Water conservation and restrictions do not necessarily mean that your Xeriscape garden consist entirely of cacti and rocks. There are a number of beautiful shrubs that are decorative and drought tolerant.If your taste runs to dwarf shrubs, there are several varieties of holly such as the dwarf burford holly, the dwarf pittosporum, the dwarf yaupon holly, and others. There are also variegated varies of holly such as the gulf stream or nana with reddish evergreen foliage. Holly shrubs do well in sun or shade. The red yucca, another favorite, sports red flowers on tall spikes. The red yucca requires sun.
Flowering quince, a sun-loving shrub, will give a splash of spring color with red, pink, orange, or white blooms. Glossy abelia provides year-round enjoyment with bronze evergreen foliage and is suitable for either sun or shade. Another sun or shade plant is the Indian hawthorne. It is evergreen and produces flowers in spring and blue berries in the fall.
If your bent runs to the dramatic, try the Central Texas sage with its dusty gray evergreen foliage and summer-long blooms of vibrant pinks and purples.
Some shrubs grow to be as much as 10 to 25 feet tall and can be mistaken for trees! The oleander has spiky green foliage and stunning flowers; the Texas mountain laurel boasts colorful lavender or purple flowers.
Whichever type of garden you choose to beautify your home, let South Austin Irrigation help you to protect your investment. We are the experts in irrigation systems. Call us today at (512) 534-7449.
