PERENNIALS
T-Z
Tagetes lemmonii \ Copper Canyon Daisy
(ta-JEE-teez)
Late blooming, shrub-like daisy with olfactory challenging foliage. Golden-yellow blooms begin mid-summer. Does best in well-drained soils, will grow in chalky areas. Goes dormant in winter. Full sun. Zone 8.
Tagetes lucida \ Mexican Mint Marigold
Simple lance-shape licorice scented leaves have slightly serrated margins. Blooms from fall to frost with clusters of golden yellow, single flowers. Grows 24-36” in height. Best in well-drained soil. Full sun to part shade. Good as cutting flower. Zone 8.
Tetraneuris scaposa \ 4-Nerve Daisy
(teh-trah-NUR-us scah-POS-ah)
µTexas Nativeµ This drought tolerant, yellow daisy-like flower has blooms 1-2” across, from spring to mid-summer. In fall it will bloom again for a final display. The four veins are clearly visible on the petals, giving it its common name. Producing smooth shiny, pale green narrow leaves, the plants can grow to 12”. Plant in full sun where soil is well-drained. Zone 5.
Teucrium chamaedrys \ Germander
Rosy-purple flowers. Compact shrubby plant resembling dwarf Boxwood, that will take the shearing to make a great knot garden. Grows 10-15” tall with a 2’ spread. Evergreen, preferring moist well-drained soil. Full or part sun. Aromatic foliage. Zone 5.
Teucrium chamaedrys ‘Prostratum’ \ Creeping Germander
Evergreen with deep green leaves and rosy-purple flowers in late summer. A good low grower, 10-12” with a 2’ spread. Drought tolerant. Thrives in poor, rocky soils, sun and heat. Zone 5.
Thymus ‘Elfin’ \ Creeping Thyme
The tiniest of thymes in a trailing groundcover growth habit with minute, rounded leaves. Forms small tufts resembling moss. Pink flowers in spring. Leaves turn burgundy color in winter. Great between flagstones. Needs regular watering. Zone 5.
Thymus praecox ‘Pink Chintz’ \ Creeping Thyme
Leaves are a deep, olive green color. One of the smallest of thymes with soft pink flowers that bloom in summer. Grows 1-2x12”. Use ordinary garden soil in full sun. Zone 5.
Thymus pseudolanuginosus \ Woolly Thyme
Creeping habit, forming dense carpet of small 1/8" wide, gray, pubescent leaves. Often no more than ˝" tall, but will spread 1-2'. Flowers are sparse, small, pale pink, appearing in summer. Loose, sandy or rocky soils with excellent drainage provides best conditions for growth. Full sun. Zone 6.
Tradescantia \ Spider Wort
Three petaled flowers with blade-life leaves.. Prolific bloomers all summer. Plant in average to rich, moist, but well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. Zones 4-9.
T. ‘Alba Major’
White flowers on 24” tall plants.
T. ‘Concord Grape’
Rich purple flowers up to 1 ˝” wide with frosty blue foliage.
T. andersoniana ‘Zwanenburg Blue’
Very large, deep blue flowers on this selection that grows to 20” in height. Zone 7.
Tricyrtis hirta ‘Miyazaki’ \ Toad Lily
The amphibian reference is to the blotches and markings on the flowers. Genus name comes from Greek for “three” and “convex”. The 3 outer petals have swellings or tiny bags at the base of the flowers. Upright 2’ tall arching stems have purple-blotched flowers. Blooms from summer to early fall. Performs best in partial shade in moist areas, rich in organic matter. Place this unique perennial where it can be closely observed. Zones 4-8.
Tricyrtis formosana 'Amethystina' \ Toad Lily
From mid-summer to fall, clump is topped with large terminal sprays of 1" wide, white, orchid-like flowers with tips the color of amethysts. Grows 3' tall. Part sun, light shade. Moist, organic soil. Zone 4.
Tulbaghia violacea \ Society Garlic
(tool-BOG-ee-uh)
An herb with bluish-green, grass-like, narrow leaves up to 12” long. Light lavender, umbel-shaped flowers bloom on 18-24” stems. Produces a strong garlic scent. Sandy soil, adaptable to other types. Full sun. Zone 8.
Tulbaghia violacea ‘Variegata’
Same cultural traits as species with pinkish lavender blooms and cream colored edging on leaves.
