Staking a claim to its own version of the beautiful and dainty cherry blossoms, Texas proudly boasts of the native, tough and unique dwarf Barbados cherry shrub. It produces small pink and white, slightly fragrant blooms similar to a crepe myrtle, from spring through the fall with small red berries that come along late in the blooming season. The berries are edible but somewhat tart and are also attractive to songbirds. The blooms are highly attractive to hummingbirds, bees and butterflies.

All across the South, their visible love affair with crepe myrtles is very evident. Few trees can match the combination of spectacular, showy summer flowers, colorful autumn foliage and attractive sculptural trunks as the crepe myrtle. They range in size from dwarf selections that grow less than 3 feet tall to several that reach upwards of 30 feet. Know the mature height of a plant before you buy it and plant the proper size for the site. Crepe Myrtles are available in white, lilac, purple and a variety of shades of pink and red.

Putting on a beautiful in late winter/early spring with clusters of tiny magenta buds swelling into showy mauve, pink flowers before the leaves appear, the ornamental redbud’s long-lasting blossoms put on a show for two to three weeks. The trunk of the redbud commonly divides close to the ground, creating an interesting multi-trunk shape with graceful arched branches and a rounded crown. Beautiful heart-shaped leaves bloom a reddish color, turn dark green in summer and then a bright canary yellow in autumn. The flowers also give rise to clusters of beanlike pods that remain on the tree into winter. Adding redbud trees to landscapes is a great way to add brilliant color and visual interest.

What can be more delicious than picking a ripe, ready to eat fresh apple or peach off your own tree. Varieties that are excellent for the central Texas climate are peach, pear, fig, plum, pomegranates, apple and olive among others. While it may seem that fruit trees may seem like too much of a challenge to grow, paying attention to and following planting instructions, most fruit trees will flourish with minimum maintenance. These trees will produce fruit for many years and sometimes lasting into several decades.

The proper number of chilling hours, i.e. the number of hours where the temperature is above 32 degrees and below 45 degrees, are the basic requirements for fruit trees as well as deep soil, space and adequate water. Some fruit trees require a certain number of these chilling hours to come out of dormancy. Fruit producing tress will need full sun exposure as well as good drainage. Be sure to consistently water your tree after planting to insure it has a long and healthy life as well as many fruit bearing years.

Just a handful of states in the US can claim climates that are suitable for planting trees in the middle of winter and in Central Texas, October through March is known as tree planting season. The winters are mild enough that freezing won’t be an issue as the tree will begin sending out roots to its new home before the heat of the summer sets in.

There are many wonderful varieties to choose from but the most popular is the Live Oak: strong, sturdy, and majestic. Live Oaks are drought resistant, easy to care for, and their large, stretching limbs provide lots of shade from the strong Texas summer sun with many reaching widths of 100 feet or more Other varieties popular in this area are Yaupons with their bright red berries during the winter, Crepe Myrtles with their glorious blooms in a variety of colors that signal that summer has arrived, Southern Magnolias with their shiny dark green leaves and elegant cream colored blooms as well as Japanese Maples and Ornamental Pears that turn brilliant colors during the fall.

One of the most popular flowering shrubs with hundreds of varieties that come in a wide range of forms and sizes, nothing is more beautiful than an azalea shrub in spring bloom. These easy-care shrubs come in so many colors it’s hard to find one that doesn’t suit your needs. Azaleas create a perfect background plant in woodland settings, as a border, hedge screening, or they can be planted in containers by themselves or in combination with other plants for multi-seasonal interest. They can be grown in nearly any landscape setting, instantly adding interest and color.

Attractive evergreen shrubs that produce dainty white flowers in the spring, cherry laurels are large and fast-growing and are best known for their sweet-smelling flowers and ability to attract birds to their red, cherry-like fruits which turn black when they've fully matured. The beautiful blooms are also a favorite among butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. The cherry laurel can blend in perfectly with hedges of any shape thanks to its dark green, opaque foliage, and distinctive white flowers.

