What's the best flower/plant to grow in Texas?

Susan
by Susan

I know that opinions vary, but what's your opinion?!

I have great luck w Rosemary plants. Green all year long.


  49 answers
  • Mary Mary on Mar 21, 2017

    We use to live in Houston and planted begonia, bougainvillea, crepe myrtle tree and had blooms most of the year. Gardenia's do well in the morning sun and will bloom till first frost. The hot sun will wilt the flowers sooner. Petunia's bloom till the first frost but require water twice a day. There are others like Amarillo's but they only bloom once. Magnolia's do well. i just like flowers all the time.

  • Shi21380839 Shi21380839 on Mar 21, 2017

    The YELLOW ROSE!

  • Shoshana Shoshana on Mar 15, 2017

    Oxblood lilies and Mexican petunias are two favorites of mine!

  • JEWEL C JEWEL C on Mar 26, 2017

    I love the Blue Bonnet.

  • 3po3 3po3 on Mar 13, 2012
    I would contact your local cooperative extension office. They can help you optimize your soil, and help you choose the right plants for your site. Also keep in mind that even fairly drought-tolerant plants typically need some additional watering the first year or two after planting.
  • Amending the soil to improve its current condition is the key. This way the water can sink in as well as drain better. Roses do need ample water two to three times per week and are heavy feeders, hence a bloom booster every 10-14 days. Check out the Antique Rose Emporium in Texas for the best advice about roses and other flowers in your area. Also the Master Gardeners at the Extension office.

  • Bridget Bridget on Mar 19, 2017

    Fellow Texan here :)

    Sun: Texas sage, of course roses, lantana, foxtail fern, asparagus fern, sometimes marigolds and geraniums, gardenia, ginger (the variegated is so pretty), plumbago, liriope (sp?), hibiscus, agapanthus (LOVE THESE), elephant ears, zinnias (usually seed out), daisies, coneflower, day lilies (actually all kinds of lillies-so beautiful); amaryllis; tulips, daffodils, narcissus, gladiolus, 4 o'clocks (seed out), canna, Mexican heather, "firecracker bush(?)", bottle brush bush (?) something like that; dianthus; Passion flower, clematis, trumpet, mandevilla (all vines)-I may be wrong on the mandevilla, may not come back...lilac bush, rosemary, sago palm, of course crepe myrtles and oleander.. some of these plants can get as big as trees almost (definitely the crepe myrtle but you probably knew that) BUT you can sometimes get dwarf versions of plants.... also if have nice neighbors, sometimes they'll give you some of these, as some of them need to be thinned out periodically such as canna, liriope, daylillies, sago, --heck, most of them, actually. And many of them produce seeds like crazy.... that ought to get you started for sun plants!

    Shade:

    some of the sun plants will also do ok in shade, especially if it's dappled shade (at least where I am, near Houston); but for sure-azaleas, nandina, ferns, sometimes if you mulch it real well in winter impatiens will come back (and there are different varieties); wrought iron plant, various ivies, leather leaf fern (popular in arrangements), caladiums-so many possibilities with these-so many colors!) sometimes coleus will come back-there's also a sun version of these that are real pretty), jasmine (vine)--hostas and hydrangeas are just beautiful further north but I personally haven't had great luck with these down here... honestly I'm kind of stumped on shade plants... I'm sure I'm missing a bunch but hopefully this helps you!

    • Daisy@TX Daisy@TX on Mar 14, 2024

      Did you mean cast iron plant? Does well in shade but need adequate drainage snd good soil. I agree with your picks. Add Texas Star such a beautiful flower.

  • Frankzare4u Frankzare4u on Feb 14, 2018

    try herbs; basil makes a great bush.

  • Debbe Debbe on Feb 15, 2018

    Mulch heavy as I know I live in Texas too ! Another is Texas sage it has a blue gray color and blooms little blue flowers

  • Kim Kim on Feb 15, 2018

    If you are looking for a flowering bush that has many different heights and colors look at crepe myrtle. They bloom in the summer and are beautiful.

