Texas Superstar® Plants

A breakthrough color for the Summer Snapdragon! The nearly 1" wide cherry red to cherry pink flowers with dark throats are produced in dense spikes throughout the growing season. Archangel™ Cherry Red Angelonia is an easy heat, humidity, and sunloving tropical to tender perennial noted for its ability to thrive in the hottest sunniest locations with minimal care once established. Use this colorful bee attracting compact plant as a specimen or in mixed containers as well as in the garden and landscape. The Archangel™ Angelonia series is noted for its densely branching compact habit and the largest flowers in its class! Provide a sunny site with a well-drained, average moist, fertile soil. Item# 12135

White tubular blooms emerge from tall, velvety, purple calyxes on dense flower spikes from late summer to fall. This is considered to be the normal color form for the species. Soft velvety medium to gray-green foliage. Mexican Sage bush is a drought tolerant, sun and heat loving reliable clump forming perennial that is considered deer proof. Item# 10284.

The large sleepy scarlet blooms of 'Big Momma' are held upright on woody stems from late spring to fall or even year round in mild winter climates. This hybrid Greg Grant selection produces a large, vigorous, and free flowering Turk's Cap that revels in the heat and the sun of Southern summers. A hummingbird and butterfly magnet! Item# 1081

Velvety rosy pink tubular flowers emerge from softly contrasting spikes of downy white calyxes creating an overall pastel effect. Danielle's Dream Mexican Bush Sage flowers in spring and fall in climates where it does not freeze back to the ground (zones 9B,10), fall in areas where it is grown as a die-back perennial (zones 8, 9A). The velvety medium green narrow foliage adorns an upright to arching easy to grow Salvia and develops into a fairly dense mound at full size. Provide a full to mostly sunny location in well-drained soils for optimum growth and flowering. Deer and rabbit resistant and moderately drought resistant once well-established. An excellent choice for migrating Monarchs, medium to large butterflies, and of course hummingbirds! Item# 11693

Golden yellow berries cover the stems of this wonderful selection of native deciduous holly from fall through spring (if the birds don't get them all!). The nectar and pollen laden flowers attract bees and smaller pollinators and even provide a caffiene kick. Finch's Gold Possumhaw Holly, a selection of Ilex decidua, is a large growing, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub but could potentially be shaped into a small tree form. It has few if any pests or diseases and is quite tolerant of growing conditions from average moist to moderately wet and periodically flooded sites. Provide a full to mostly sunny site for optimum growth, vigor, and fruit set. Almost any male native holly that flowers at the same time will pollinate the female Finch's Gold Possumhaw Holly including the American Holly, Ilex opaca, and we also now offer the male Midas Possumhaw Holly as well. Item# 9145

The most floriferous Esperanza that we grow! Gold Star Esperanza produces an endless display of large clusters of large golden yellow, lightly fragrant trumpets from late spring to frost. This Greg Grant selection is the standard by which all other Esperanza's are judged. Hardy, heat and sun loving, and with a nicely branched habit Gold Star Esperanza is great for tropical settings in containers and in the garden. Attracts pollinators including butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. Item # 9902

We have quit growing Henry Duelberg Mealycup sage in favor of Big Blue Salvia (sage and salvia  are interchangabled names),   2018 Best of the Best Award at the UGA Trial Gardens! The deep indigo tubular flowers emerge from whorls of dark colored calyxes adorning tall dark spikes that are held above the rich green foliage and are produced from late spring or early summer to frost. Big Blue Salvia, a seed grown strain with the same parentage of and is an improvement upon the award winning Indigo Spires, develops into a full bushy herbaceous perennial growing to about 2-3' high by 2' wide. The summerlong display of flowers attracts a myriad of pollinators and highly popular with larger native bees. Use Big Blue Salvia at the back of the border, in larger containers, as well as in the garden and landscape. Provide a full to mostly sunny site in a fertile, average moist soil with average or better drainage for optimum vigor and continuous flowering. Images courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc., all rights reserved. Item# 12876

USDA Cold Hardiness Zones: 8,9,10,11,(7?)

Grows To: 2-3'H x 2'W

Outdoor Light: Full sun, Mostly sunny, Part shade

Imperial Blue Plumbago produces large clusters of deep sky blue flowers from early summer until fall. Plumbago is a heat, sun, and drought tolerant tropical or tender perennial that makes a great addition to container gardens or it is often found growing as a groundcover, hedge, tree form, and espaliered on fences in mild winter climates. Item# 9739.

This easy Garden Phlox produces large domed clusters of dark-eyed, light pink, fragrant flowers on tall sturdy stems with mildew resistant foliage. The show starts in early summer and may continue nearly until the first frost with this reliable and fragrant Garden Phlox if deadheaded. Phlox is adored by butterflies and hummingbirds alike! John Fanick, named for the Texas nurseryman, is only one of a handful of Garden Phlox varieties recommended for southern gardens by noted Texas plantsman Greg Grant. Item# 10267

A lovely dwarf perennial Mexican Petunia that produces bluish purple flowers from spring to frost on a low mounding plant. It makes a great border, or groundcover, and does well in containers. Item # 10857.

