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| This page was created in August 1996 - apparently in the web site "renovation" I managed to put in different photos for another page, images that had the same names...
the wonderful photos from 1996 of these plants seem to have completely disappeared, since I changed computers twice and forgot to find the originals...
perhaps on some old backup disk? Meanwhile, the descriptions will remain!
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It's hot and it's dry in Houston in August, but were are still getting butterflies (and bees and wasps) in our garden with some of these blooming plants, native and non-native, planted and volunteers.
We have a lot of shade, and only one small strip that gets full sun, so we have to be creative about what to plant where.
Unidentified Bulb
This bulb is left from previous owners and comes back every year. The foliage in the photo is Turk's Cap; generally by the time it blooms, the bulb foliage has died. |
Clematis
This vine is a volunteer that takes over the entire garden every summer and blooms in August and September. Every year we pull miles of it out of the garden until about July, then let it grow. The smell is a wonderful, light perfume that fills the yard every morning. |
Four O'Clocks
Four O'clocks used to bloom all over this yard, according to the woman who grew up here. They really do bloom at four o'clock, although they aren't on daylight savings time. This is another plant that blooms in shade. |
Salvia Coccinea
We started these from seed several years ago and have never neede to reseed. They are apparently cold hardy, reseeding freely and are taking over the yard. I believe they are meant to be annuals, but they don't seem to ever die back! They are growing in full sun and dappled/half sun, successfully. |
Salvia Guaranitica, or Russian Sage
We planted this several years ago, and while it isn't pervasive like the native Coccinea, this plant comes back reliably every year. It's in full sun. |
Kidneywood
We are using kidneywood as a tree to break up the sun in the front garden. It throws a light shade. The leaves have a citrus smell when crushed; the blooms have a pungent vanilla odor that fills the yard when it's blooming. |
Mexican Mint Marigold, or Poliomentha
This is a shrubby plant that has been blooming non-stop for months, maybe years! The leaves have a wonderful odor, and could probably used in cooking. It needs full sun; we have 2 others that get only morning sun, and they don't grow or bloom, although they haven't died. |
Mexican Ruellia
This plant was already in the yard when we moved in, and we have let it have it's way. It's very invasive but has a beautiful, one day only bloom. It blooms reliably in the shade, although I have seen fabulous stands of it in the neighborhood where it gets full sun and really puts on a show! It's about 3-4 feet high and is drought resistant as well. |
Shrimp Plant
We planted 2 areas of shrimp plant in the yard, and they both receive the same amount of sun (about 3-4 hours at the most) but at different times of the day and year. Each has grown and filled a 10 square feet or so area, and each blooms at a different time. |
Turk's Cap
Turk's cap was already in the yard, and we have moved pieces of it around to have it in several areas. It's a reliable shade blooming plant that attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies. |
Mexican Butterfly Weed, or Asclepias Currasavica
This is a reliable butterfly "producer" in Houston! Generally even when you buy it at the nursery, it already has Monarch larva or eggs on it. It grows readily from seed, and it takes full sun and partial sun with the same results. Let the monarchs eat the whole plant; it comes back within the next few weeks! |
Widow's Tears
These plants got their name because the flowers dry up by noon. We get both a white and a blue version of this species, and it makes a good shade blooming ground cover but it's very invasive. |
Hummingbird Bush, Hamelia Patens
The hummingbird bush takes a little shade and is drought resistant too, but does best in full sun!
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Mexican Milky Sage, Salvia Leucantha
This is really a reliable perennial plant that needs lots of sun. The hummingbirds really go for this.
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Passionflower vine
This is a wonderful volunteer in our yard, although it has a reputation for being invasive. This is not the native passiflora, but the Gulf Fritillaries love it anyway!
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Disclaimer: The information herein is published with the understanding that it is accurate and reliable, however, it cannot be guaranteed. Although every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy of the data , the publisher cannot accept liability for misstatements.
All original contents copyright ©, 2003-2004, Melinda Parmer & P.D. Hulce. All rights reserved.
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