Texas Superstar Plants | Central Texas Gardener

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Texas Superstar Plants

Cora and Nirvana vinca, Texas Superstar plants

Brent Pemberton from Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M University, showcases these Texas Superstar plants, tested under rigorous conditions to approve them for your garden!

Gold Star Esperanza Tecomastans ‘Gold Star’: perennial that dies to the ground most winters, but returns in spring.

Cora and Nirvana Vinca(annual periwinkle): Plant these summer annuals in late spring for flowers all summer.

Angelonia angustifolia ‘Serena’: Another summer annual to plant in late spring for flowers all summer.

‘Mystic Spires’ Blue Salvia: a perennial that dies back in winter to return in spring. Brings on the butterflies, bees, and other nectaring insects!

Tidal Wave’ Cherry Petunia : an annual or perennial, depending on its site.

Grandma’s Yellow Rose: tough as Grandma on a motorcycle!

Watch for Audray, Las Vegas and All Around and QIS gomphrena, summer annuals that will seed for next year.

Mandevilla ‘Rio’ Pink’, a shrubby form, rather than the usual vine. Usually an annual , unless protected over winter in a greenhouse, garage, indoors in bright light, or other warm space.

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Brent Pemberton

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December To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Hardy perennials, shrubs
Trees
Roses (best time!)
Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage
Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano
Avoid planting rosemary
Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives
Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze

Plant: food crops

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Prune

Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune
Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage
Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately
Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks

Divide/Move

Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant
Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant

Prep

Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost
Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals
Keep that row cover ready! Do not protect plants with plastic!

Lawn

Pluck out early weeds.

Other tasks

Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil
Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down
Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile!
Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched