Garden Galleries

With a charming informal growth pattern this almond verbena is a large shrub with intensely fragrant white flower clusters from spring to fall. Train as a small tree or restart it from the ground every year to control its large size. A butterfly magnet, almond verbena is seen here with a rare purple hairstreak; attracts storms of eager Lepidoptera (the Butterfly Family) of all kinds.

Mistflowers could actually be called butterfly candy. This blue mistflower is covered in queen butterflies. Plant in sunny areas, sit back and watch the butterfly show.

Butterfly iris has graceful, sword-like foliage and continuously blooms white, purple and yellow flowers that resemble butterflies through most of the year.

This showy San Antonio superstar brings a tropical groove to any landscape without the water. Bright yellow or orange flowers bloom through the heat with no supplemental water once established. Few local plants can outperform esperanza for floral output. They’ve been seen to reach two stories high in San Antonio but can be kept to 3 or 4 feet if you cut it back each year. It is a favorite of hummingbirds and bees, too.

Few plants can outperform esperanza for floral output, as clusters of yellow or orange flowers barrel their way through any summer. Here, a tall blue sage, indigo spires (foreground), appreciates a bit of summer afternoon shade. Both are a favorite of hummingbirds and bees.

There once was a time when this native ground cover was considered a weed. Just goes to show there is beauty to be had everywhere. This little gem can take dry or wet, sun or shade, foot traffic and is great for bees.

This giant crinum pairs well with the split-leaf philodendron. Both add a tropical look to the landscape and are evergreen. They appreciate afternoon shade and will die back in a hard freeze if you don’t cover them or place them in a protected area.

Every San Antonio landscape should have a Texas mountain laurel. Evergreen with thick, round compound leaflets and grape soda-scented flower clusters that bloom in March and April. Caution: the bright red, stone-like seeds are poisonous. This Texas native is very drought- and heat-tolerant. Hint - No fall pruning. Prune only after the blooms finish in late spring.

Small sages, frequently referred to by their genus - salvias, come in all colors. This one is called “Hot Lip” salvia. Other tough selections of salvia, such as autumn sage, tropical sage and little leaf sage, are generally less than 30 inches in height. These sages do well in light shade but will appreciate a little morning sun. They add attractive punches of color and are appealing to hummingbirds and butterflies.

This rose is disease-resistant and easy to grow, even for those who think they can’t grow roses. Knockout roses never lose their leaves so it’s a good choice for those wanting a plant that stays green year-round. Blooms are found in all colors and sizes. This bright red beauty comes with a light tea fragrance.

Tough selections of salvia such as autumn sage, tropical sage and little leaf sage that are generally less than 30 inches in height. These sages add attractive punches of color, but also appeal to hummingbirds and butterflies.

The pomegranate is a large tough, fruiting shrub found in our older neighborhoods where it does well with no supplemental water. It has bright orange blooms and shiny, dark green leaves; large, edible fruit; does well in poor soils.

Bring a little Jurassic Park to your landscape. Not a true palm but a member of the ancient Cycad family of plants, sagos were around with the dinosaurs. These plants have changed little since then. They’re evergreen, long-lived and slow-growing so large ones are valuable. Can get nipped in a frost.

As you can see here, primrose jasmines can take up quite a bit of room and need no additional irrigation. For those of you with a big corner lot,hese are your friends.

Shown here in the shade, the versatile sun or shade tolerant Turk’s cap displays red flowers loved by hummingbirds; may freeze back in cold winters. Once established, needs little to no supplemental water. Leaves may wilt in summer heat especially if planted in the sun.

This showy plant is composed of large, airy, orange-red flowers. This shrub will die back most winters. Cut back each year and it will come back. Pair it with esperanza and blue plumbago if you want a tropical look with not much water. It will thrive in the hottest San Antonio summers.

Spider lilies are an old fashioned flower with white blossoms that appear during mid-summer. Glossy leaves grow in attractive clumps generally up to 2 feet long. They thrive in semi-shady areas. This is a tough plant, but the foliage will melt if not protected during cold snaps.

Sego and split-leaf philodendron pair nicely and appreciate a more sheltered spot. Philodendron in particular do best in shade and need very little water ever, but are susceptible to cold weather so it’s best to locate in areas of your yard that are sheltered, and be prepared to cover them up with sheets during freezing temperatures.

This group of tall blue salvias is in both the sun and shade coupon package. They can reach 5 feet tall and do well in partial shade. They include indigo spires, giant blue sage, mealy cup sage and velvet sage, pictured here with a firebush and Nelson's nolina. All are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds; will generally need to be cut back in winter.

The Texas Persimmon's smooth, gray bark stands out in the landscape when planted in the shade of larger trees. These slow-growing denizens of south Texas provide cover and food for wildlife while being very resistant to drought.

Here is a close-up of the sweet frogfruit flowers on this hardy groundcover.

Tropical Turk’s cap becomes large and leggy so make sure it has room to grow. Does best in the San Antonio area in the central city inside loop 410 and on south side. You can cut them back each year.