PERENNIALS
I-O
Iberis sempervirens ‘Purity’ \ Candy Tuft
Pure white flowers bloom in mid to late spring. ‘Purity’ has larger flowers and blooms longer than the species. Grows 8-10x12”. Prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Zone 4.
Ipheion uniflorum \ Spring Starflower
Blooms from early spring to early summer. Flowers are 1” star-shaped, pale lilac blooms above narrow grass-like foliage. Reaches a height of 6-8”. Needs rich, moist and well-drained soil. Give full sun or light shading for half the day. Zones 5-10.
Iris germanica \ Bearded Iris
(EYE-ris)
Large floral heads of multiple colors produced from flat, grass-like foliage. Does best in well-drained soils and full sun. Zone 5.
‘Beverly Sills’ - Soft pink 36”
‘Blackout’ - Black (Very dark blue-purple) 39”
‘Carolina Gold’ - Golden-yellow 40”
‘Immortality’ - White 34"
'Michael Paul' - Dwarf, dark purple 11"
‘Octoberfest’ - Orange 32"
‘Persian Berry’ - Blue-purple, yellow stamens 36”
‘Red Zinger’ - Rich red 26”
‘Royal Knight’ - Purple 24”
‘Victoria Falls’ - Blue 32"
‘Well Endowed’ - Yellow 32"
Iris pseudacorus \ Yellow Water Iris
Flower stems 6-7’, leaves 5’ with 2-3” bright yellow flowers. Needs acidic, damp to wet soil and thrives in shallow water. Full to light shade. Decorative at edges of ponds. Zones 3-9.
Iris Louisiana Hybrids \ Louisiana Iris
Wide, flat, strap-shaped foliage producing large flowers of different colors. Enjoys copious amounts of water and full sun. Zone 5.
I. ‘Acadian Miss’
Ruffled, white self with yellow-green signals. 30" tall. Early to mid-season bloomer.
I. ‘Ann Chowning’
This hybrid grows 36” tall and provides velvety red blooms with a deep yellow signal for garden enjoyment. An excellent grower.
I. ‘Black Gamecock’
Deep royal purple blooms with contrasting yellow signals. Height 24-36".
I. ‘Clara Goula’
Flower is a large, ruffled white bi-tone with white standards, creamy white falls and gold-orange crests. Grows 42” tall and is an early to mid-season bloomer.
I. ‘Delta Star’
The cartwheel-shaped flower is dark purple, with narrow yellow signals forming a star. Tall, but well proportioned, with medium sized blooms. Grows well in water.
I. ‘Full Eclipse’
Superb dark black-violet self with black line signals. Grows to 36” tall. Profuse bloomer and grower.
I. ‘Glow Light’
Bicolor having deep violet sepals and near white petals with a yellow-green signal and a nice flaring form. Vigorously growing to 39” tall.
I. ‘Kristie G’
Plant is adorned with pale, blue-lavender flowers with falls rimmed in white. Soft orange signals on a white background. Grows to 34" and blooms in midseason.
I. ‘Margaret Hunter’
Large ruffled pink blooms with a hint of violet. Reaches 36” in height.
I. ‘Sinfonietta’
Slightly ruffled blue flowers with yellow signals. A good grower that multiplies well. Reaches 36” in height.
I. x 'Sun Fury'
Mid to late golden yellow bloomer. To 30" tall.
Iris sibirica \ Siberian Iris
The Siberian Iris is best when left in clumps. One clump will make a strong effect once established. Performs well in full sun to light shade Likes moist boggy areas but will tolerate dry soil. Zones 5-10.
I. sibirica 'Butter and Sugar'
White standards with butter yellow falls appear in spring and again in fall. Grows 2-2 ˝' tall.
I. sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’
Exceptionally hardy, reaching heights of 35-42”. Blooms are a dark velvety purple with a very sturdy stem.
I. sibirica ‘Snow Queen’
White flowers, mid-season bloomer, growing to 30" tall.
Kniphofia uvaria 'Alcazar' \ Red Hot Poker
Early summer bloomer, with bright salmon-red tubular flowers. Can reach 36-42" in height. Tall leaves are 3’ long and 1” wide. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Zone 5.
Kniphofia uvaria ‘Pfitzeri’ \ Red Hot Poker
The unusual drooping tubular flowers are arranged in dense racemes at the top of 6-10” scapes. Flowers on stalks with blooms having progressive colors of red, orange and yellow, depending on bloom maturity. Tall leaves are 3’ long and 1” wide. With an overall height of 2-4’, this makes a colorful border plant or cut flower. Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Zone 5.