Katy Dwarf Pink Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of pink trumpet shaped flowers tucked in among the narrow dark green glossy foliage from spring to frost on a compact low mounding plant. This durable perennial makes a great border, groundcover, or makes a great addition to containers. The flowers of Ruellias attract bees, butterflies, and even the occassional hummingbird although they would not be as likely to get this near the ground. Where winters experience freezing temperatures (zones 8A-9B) this tough little tropical perennial may freeze back to near ground level but generally readily returns in spring once soil temperatures begin to warm. Item# 917

White Katie Dwarf Mexican Petunia is a lovely dwarf perennial that produces loads of pure white trumpet shaped flowers that shine brightly against the dark green glossy foliage from spring to frost on a compact low mounding plant. This durable perennial makes a great border, groundcover, or makes a great addition to containers. Item # 9284.

Lecompte Vitex is noted for its extra large 8-12" spikes of purple-blue flowers that are born from late spring to fall. This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Lecompte Vitex is another excellent introduction from noted plant breeder and author Greg Grant. A highly recommended 'Texas Lilac' selection of Vitex. (#9128 is another great selection !!) Item# 9167.

Intense pure red, massive, dinner plate sized flowers are produced beginning in early summer and continuing until fall on this vigorous and free flowering perennial Hibiscus. Lord Baltimore is one of the first widely cultivated Hardy Hibiscus developed by Robert Darby in the 1950's and it is still popular to this day! Perennial Hibiscus produce the largest flowers of any perennial in the garden and the rich red of Lord Baltimore may even stop traffic, if accidentally. It is a vigorous upright to spreading perennial that easily fits into the back of the perennial border or as a specimen in moist sites. Item# 11017

Large clusters of fiery orange-red tubular flowers are produced from summer through fall to yearround in warm tropical climates and attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Clusters of shiny black 3/8" fruit develop on pollinated flowers and are utilized by songbirds. When grown in full to mostly sunny conditions the foliage generally has a reddish tinge. The Firebush, Hamelia patens var. patens, is native to the southern half of Florida and is evergreen under frost free conditions and can develop into a medium to large shrub. *We have grown this species in our zone 8B gardens for over 30 years as a quite reliable 3-4' high die-back perennial. Each winter it freezes back to its crown and then returns in mid to late spring to flower through much of summer and into fall. Provide a full to mostly sunny site, although they are fairly tolerant, for optimum vigor and flowering. Item# 898

This is the male pollinator for Finch's Gold and Warren's Red Possumhaw Hollies and so it only produces the dainty white and green flowers that attract bees and small pollinators but these plants do not set fruit. The female Possumhaw Holly, Ilex decidua, is also readily pollinated by the American Holly, Ilex opaca, and most any other native male holly that flowers at the same time as the female Possumhaws and one male can effectively pollinate several females. They do not necessarily have to planted next to one another but should be in the vicinity where the bees can transfer pollen. This is a large growing, multi-stemmed, native deciduous shrub or small tree that has few if any pests or diseases. They are quite tolerant of growing conditions from average moisture, to wet, to periodically flooded sites in full sun to partly shaded sites. Item# 12749

Midnight Mexican Bush Sage produces long, rich purple, tubular flowers that emerge from velvety purple calyxes creating long upright to gently arching spikes of flowers in late summer and fall (and spring where protected from freezing). Soft velvety finely textured foliage on a durable and deer proof, reliable, clump forming perennial. Great for hummingbirds and butterflies! Item# 2981.

Montrose Purple Vitex consistently produces extra large spikes of blue-purple flowers from early summer well into fall.  This is a vigorous and disease free and drought tolerant spreading to upright deciduous shrub or small tree that attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. A 'Texas Lilac' selection of Vitex. Item# 9620.

Producing some of the largest flowers of any Perennial Hibiscus cultivars to date, the deep cherry pink to near red flowers of Moy Grande can measure over 12" across! The gray-green fuzzy foliage is pest resistant and this is a vigorous upright to spreading perennial that will enjoy a spot at the back of the garden where it can wow passersby. Provide a full to mostly sunny position in a moderately moist fertile soil for the most flowers and vigorous growth. Developed by Dr. Moy at the San Antonio Botanic Gardens. Item# 11172

A butterfly and pollinator magnet and the standard in Trailing Lantanas! This low growing, groundcovering Lantana produces an endless display of deep golden yellow flowers from late spring to fall. The clusters of brilliant yellow flowers positively shine against the glossy dark green foliage. New Gold Lantana rarely fruits and its mostly sterile pollen make this long popular selection a gardener and landscapers dream with its impressive flower power and reliability! New Gold creates a low maintenance colorful groundcover or use it as a spring to fall filler, spiller, or specimen for medium to large containers. Item # 3032.

1", sleepy, rose to coral-pink flowers are borne from late spring to fall on this vigorous perennial. Tough, easy, and great for hummingbirds and occasional butterflies. Pam Puryear's Pink Turkscap is a still relatively new introduction from the great Texas plantsman Greg Grant and was named after his friend and the 'Rose Rustler' founder Pam Puryear. This Turk's Cap has won the prestigious Lynn Lowery Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas! Provide a full to mostly sunny site in an average moist, fertile, average to well-drained soil for optimum health and flowering. Item# 1082

The huge white flowers of Peppermint Flare are randomly speckled and lightly striped with purplish pink. This hardy perennial Hibiscus is sure to be a conversation piece! This nearly sterile hybrid produces a continuous display of huge flowers, has excellent vigor, and pest resistant foliage. This root hardy die-back perennial has a compact 4-6' x 4-6' habit and is tolerant of soil moisture levels ranging from average to wet. The Flare Series Hibiscus were developed near San Antonio so in the the words of Heidi Sheesley they are 'Texas tough' as well as big and beautiful! Item# 11171