Allamanda - The Allamanda is a tropical plant that must be treated as an annual in the Houston area. The Allamanda is native to Brazil and can survive some of our milder winters but will not last for long if planted in the ground and left unprotected. Allamanda has a shrub version as well as a more common vine type. The vining type can grow up to 10 feet tall while the shrub version stays smaller. Vigorous bloomer with beautiful yellow blooms. This plant is strongly recommended because of the flowers it gives in the late spring and through the summer.

Begonia - This low growing, flowering perennial is successful in the Houston area. Flower colors range from whites to pinks to purples. Supply enough water and they will accept our heat..

Blackberry Try the Brazos variety in Houston. It has a larger seed but thrives in our area.

Butterfly Bush This purple bloomed perennial shrub is a great choice for when you want to attract butterflies. It can grow to a heigth and width of about 5 feet.

Cigar Plant (Cuphea ignea). Perennial. This plant gets to about 18 inches high. It has small red tubular flowers. Long bloom season. It is an impressive plant in the landscape. Not bothered by cold or diseases.

Cypress Vine (Ipomoea quamoclit). Fast growing annual. This is a wonderful vine. It has a airy, fern-like look with tiny star-shaped red flowers. It is a great plant for an arbor. No thorns, very prolific, disease-free and cute flowers. Although an annual, it usualy comes back from the prior plant's seeds. Try it.

Thunbergia Grandiflora Acanthaceae grandiflora). Perennial vine. Beautiful purple flowers in fall, winter and spring. Comes back from its roots if frozen. Easily grows to ten feet in one year. Large leaves. Striking vine for a fence.

Dianthus Bath's Pink (Dianthus gratianopolitanus 'Bath's Pink') Perennial groundcover. Grows to about 4 inches high. Spreads to about ten inches. Pink blooms. Part to full sun. Needs well-drained soil. Dianthus gives a "grass-like" effect without having to be mowed. Not invasive.

Dwarf Crapemyrtle, 'Baton Rouge' Lagerstroemia indica 'Baton Rouge'). Perennial shrub in Houston. This is a dwarf version of the standard carpemyrtle. "Baton Rouge" has pink blooms. Very susceptible to fungal attacks. Wonderful blooms throughout summer. Grows to about two feet high.

Esperanza (Tecoma stans 'lonestar') Planted in the ground and grows about 6 to 7 feet tall. Lots of brilliant yellow blooms. Can be planted in a pot. The variation 'augustata' is reputed by several sources to do best in our area. This is one of the best yellow-blooming plants/small trees. Also commonlly called Yellow Bells.

Firebush (Hamelia patens). Perennial to three feet high and wide in our garden. Full sun. Freezes to the ground if we get an especially cold winter. It will come back, although it does not bloom until mid-summer if it freezes. Blooms last well into fall. The fact that hummingbirds like this plant accounts for its common name of "hummingbird bush." Purchased April, 1992.

French Hollyhocks (Althea zabrina). Perennial. Height 18 to 36 inches. Flowers are a gorgeous white with purple stripes. Full sun. This bloom will draw comments. Grown by Thomas Jefferson.

Giant Turk's Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus). Perennial. This plant gets big. Ours is at least five feet across and 3-1/2 feet tall. Hummers like it. Lots of blooms. Will freeze back but is root hardy. Prune in spring to keep it in bounds and spur on more blooms. This is the species version of Turk's Cap. Malvaviscus arboreus 'Drummondii' is a more commonly sold version (and is usually sold as simply "Turk's Cap"). The difference is in the size of the plants (Drummondii is smaller) and the Drummondii blooms are "upright" while the Giant Turk's Cap blooms usually droop down (and are longer).

Honey Babe Minature Peach(Prunus persica). This is a self-fruitful freestone peach. This minature grows to 5 feet in height. 500 chill hours. Ripe in mid-July. Planted in February, 1997.

Katie Ruellia Think of coarse bladed grass with lots of pretty purple or white blooms from spring until fall. This is a great ground cover that spreads but is easy to control. It can survive tough times but will reward you with better growth and a lot more flowers if you keep it well watered. If the growth gets thin or spindly you can pinch it back or cut it near the ground and it will make the plant bushier. Only 9 to 12" tall.

Mid-Pride Peach (Prunus persica) This is considered the best freestone peach for Houston. 250 chill hours. Ours is grafted onto Nemaguard rootstock. It can grow to 15 to 25 feet. Self fruitful. Planted in February, 1997.

Pentas These flowers are made for Houston. They may need a bit of protection from hard freezes but will usually make it through our 'normal' winters. There are several varieties that offer plants of different heights as well as bloom colors (whites, pinks and reds). Be sure to include these among your selections.

Red Bud Tree The state tree of Oklahoma also grows well in Houston. It is one of the earliest flowering trees each spring. Red Buds tend to be medium sized or 'under-canopy' trees that can be great specimen plants in your landscape. The spring flowers are dark pink in color.

Rosemary This fragrant herb grows as an evergreen shrub. It grows best in full sun but will grow at a slower rate in partial shade. It is hardy, easy to grow and great for use in the kitchen.

Stokes Aster (Stokesia laevis). Perennial. Blooms in the fall. This plant can get hugh. Onle of ours in the front covers an area six feet across. Very dramatic when in full bloom. Hundreds of blue flowers about 1-1/2" inches in diameter. Fall bloom begins in October. Requires good drainage.

Texas Sabal Palm (Sabal texana). This is the most freeze tolerant palm for Houston. This is a fan palm with great dignity. It is a little hard to find at most nurseries but its cold hardiness makes it worth looking for.