Lamium maculatum ‘Beacon Silver’ \ Spotted Nettle
(LAY-mi-um)
Silver-white, 1-2” long leaves surrounded by green margins. Small rosy-pink flowers bloom in the spring. Provide an evenly moist, well-drained soil in partial shade. Stand out foliage that will catch the eye, even in a shaded area. Grows 8-12” tall and 18” wide. Zones 3-8.
Lamium maculatum ‘White Nancy’ \ Dead Nettle
Beautiful silver leaves with narrow green edges provide the background for white flowers in spring. Grows 6x18” in shade to part shade and well-drained soil. Zone 4.
Lantana
(lan-TAN-na)
Excellent for hot, dry areas. Flower heads are 1-2" wide, made up of clusters of smaller flowers. Not particular as to soil, but likes to bake in full sun. Remove dead wood in spring. Blooms begin in spring and last until frost. Too much water and fertilizer cuts down on blooms. Good cut flower.
L. camara \ Hardy Pink Lantana
µTexas Nativeµ Butterflies love the pink and yellow blooms of this summer bloomer. Growth habit is fast and shrub-like. Average height is 3-4’. Root hardy to Zone 7.
L. horrida \ Texas Lantana
µTexas Nativeµ This easy-to-grow, shrub-like perennial grows 4x4’ in full sun with orange-yellow blooms, even during the hottest part of summer. Zone 8.
L. montevidensis ‘Trailing Lavender’
Beautiful purple spread of 4’ wide by 18” high. Used as a groundcover or mass planting. Will take some shade. Zone 9.
L. montevidensis ‘Trailing White’
Impressive as a mass planting or used as a ground cover. White flower heads are 1-2” wide and bloom all summer. Grows 8” high with a 4’ spread. Not particular to soil, but thrives in full sun. Zone 9.
L. x ‘Dallas Red’
A delightful display of red, orange and yellow flowers. Grows up to 2’.
L. x ‘New Gold’
Gorgeous gold and yellow blossoms. Reaches 1-2’ with a 48” spread.
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’ \ English Lavender
Dark purple, fragrant flowers bloom in summer. Grows 14x14”. Requires very well-drained soil and full sun. Zones 7-9.
Lavandula stoechas \ Spanish Lavender
A very showy species with blue-gray foliage. Unusual squarish flower spikes produce tufts of large, orchid-purple bracts, resembling rabbit ears. Blooms in early summer. Needs well-drained soil in full sun. Zone 8.
Leucanthemum
L. vulgare \ Ox-eye Daisy
µTexas Nativeµ Spring blooms of single, white daisies with yellow centers. Excellent for naturalizing. Prefers soils of average to moderate fertility. Grows 2˝’ in height and 1-2’ wide. Full sun or part shade.
L. vulgare ‘May Queen’ \ Ox-eye Daisy
Early blooming white flowers on plants reaching 22-27” in height. Good cut flower. Zones 4-9.
L. x superbum 'Becky' \ Shasta Daisy
When in mass plantings, showy, single, 3" wide, white flowers start swaying in the breeze in early summer for a grand show to late summer. 'Becky' is both cold hardy and heat tolerant with deep green, shiny leaves. Grows to 3' tall. Well-drained soil. Full sun. Zone 5-8. 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year.
L. x superbum ‘Snow Lady’ \ Shasta Daisy
An All-American selection, this 10” dwarf displays single white flowers from early summer to frost. Grows best in fertile, moist and well-drained soils. Full sun, with afternoon shade in hotter climates. Zone 5.
L. x superbum ‘Summer Snowball’ \ Shasta Daisy
This Shasta Daisy grows 30” tall and blooms late spring to early fall with large, double white flowers the size of tennis balls. Bet your grandma never saw this one! Prefers well-drained soil with light shade in the hotter climates. Zone 5.
Liatris \ Gay Feather
Each stem is covered one half to one third of the way with flowers that open from the top down. Tolerant of hot summers, they will grow in well-drained soil in full sun. Flowering season is mid-summer to late fall. Avoid soggy soil conditions in winter. Zones 3-9.
L. spicata ‘Floristan White’ (‘Floristan Weiss’)
White flowers on plants reaching 3’ tall.
L. spicata ‘Kobold’
Most popular cultivar. Early summer bloomer bearing dense spikes of mauve to violet flowers on stiff 2-2˝’ tall stems.
Ligularia dentata 'Britt-Marie Crawford' PP16113 (now Farfugium)\ Leopard Plant
(lig-you-LAIR-ee-uh)
One of the darkest forms available with broad, glossy, dark chocolate-maroon leaves on top, dark purple underneath. Keeps their color all summer. Daisy-like, golden orange flowers appear in mid to late summer. 3-4X2-3' wide. Moist to wet organic-rich soil. Partial shade. Zones 4-9.