  • Christina Christina on Feb 15, 2018

    I lived in Dallas for many years and we planted Lantana ,it lived the heat and came back every year.

  • Mary Lou Mary Lou on Feb 15, 2018

    When I lived in hot, dry Riverside my rose bushes were six feet tall and bloomed profusely. When I moved to the beach area they barely survive. One other success I had in Riverside was Gardenia bushes. Great fragrance! Hope this helps

  • Melanie Melanie on Feb 15, 2018

    I live in North Texas, south of Fort Worth/Dallas. Japanese boxwood and crepe myrtle work pretty well and you also don't have to water them much after they are established except when it gets really dry (end of August). Good luck!

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Apr 29, 2018

    You want to pick plants that won't need a lot of watering. Also, I know soil varies depending on where you live. My family lived in Amarillo for generations, and my daughter did her Masters in El Paso. My grandmother always had a small flower bed next to her house, where it got some shade during the hottest part of the day. Look for native plants that are drought resistant. I used to love the Poinsettias and sunflowers that grew in Northern Texas. In El Paso, desert type landscaping was very popular. There was grass in areas, trees, and flowers, but, they took water and upkeep. The clever thing I saw was again, the use of areas that got less sun during part of the day. A local nursery will be a wealth of information.

  • Teri Teri on Apr 30, 2018

    I agree with Cynthia. Go with native flowers and plants. I was told by a well known Horticulturist that Lantana was drought resistant. Not! It needs water just like any other flowering bush or plant. During a drought in East Texas, the Gardenias, Azaleas, Mountain Laurel showed little stress to the drought. Everything else just barely survived even though we watered them. I hope we don’t have to go through another one of those. There were forest fires all around us! Very scary!

  • Fiddledd224 Fiddledd224 on Apr 30, 2018

    Go to your local nursery. They only stock what grows well in your region.

  • Kcg8744383 Kcg8744383 on Oct 14, 2017

    I have the same problem. I planted zinnias and they have been great. They have been self-seeding, so that's cheap! Also, I tried lavender and it has been thriving for years. My south facing house gets so hot I have to open the storm door with my shirt tail.

  • Cyk28917817 Cyk28917817 on Oct 14, 2017

    Marigolds are great, they self seed but they like water every day


  • Susan Susan on Oct 14, 2017

    Portulaca is called Desert Rose. Many vibrant colors! They could probably be perennials there.

  • Teressa Teressa on Oct 14, 2017

    If it’s for the late afternoon sun I use Lantanas and Sweet Williams. Also Cannas and Snap Dragons love the sun. I also live in Texas and my back yard is the hot afternoon sun. These are just a few that I use.


    • Daisy@TX Daisy@TX on Mar 14, 2024

      The yellow trailing lantana and the purple grow very well in Texas. The bush types grow well and in some areas say Annuals but they come back every year. I've had some for 20 years.

  • Bijous Bijous on Oct 14, 2017

    Lantana. It will come back every year and can take quite a beating. Native.

  • Mary McCormick Mary McCormick on Oct 14, 2017

    Plumbago - a shrub-like plant that has a lovey blue flower and flourishes in sun. It may tend to take over, but should be pruned back in winter.

  • Joan Stanley Joan Stanley on Jan 16, 2019

    Depends on where in Texas. All types of weather and soil in this state. Alkaline, acidic, sand, clay, rocks and kalachi, wetlands and desert. Cold winters to no winters.

  • 1401470 1401470 on Jan 16, 2019

    I use to be a florist and in the early years was surprised how many flowers have no scent. Living in Texas you have a nice growing season and scented roses would be a good place to begin. Other blooming plants would include jasmine, honeysuckle, gardenias to name a few. If you're looking for cut flowers peonies, lavender, phlox, sweet peas (short season) would also be options.


    With that being said you can grow an abundance of neat flowers down here that don't smell and then fill in with scented herb plants.