Verbena \ Vervain
The tubular flowers have flat, 5-petaled faces and are carried in flat or spiky terminal clusters on wiry stems. Verbenas are tough, heat and drought tolerant perennials that bloom tirelessly during the summer. Well-drained sandy or loamy soil in full sun or light shade. Zone 7 unless otherwise indicated.
V. ‘Apple Blossom’
Spring brings salmon color blooms that turn pink as the season progresses. Grows 8-12” tall. Needs sun to partial shade in well-drained soil. Zone 8.
V. ‘Mabel’s Maroon’
Deep “Aggie” maroon flowers make this a great landscape addition. Plant in well-drained sandy or loamy soil.
V. bonariensis \ Tall Verbena
Native to Brazil and Argentina, but has naturalized in much of southeastern United States, including Texas. A taller selection that can be used in the middle or back of the garden. Blooms from spring to frost with wands of tiny-electric lavender flowers on 3-4’ stems. Full sun. Well-drained soil. Zone 6.
V. canadensis ‘Alba’
Plants reach 6-10” and have large, clear white flowers. Plant in sunny location with excellent drainage. Zones 6-10.
V. canadensis ‘Homestead Purple’
Plants reach 6-10” and have large, dark purple flowers.
V. elegans \ Dark Pink Verbena
Vibrant dark pink blooms on 12” tall plants.
V. rigida (Purple) \ West Texas Purple
Native of South America that has naturalized in Texas, and southern United States. Grows 1-2’ tall with spread 3-4’, with purple flowers. Well-drained to dry soils. Our West Texas source informs us this one is great for growing in gravelly soil. Zone 7.
V. tenera ‘Tex Tuf Red’
With a name like ‘Tex Tuf’ you can pretty much figure this one is made for the heat. It’s low growing, with fern-like foliage, and bright red flowers. Full sun, at least 8-10 hours, in the best-draining soil you can find.
V. tenuisecta \ Moss Verbena
µTexas Nativeµ A spreading variety with ˝” wide purple/lavender flowers. Fern-like leaves. Grows 8-12” tall in well-drained sandy or loamy soil in full sun or light shade. Zone 5.
V. x hybrida ‘Blue Princess’
Slightly fragrant flowers are bluish-lavender on this robust verbena that was introduced from England by Greg Grant. This tough perennial returns season after season blooming throughout the summer and into the fall. Very aggressive and will spread rapidly.
Veronica \ Speedwell
In Ireland, a bit of the plant was pinned to travelers’ clothing to “speed you well” in their travels. The flowers were named for St. Veronica. The small Ľ” flowers are packed tightly into 6” terminal racemes. Plants grow 12-18” tall in clumps 18” wide. Begins blooming in early summer. Performs best in full sun to partial shade in well-drained soils. Zones 3-7
V. peduncularis ‘Georgia Blue’
Has very small dark green rounded foliage that lays flat on the ground making a nice mat; not weedy. Reaches a height of 12” and blooms from spring to early summer with an abundance of medium blue flowers. Sun to part shade.
V. spicata ‘Rotfuchs’ (‘Red Fox’)
Rose colored bloom, 12-15” tall.
V. ‘Sunny Border Blue’
A good long-bloomer, summer to hard frost, in violet blue. Grows to 20” tall. 1993 Perennial Plant of the Year.
Viguiera stenoloba \ Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye
µTexas Nativeµ Forms a mound of deep-yellow daisies 2-3’ tall. This West Texas native prefers full or part sun and good drainage. Flower heads are 1” across on slender stalks. The leaves have a narrow groove running down the center of each narrow leaflet. Zone 8.
Viola \ Sweet Violet
Viola’s are particularly effective in moist shady places. The foliage is produced throughout the year providing an effective groundcover. Grows 3-6” tall and 12” wide. Zones 4-9.
V. labradorica \ Labrador Violet
A dainty, compact violet with dark green leaves tinged with purple. Grows only about 3” high with lavender to violet flowers in the spring.
V. missiourensis \ Wood Violet
µTexas Nativeµ Lavender, purple or white 1” wide flowers bloom in early spring. Grows 2-6” tall. Shade, well-drained-soil. Zone 7.
V. obliqua ‘Royal Robe’
Very fragrant, deep violet-blue flowers on 4-6” tall flower stems.
V. obliqua ‘White Czar’
Lovely white fragrant flowers with a yellow center and dark netted markings in the throat. May tolerate more sun than the species.
