
Desert willow (Chilopsis linearis). This small, attractive tree has been gaining popularity throughout the South and Southwest in recent years. A west Texas native, it resembles a willow with its long, delicate leaves, but it’s actually in the trumpet creeper family (which includes trees like catalpa and tropical jacaranda). Like the rest of its kin, desert willow has clusters of elegant, trumpetlike flowers. Its blooms are white with lavender streaks, and they appear from spring to fall. If the plant is pollinated by another tree, it’ll also produce long, slender beans.
The tree’s a big hit with landscapers and homeowners alike, thanks to its drought tolerance, long flowering season and manageable average height and spread of 15-30 feet. Desert willow can also tolerate temperatures down to -25 degrees F – but if you live in a region that gets more than 30 inches of annual rainfall, be sure to plant it in a raised bed in full sun to light shade. This graceful woody prefers sandy soil, but it’ll set its roots down in a rocky site, too.
There’s no doubt about it: Texas natives are gaining in popularity across the country. But it’s important to remember that growing conditions vary widely across super-sized Texas. An east Texas native of the Piney Woods has quite different needs than one that originates in the high, dry west, so it’s important you research your plant’s requirements for soil pH, moisture and heat or cold tolerance before you buy anything. Texas natives aren’t known for being fussy, and providing them with their basic requirements should ensure you’ve got a good ol’ taste of Texas in your landscape for years to come.
