Frostweed

Partial sun. A unique herbaceous biennial with large, soft leaves and plentiful white flowerheads in autumn. It’s in early winter that frostweed is most memorable: with the first freeze of the year, the stems transform into billowing ice sculptures.

The autumn flowers are terrific for attracting butterflies, and can be growing wild across south-central Texas. Best planted by seed, frostweed is also available from specialty native growers. Use it in the wildscape among tough shade natives like chile pequin, Turk’s cap and inland sea oats.