If you are looking for the best plants for North Texas, you have come to the right place. Daylilies are among the best perennials for this climate. They have yellow or orange flowers with grass-like foliage. Daylilies tolerate heat well and grow in zones 4 through 9, so you can rest assured that they will thrive here. Make sure to choose well-drained soil and add mulch to protect them from the heat.
Easy to care for
If you’re new to gardening in Texas, you may be wondering which plants will thrive in our region. To find the best plants for your area, look no further than the USDA plant hardiness zones. The zones indicate the average minimum temperature and the ideal location for each type of plant. Here are some easy-to-care-for plants that will grow well in our region. The following list features some of our favorites.
Easy-care plants are an excellent choice for North Texas gardens. They can tolerate heat and drought, and still look stunning. This does not mean that you have to pick succulents and cacti – there are plenty of drought-tolerant plants that are beautiful and low-maintenance. You can also choose a drought-tolerant variety that can survive in our region. For more information on how to choose the right plant for your property, visit the Earth-Kind plant selector.
For a low-maintenance shrub, consider Autumn Sage. This semi-evergreen perennial grows to 24 inches tall and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Prune it back by a third after the first freeze to promote a heavier bloom. Autumn Sage is a great choice for full sun gardens. You can prune it after the first freeze in late winter for a heavier bloom. The flowers on this plant are almost every color imaginable, and it attracts pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies.
Adaptable
There are many benefits to gardening, from getting outdoors and exercising to the many health benefits. Growing plants in north Texas can be difficult, however. Its climate is a hybrid of subtropical and arid, so many native plants need to adapt to the low water and high heat of this region. Luckily, there are many plants that can tolerate this tough climate, such as some of the native flora and fauna of north Texas.
There are several benefits to native and drought-tolerant plants, including long blooming seasons and feeding hummingbirds and butterflies. Plants native to the area can also reduce your water bill. Native plants also attract and support animals native to the area, including bees, butterflies, and birds. In addition to lowering your water bill, a garden with plants native to the region will invite wildlife. Not only will native plants attract wildlife, but they also provide a peaceful environment for your family and guests.
Native
If you’re considering adding native plants to your landscape, you’re in luck! Not only are native plants hardy and drought-tolerant, but they require little or no fertilizer to thrive. If you’re not sure which plants are native to your area, check out the lists put together by Texas A&M Extension. The following list will help you find out what you need to grow in your yard and garden. There’s even a list of invasive plants that aren’t native to the region.
Texas Sage is a woody shrub with silver-grey foliage. The lavender-purple flowers bloom in the summer and fall, after rain. The plant doesn’t need much care, and it’s drought-resistant and heat-tolerant. The sage also requires a well-drained, alkaline soil and is cold-hardy down to five degrees Fahrenheit. It’s easy to see why so many people in north Texas are attracted to it.
The benefits of native plants are numerous. They provide beauty to your landscape while requiring little maintenance. They conserve water and improve soil quality. They also attract pollinators and provide food and shelter for native wildlife. In addition to being beautiful, native plants are also less expensive and easier to care for than non-native species. They’re also easier to maintain, require less water, and save money in the long run. These are just some of the benefits of native plants for north Texas.
Flowering
In North Texas, flowers are a great way to add visual beauty to your property. Flowering plants can add life to entryways, shrubs, and bush parts. Flowering plants also add an uplifting and calming effect to your property. While the substantial soil boundaries can be challenging, there are numerous native plants that grow well in this area. These plants are easy to grow and can add shade and magnificence to your yard.
Periwinkle and amaranthus flowers are great choices for full sun flowerbeds. They’re drought-tolerant and can tolerate hot weather, which makes them an excellent choice for full sun flowerbeds. Periwinkle flowers come in several colors and contrast beautifully with white and other plants. Both of these flowering plants will look great in hanging baskets and containers, too. For more flowering plants for north Texas, check out Neil Sperry’s Complete Guide to Texas Gardening
Known as the chaste tree, the Vitex tree blooms in summer and is deer resistant. Remove spent flower spikes to stimulate new blooms. Vitex trees are best grown in full sun, but they will tolerate moist soil. In addition, they prefer full to part sun, and can grow up to twelve to fifteen feet tall. They also tolerate a wide variety of soil types and temperatures. And because they’re native to South America, these plants don’t mind the heat.
Heat tolerant
If you live in north Texas, you’ll find that a variety of cacti, shrubs and perennials will thrive despite the heat. Angelonia, a flowering annual that grows well in a variety of conditions, is a great choice for potting. Hibiscus, a shrub with vine-like characteristics, produces the largest rose mallow flowers. Their thin, ruffled petals make them a striking addition to any landscape.
Verbena, a native of the tropics and subtropics, has over 250 species and varieties. It thrives in full sunlight and can be used as a hanging basket plant. It also attracts butterflies. Besides flowers, heat-tolerant container gardens are an excellent addition to outdoor living areas. These plants need ample watering, so be sure to water them well and bring them indoors when the weather drops below 45 degrees.
Another plant with a drought-resistant nature is the Oak Leaf hydrangea. It grows up to six feet tall and is similar in width. The foliage is purple in the winter, but turns pink in the summer. The Oak Leaf hydrangea prefers morning shade and bounces back in the afternoon. If you’re concerned about the drought, try a dwarf form of it. It will reach a height of six to eight feet and spread a similar width.
If you live in a shaded area, consider using ground covers, such as Japanese aralia. These shrubs will bloom all summer long and add definition to your landscape. You can also plant perennials like lilies and irises to bring in the color and interest of your yard. Heat tolerant plants are not frost-proof, however, and just one night of cold weather can kill them. But if you’re lucky enough to live in a zone with warm summers, they’ll be fine.
Low maintenance
In order to make the most of your landscape, you need to choose low maintenance plants for north Texas. Unlike the native plants, large shrubs can thrive in the southwestern climate, requiring less upkeep. Perennials save you time and money and will look amazing on your property. Crape myrtle is the state shrub of Texas and is known as the lilac of the south. Its beautiful flowers will make you wish you had an entire hedgerow, just like the lilacs of the south.
For flowers, consider coral bells, a low-maintenance plant that adds color and texture to your landscape. Its long-lived, fragrant flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds and require minimal maintenance. Another low-maintenance plant is the hardy Hibiscus flare, a hummingbird and butterfly magnet that requires little maintenance once it establishes itself. Coral bells are native to woodlands and thrive in North Texas. They require minimal care once established and require little water.
For more exotic plants, consider trying hydrangeas. Many newer strains of this perennial shrub are more difficult to maintain, but grandma’s hydrangeas are still low-maintenance and beautiful. They prefer acidic soil, so black alkaline soil might not be the best choice. If you’re unsure of your area’s soil conditions, try a hydrangea that grows in your climate.