Ligularia tussilaginea ‘Aureomaculata’ (Now Farfugium japonica ‘Aureomaculata’)\ Leopard Plant
Broad, 6-10” wide evergreen leaves that are thick and rather leathery. Leaves are speckled and blotched with cream or yellow, rising on 1-2’ stems from rootstock. A few yellow rayed, 1-2” wide, flower heads rise from stalks that are 1-2’ tall. Does best in partial shade and good humus-rich garden soil that is kept evenly moist. Will wilt with summer heat, but quickly recovers as the sun sets and temperatures fall. Grows 2-3’ tall and as wide. Zone 7.
Ligularia tussilaginea 'Cristata' (Now Farfugium japonica ‘Cristata’) \ Leopard Plant
Gary-green foliage is rimmed with pink highlights on the crested ruffled edges. Very unusual. Grows 2X3’ wide. Yellow, daisy-like flowers in summer. Good humus-rich garden soil. Partial shade. Zone 6.
Lobelia cardinalis \ Cardinal Flower
(lo-BEE-le-ah)
µTexas Nativeµ Dark green, 3-4” long, irregularly toothed leaves. Red flowers are 1˝” wide with the lower lip consisting of three distinct lobes bent downward. Requires rich, moist, well-drained soil in part shade. Late summer bloomer. Average height is 3’. Zones 2-9.
Lobelia fulgens ‘Queen Victoria’
Brilliant red flowers over bronze foliage. Plants can grow to 5’ tall. Requires rich moist soil in part shade. Late summer bloomer. Good cut flowers. Zone 2.
Lythrum \ Loosestrife
(LITH-rum)
Upright plant with branching stems and slightly hairy, lance-shaped, willow-like leaves. Terminal spikes carry whorls of flowers. Plants are tolerant of heat and humidity. Moist, well-drained soil in full sun is preferred. Used for cut flowers. Zone 3.
L. salicaria ‘Happy’
May be the best choice for a small garden. Only 15-18” tall with dark pink flowers.
L. salicaria ‘Robert’
Rose red flowers on a compact plant growing only 2’ tall.
L. salicaria ‘Morden Pink’
A bright pink, growing 2-3’ tall and 2’ wide.
L. virgatum ‘Dropmore Purple’
One of the best cultivars of the species. Summer blooms of rose-purple flowers on 2˝’ tall stems.
Malephora lutea \ Rocky Point Ice Plant
Bright yellow flowers on an evergreen groundcover. Succulent leaves are narrow and 1" long. Grows 10-12" tall with a 4' spread. Low to moderate water requirements and well-drained soil. Full sun, part shade. Zone 8.
Malpighia glabra \ Barbados Cherry
µTexas Nativeµ This shrub will take shearing to the point of using as a topiary, or make a hedge as low as three inches. Left alone, will make a soft accent shrub. Usually grows to 9’ tall with ˝", white to pale pink flowers. Fast growing, producing small cherries that birds relish. Evergreen where temperatures stay above 25şF. Does best in sand, loam or clay that stays moist, but well-drained. Dappled shade, part shade or full sun. Zone 8.
Malva sylvestris 'Zebrina' \ Hollyhock
Single, 2”, saucer-shaped flowers are striped in purple, on long spikes. Summer bloomer in any well-drained soil. Grows to 36” high. A good cut flower. Full sun. Zone 2.
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii \ Turk’s Cap
(mal-vah-VIS-cus)
µTexas Nativeµ Grows in most any well-drained soil and exposures, ranging from full sun to shade. Small, red, turban-shaped blooms are produced on top of each stem of dark green leaves. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Grows 36x30”. Root hardy to Zone 7, but dies back to the ground each year except in Zone 9.
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii ‘Alba’ \ White Turk’s Cap
µTexas Nativeµ This herbaceous perennial grows 36x30” in sun or shade with all summer white flowers, instead of the typical red,. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Zone 8.
Melampodium leucanthum \ Blackfoot Daisy
(mel-am-POH-dee-um loo-KAN-thum)
µTexas Nativeµ Starts blooming early in spring and will continue all summer. Small white flowers have yellow centers. Grows 4-12” tall and prefers excellent drainage in sun or part sun. Evergreen in mild winters. Sunshi
Mentha requienii \ Corsican Mint
Very small, low growing mint that is excellent between paving stones and in herb walks. Contains menthol that produces a very strong mint scent when stepped on. Evergreen growing ˝ X 8”. Requires protection from hot sun and needs plenty of water, with very well-drained soil. Zone 6.
