Summer Plants for Houston
- Sunflowers love the sun and heat.sun flower image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
Houston's Gulf Coast location means its summers are long, hot and humid, but all that moisture does not translate to more in the ground: The Gulf endures long dry spells and the average yearly rainfall for Texas is only 30 inches. Anyone living and gardening in hot arid climates should be conscious of their water usage and try to reduce it whenever possible. Incorporating native plants into the home landscape--plants that thrive on lots of sun and little water--is an excellent way to use less water. - Many native plants attract butterflies.butterfly image by M3Dia Solution from Fotolia.com
The "Houston Chronicle's" Urban Harvest garden section recommends native flowering shrubs and sunflowers, many of which birds and butterflies find irresistible. The hardiest and toughest of the shrubs is the "David Verity" variety of the cigar plant, which has no known pests or diseases. Give it plenty of room to grow; it will reach a height of 4 feet. Rock Rose and Peruvian Pavonia are evergreen perennials that produce bright pink flowers all spring, summer and into the fall. Firebrush is another plant that thrives in hot climates. A native of Mexico, it does well in almost any soil and is drought-tolerant. It grows into a 4- to 5-foot mound and attracts hummingbirds to its bright orange tubular flowers. Tea Bush, a member of the chocolate family, quickly reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet, is drought-tolerant and attracts butterflies to its nectar-packed bright pink flowers. - Black-eyed Susans are pretty and easy to grow.daisy 1 image by David MacFarlane from Fotolia.com
In general, avoid acid-loving plants because Texas soil is very alkaline. Although "thirsty" plants should also be avoided, don't think this means you will have to sacrifice beauty and color. Sunflowers and daisies and black-eyed Susans grow almost everywhere in the United States. Sunflowers, as the name suggests, love the sun. Zexmenia is a good choice for Houston gardens, as it blooms all spring and summer. Heliopsis, a small sunflower, attracts hummingbirds to its nectar and other birds to its ripe seeds. Provide a well-draining soil for Zexmenia and plenty of sun. - Sweet Potato Vine and Blue Sky Vine are excellent choices for fences or trellises in a Houston garden. Sweet Potato is not a flowering vine but its chartreuse foliage contrasts beautifully with almost any surface. Try the "Blackie" variety with its black foliage for a striking visual display. The Blue Sky Vine produces deep-violet trumpet-shaped flowers that grow up to 8 inches long, while the vine itself will grow up to 15 feet long. Plant Blue Sky Vine somewhere it can be protected from dry summer winds.
- Grow lavender and other herbs close to the house so they are within reach.lavender image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
Lavender, rosemary, verbena and several varieties of sage grow very well in Houston gardens. Because they require little water and love the sun, these plants--rosemary in particular--make excellent choices for a groundcover, but they also grow well in large pots. Keep them close to the house so they are easy to access for cooking.
