Austin summers are long, hot and humid, which is enough to kill most flowers. But four native Texas blooms do exceptionally well in these conditions and can make colorful additions to a landscape that’s also been parched by drought.
Black-eyed Susan
This hardy plant blooms between June and October on stems that can measure 1 to 2 feet tall. The flowers are a cheerful bright yellow and surround a dark brown cone-like center. Leaves and stems have small hairs on them that give the plant a coarse texture. Once established, a black-eyed Susan plant can grow in full sunlight and survive even the driest conditions.
Blackfoot daisy
Blackfoot daisies grow in busy masses that stand between 6 and 12 inches tall and 1 and 2 feet wide. Their cream-white, notched petals of the daisies themselves surround star-shaped, yellow flowers that bloom between March and November. The best growing environment for these flowers is well-drained soil that tends towards dryness.
Mexican petunia
If you’re looking for an evergreen perennial that can grow in almost any type of well-drained soil, this plant is for you. From late May until late November, the Mexican petunia produces blooms in pink, blue, violet or white on the end of stalks that can measure up to 3 feet tall. On the dwarf variety, flowers will sit anywhere from 8 to 12 inches above the leaves.
Celosia
Celosia comes in three varieties: plumosa, cristata and spicata. The plumosa flower looks like a large feather duster with a pointy tip. The cristata flower looks like a rooster’s comb or a ribbon with folds that are light-colored inside and darker on the outside. And spicata blooms look like stalks of wheat. Celosia colors – orange, rose, pink, purple, red, yellow and cream – are as eye-catching as its varied flower shapes. These plants can be as small as 4 inches or as large as 3 feet tall and do best in full sun and well-drained soil.
Deciding on the right flowers for your summer landscape can be a challenge.
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