Monarda \ Bee Balm
Simple leaves are topped by crown-studded and lipped, bright flowers on square stems. Blooms from summer into fall. Grow in full sun as it tends to be floppy and spreads faster in shade. Likes moist, well-drained soil, and is not drought tolerant. Early settlers near Oswego, NY, used the leaves of Monarda didyma to brew tea. Monarda was routinely included in herbal gardens. Bee balm is derived from the balmy fragrance of crushed leaves and the attraction of bees. Hummingbirds also love this plant. Zones 4-9.
M. bartlettii ‘Raspberry Fuzz’
Green leaves that feel like velvet beautifully accent raspberry-red flowers of this cultivar. The 18" stalk is branched. Very heat tolerant. Zones 6-9.
M. ‘Gardenview Scarlet’
Rich, red flowers that bloom in the summer on plants reaching 2-4’ high and about 3’ wide. Mildew resistant.
.M. ‘Marshall’s Delight’
A pink flowering, mildew resistant variety. To 36” tall.
M. ‘Prairie Night’ (‘Prarienacht’)
Red-violet flowers that bloom in summer. Usual height is 3-4’ and 3’ wide.
M. pringlei \ Pringle’s Beebalm
This native of Mexico has scarlet flowers on 15” sturdy stems that do not topple with the weight of the large flowers. Blooming from mid-spring to mid-summer, this hummingbird attractor grows best in dappled or afternoon shade. A rosette of dark green foliage persists in the winter. Zone 7.
Nepeta x faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’ \ Catmint
A 3’ tall herb with leaves 1˝“ long on erect stems. Flowers are ˝” wide, blue-violet and bloom in spring and early summer. Grow in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Name may be derived from the Roman town Nepeti where it was once cultivated. Zone 3.
Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ \ Catmint
Blue-purple spikes over gray-green foliage. Aromatic blooms are consistent from late spring to early fall. Grows 14X24” wide. Most any well-drained soil. Full sun. Zone 4. 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year..
Nierembergia caerulea ‘Purple Robe’ \ Cupflower
(ne-rem-BER-gi-a)
Violet-blue, 5/8” cup-shaped flowers with simple 1” leaves, bloom freely during the summer with lasting color. Has rounded growth habit at 6-9” A tender perennial grown as an annual. Fantastic performer for edging, window boxes and rock gardens. Nierembergia is named for Juan Nieremberg, a 16th century Spanish Jesuit. Zone 8.
Oenothera macrocarpa \ Yellow Evening Primrose
(ee-NOTH-er-ah)
µTexas Nativeµ Flowers are canary yellow, 3-4” wide, with petals slightly toothed and having a mild fragrance. Plants tolerate poor soil, but must have good drainage to avoid root rot. The trailing growth habit and a height of 12” make it a natural for raised bed or rock gardens. Full sun. Zones 3-7.
Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. incana 'Silver Blade'™ \ Evening Primrose
Clear yellow flowers set off the beautiful silver leaves on this 6-10" tall by 15-18" wide plant. Blooms from spring to frost. Best in well-drained soils. Full sun. Zone 4.
Oenothera speciosa \ Pink Evening Primrose
µTexas Nativeµ Beautiful 2” pink, cup-like flowers come alive in spring. Plants are almost evergreen and adapt to most any well-drained soil in full or part sun. Grows 1-2’ in height with a 1’ spread. Sometimes goes dormant in summer. Zones 3-7.
Oxalis \ Shamrock
Compact evergreen clover-like leaves with small flowers. Prefers rich, well-drained soil and plenty of water. Plant in full or part sun. Zone 4.
O. bowiei
Beautiful rose pink, 1˝-2" wide flowers bloom over green shamrock leaves, that are thicker than normal species. Grows to 1' tall. A South African native plant that blooms early spring and summer and again in autumn. Can be used in hanging baskets or as a ground cover. Zone 8.
O. braziliensis
Purplish-pink flowers about 1" across have yellow centers and bloom in spring. Clover-like, three parted leaves rise 2-3" above the ground. Zone 8.
O. crassipes ‘Alba’ \ White Oxalis
µTexas Nativeµ This selection provides white flowers that can be used in any garden scheme. Light gray striations on green leaves replace the wine penciling on the common form. Grows to 12” tall.
O. crassipes ‘Rosea’ \ Pink Oxalis
Pink flowers bloom in late spring, and again in fall. Lightly felted, green clover-like leaves make handsome mounds even when not in bloom.
O. regnellii ‘Triangularis’
Beautiful, purplish leaflets shaped like triangles, bloom in groups of three. Clusters of small, cup-shaped, pink flowers open from spring until frost. Grows 12x12". Needs well-drained, humus rich, moderately fertile soil. Zone 6.