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A durable and drought tolerant Central Texas native that is perfect plant for tough spots is Red Yucca. It is not a true yucca but close in kin despite its name and form and is more closely related to agaves. The blooms are yellow-throated with red to coral colors on the tubular flowers that are in densely packed clusters. The blooms appear on the tops of tall and sturdy 4 to 6 feet high spikes that start in the spring and last well into the fall. The nectar rich flowers of the Red Yucca are adored by hummingbirds and other pollinators while the evergreen foliage provides purplish winter tones.

Years ago, gardeners would share cuttings from their wandering jew with neighbors and friends, and like the Jews from long ago, the wandering jew would travel from place to place. They have picturesque green, heart-shaped leaves with purple stripes and a silvery sheen to them and can be used as both an indoor and outdoor plant making a striking visual in hanging baskets or pots on decks and patios.

Succulents form a vast and diverse group of tropical plants, offering easy-care choices for your home. They look stunning planted alone or as companions and offer an almost endless color variation, are very tolerant of under watering but will succumb quickly to rotting if overwatered. Brightening any indoor space, they are perfect for forgetful gardeners! Succulents make fantastic easy-care gifts and presents for people, suiting either a home or office desk environment.

With creamy white, feathery plumes and clumps of lush, grass-like foliage, pampa grass makes for an attractive and popular addition to most landscapes. It is native to southern South America and is named for the Pampas region in which it thrives. Pampas grass loves the full sun but will tolerate partial shade as well as drought and wind. It will also grow in a wide range of soil types but prefers moist, well-draining soil. It is a fast grower and does need plenty of room to grow. It works well as a filler for areas of your landscaping that are sparse such as corners of the yard or flowerbeds.

Native to North America, Mexican feather grass, with its delicate, pale green silky flowers which turn wheat-colored at the tips of stems that gracefully move and dance in the blowing wind, is a beautiful choice for softening the look of any landscape. This sun-lover grows 18 to 24 inches tall and is relatively drought resistant. In addition to its delicate attractiveness, it requires little water, mingles easily with other perennial, provides excellent structure in landscapes and gardens year-round and will provide a long-lasting display through the summer.

Native to the Great Plains region, blue grama grass is a low growing grass and is one of the shortest native ornamental grasses. It receives it names from the blue-green seed heads it produces and has a unique look from other ornamental grasses due to the seed heads that appear to be suspended horizontally in the air from the stem. Blue grama grass grows about 12 to 14 inches high and attracts birds and butterflies. It is drought tolerant, loves the full sun and requires very little water. It will tolerate wide range of soil types and is a perfect option for areas of your landscaping that need erosion control.

Nothing says summer like watching the wind blow through the delicate and wispy stalks of ornamental grasses creating soft, soothing sounds and adding a sense of peacefulness to the landscape with their quiet beauty. Along with the expected green, the foliage can be found also in blue, red, and purple and range in types from low mounding to tall plants.

These simple yet elegant plants soften our landscapes with texture, color, and lively movement. Besides the beauty they provide, there are other benefits such as providing shelter and protection for insects and small mammals as well as preventing soil erosion on slopes. Available in varieties such as Pink or Gulf Mulhy, Purple Fountaingrass, Mexican Feathergrass, Blonde Ambition, Big Muhly or Lindheimer, and many more.

With a light, airy pink display that is worthy of a fairy princess, pink mulhy grass is an easy-to-grow, ornamental grass which provides gorgeous late-season color. Its delicate pink plume seed heads completely envelop the foliage in late summer, swaying gently in the late summer and fall breezes. They can be planted en masse, in a patio container or placed between shrubs in the landscape. This beautiful but rugged perennial is deer resistant, thrives in nearly any soil, and tolerates heat, humidity and even drought conditions.

Plant your pink mulhy grass in any type of soil, so long as it drains well. Several can be planted together but space them at least 2 feet apart for an eye-popping effect. The lighting should be as bright and sunny as you can find in your garden or landscaping. With the exception of light trimming if you wish, this grass thrives on cruel neglect. It tolerates rocky soil where there is little organic matter, merciless sun and stretches of dry weather.