Forever Gardens Drought List
Common Name | Botanical | Bloom | Foliage | Size | Lighting | Comments | Wildlife |
Flame Acanthus | Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii | Tubular red/orange flowers mid summer to frost. | Deciduous | 3-4X3-4 | Full sun to part shade | Native deciduous shrub. Will self sow readily if over irrigated. | Deer Resisitant; Hummingbird magnet! |
Thryallis; Golden Showers | Galphimia glauca | Delicate yellow spikes summer – fall. | Deciduous;1-2″ dark green oval | 4-6X4-6 | Full sun to part shade | Very hardy deciduous perennial; native to tropics where it is evergreen; makes a great back drop for lower plants. | Deer Resisitant |
Jerusalem Sage | Phlomis fruticosa | Soft yellow bloom spikes spring -early summer | Evergreen; Silver green; fuzzy (similar to lamb’s ear) | 2-3’X3 or larger | Full sun to part shade | Not a true salvia, but very hardy & tolerant of neglect; looks good year long. | Deer Resisitant |
Crinum Lily | Crinim spp. | Very fragrant, large lilylike blooms. Bloom time varies among varieties – spring or summer. Shades of white, pink and rose. | Wide strap leaves have very bold texture | 2X2-4 | Sun to part shade | Wonderful heirloom plant. Survives the severest droughts with large deep bulbs. Often seen on old homestead sites and cemeteries. Several varieties exist – but that could be a show by itself! | Not deer resistant! |
Texas Sage; Cenizo; Purple Sage | Leucophyllum frutescens | White to orchid, but usually associated with purple flowers. Known as a barometer plant because it blooms heavily just before/after rain. | Pale silver to light green. | 4-8X4-8 | Full sun | Native range: Texas to Mexico. Several varieties are now available. Common Silverado & Green Cloud; Convent – has dark purple flowers; San Jose Cenizo has lavender blue flowers. | Deer resistant |
Abelia spp. | Abelia grandiflora | White to pink spring-fall | Bright green turning bronze in cooler months. | 3-8X3-8 | Sun to part shade | Semi evergreen or deciduous depending on winter. Largest varaiety – A. grandiflora, or Glossy Abelia, but many varieties now available – Edward Goucher; Compact; Sherwood; Rose Creek | Deer resistant |
Bridal Wreath Spirea | Spirea spp. | White blooms in early spring. | Deep green; deciduous | 5-7X6-8 | Sun to part shade | Another old fashioned shrub that has stood the test of time. Wonderful show in spring with long cascading branches full of miniature white bouquets. | Deer resistant |
Retama | Parkinsonia aculeate | Yellow blooms spring-summer. | Bright green, very fine, and almost needle like. The trunk and branches of this small tree are also bright green. | 15X20 | Sun | Very airy & soft looking, but actually thorny. Texas native. In West Texas, it”s commonly called Palo Verde. | Deer resistant |
Mexican Buckeye | Ungnadia speciosa | Clusters of fragrant pink/purple flowers appear along the branches, before the foliage emerges, in early spring. Similar to a Red Bud, but larger& fuller. | Deciduous compound foliage. Resembles pecan foliage, but smaller. | 20X20 | Sun to shade | Irregular shaped small tree or large shrub usually with multiple trunks, though it may be trained to be more tree like. Interesting 3 lobed seed pods and yellow foliage in fall. | Usually deer resistant. |
Mexian Plum | Prunus mexicana | White, very fragrant blooms in eary spring. The fragrance will fill the entire yard! Blooms appear before new foliage emerges. | Deciduous leaves; look like most fruit tree foliage. Some yellow fall color. Bark is interesting with stripes/spots of silver. | 20X20 | Sun to shade | Small native fruit tree. The plums are small and very tart, but prized by the birds and deer. This fruit does make the best plum jelly or jam you’ll ever eat. | Deer will graze the foliage when hungry enough. Birds and deer love the fruit. |
Butterfly Vine | Mascagnina macroptera | Clusters of yellow blooms summer – fall. Seed pods look like large green butterflies. | Deciduous vine. Provide trellis or arbor, or train up a tree or post. | Vine | Sun to part shade. The more sun, the better the blooms. | Wonderful deciduous vine. Fantastic summer/fall color and seasonal interest with seed pods. This vine will take a season or 2 to establish and bloom profusely. | Deer resistant |
More Plants from Tricia:
PERENNIALS:
- FLAME ACANTHUS
- MEXICAN OREGANO
- NATIVE LANTANA
- SOUTHERNWOOD ARTEMISIA
- SALVIA GREGGII
- BLUE MIST FLOWER
- ROSEMARY
SHRUBS & VINES:
- AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY
- TRUMPET VINE
- PASSION VINE
- LADY BANKS ROSE
- YAUPON HOLLY & DWARF YAUPON
- CRAPE MYRTLES
TREES:
- TX AND OK REDBUD
- RATTLEBUSH(OR BOX) TREE
- TEXAS MOUNTAIN LAUREL
- RUSTY BLACKHAW VIBURNUM
GRASSES AND CACTI
- RED YUCCA
- PRICKLY PEAR (A FEW VARIETIES)
- AGAVE
- MAIDEN GRASS
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