    Come on over and visit my blog you may find some fun ideas there, I also live in Texas.

    https://www.gardenupgreen.com/

  • Within the Grove Within the Grove on Jan 26, 2019

    Try the White Honeysuckle plant! It smells so good and should grow well in Texas!

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 23, 2017

    Lantana,Verbena,and blue sage is all I am able to find

  • Jeremy Hoffpauir Jeremy Hoffpauir on Sep 28, 2018

    Corn Flowers, Fall Asters, Petunias, and Blue Bonnets.

  • Toni Toni on Sep 28, 2018

    Camellia tree

  • Jewellmartin Jewellmartin on Mar 13, 2018

    Go for silk bushes, sprayed with sealing spray. Plant hardy landscaping grasses and bushes and set up a bed of silk bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush. Or silk daisies or roses. Succulents need some shade in Texas, but are very hardy. Some cacti do not have thorns. Many roses are hardy and bloom for months. Or you could forget most flowers. Have lots of shrubs, and prairies grasses, but have colorful benches and yard art and birdhouses. But I’m not kidding about the silk. ☺️

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 01, 2022

    Ask your nearest Garden Centre , I'm sure they will be able to help!

  • Chloe Crabtree Chloe Crabtree on Mar 22, 2022

    • Try one of these: blue salvia farinacea flower.
    • yellow columbine flowers.
    • lord baltimore hibuscus red flower.
    • red sleeping hibiscus flower.
    • plumbago purple flower.
    • salvia mystic spires flowers.
    • chinkapin oak tree.
    • Ilex decidua possumhaw red berry tree.


  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Mar 31, 2022

    Marigold for sure can handle heat

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Apr 07, 2022

    You must have heard of the song...Yellow Rose of Texas?

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Apr 30, 2022

    Wish I can help

  • Mogie Mogie on Sep 20, 2022

    We used shade cloth and covered the patio making a humid place for bromeliads and orchids.

    So the answer depends on what you like and your ability to make the area around something they will thrive in.

    Also the twice daily showers were good for the humidity but never water plants at night it just encourages diseases.

  • Check with your local Cooperative extension for the best advice.

  • Joan Stanley Joan Stanley on Mar 25, 2023

    It really depends on what area of Texas you're in. East Texas soil is acidic and grows most everything beautifully. But the farther west you go, the more alkaline the soil and less grows well. So it's best to check with a reputable gardening store for advice.

  • My best friend lives in Texas and she love her Oakleaf hydrangeas. The are gorgeous and huge and do well in the heat.

  • Deb K Deb K on May 19, 2023

    Hi kim, hope this helps you out. These flowers bloom all summer long in Texas.

    • Zexmenia (Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida)
    • Esperanza (Tecoma stans)
    • Gregg's Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)
    • Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus)
    • Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
    • Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea)
    • Texas Lantana (Lantana urticoides)


  • Dee Dee on Jul 27, 2023

    Pine trees grow nicely, but are a mess in August when they shed. I have Oleanders that I absoutely love and they even made it thru the February freeze. Rose-a-sharon bushes grow nicely as well as red tip Photinia.

  • Mogie Mogie on Aug 16, 2023

    If you want to be different and a bit exotic orchids. Just provide indirect sun (shade cloth works great) and mist them several times a day. Used to have half of the patio devouted to plants outside in texas.

  • Janice Janice on Oct 09, 2023

    Check with you County Extension Agent's office. They can advise you on what grows best in your particular area.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Jan 23, 2024

    All I can add is my best wishes - Enjoy the Project!

  • Annie Annie on Jan 29, 2024

    This video might have some good ideas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiI5kPeJbGI

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Mar 06, 2024

    Check into Encore Azaleas. They are a nice bush and bloom in 7b Alabama from spring to end of October. They are low maintenance and very hearty.

  • Daisy@TX Daisy@TX on Mar 14, 2024

    Moonflower, Mallow, Peruvian Lilly, really all Lillie's ex: Stella de Oro, Purple de Oro, Irises, Daffodils, Cannas tall and dwarfs. Crinnum there are so many I have had good luck with these and more. Good luck.