Guide To Perennials in Texas

Perennials 

With perennial plants, the life cycle lasts for over two years and some lasting decades. They are a cornerstone for creating a garden that looks full and colorful. With a wide variety of species, you can be sure to find plants that meet your needs. A key to having a successful perennial garden is selecting plants that bloom at different times of the season because of their shorter bloom period than annals that usually bloom throughout the summer. 

Planting Perennials 

Perennial plants in our area are typically only available until Mid-Late Summer. We recommend planting seedlings and blubs in the fall. To give their roots time to establish so that they are ready to bloom when summer arrives. You can also plant them in the spring, the only difference being the quality of growth and blooms the first summer. One way to get around the lack of development in spring plantings is to purchase mature container plants, but that will come at a cost and with limited varieties of plants available. In our region hostas, ferns, lavender, and Russian sage are readily available in pots most of the growing season.   

Selecting Perennials 

When selecting perennials for your landscape, you want to maintain a mixture of early blooming and ones that bloom late into the season. Another key to a dynamic garden is to have a range of varying heights, and with so many colors available, this is where you can set the tone of your landscape. 

Here are some of our favorites. 

Perennials for full sun

Six or more hours of direct sun a day

1. Coreopsis (Tickseed)
2. Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy)
3. Hemerocallis (Day Lily)
4. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)
5. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
6. Echinacea (Coneflower)
7. Dianthus (Pinks or Carnations)

Perennials for shade

Partial Shade 6 hours of sun a day. Full Shade less than four hours of sun a day. 

1. Hosta (Plantain Lily)
2. Astilbes (False Goat’s Beard)
3. Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
4. Hellebores (Lenten Rose)
5. Ferns
6. Corydalis
7. Lamium (Dead Nettle)

Early Blooming Perennials 

Sheading the winter, these perennials will kick start your garden and add some much-needed color at the beginning of spring. 

1. Helleborus (Lenten Rose) — blooms in March
2. Phlox Subulata (Creeping Phlox) — blooms in April
3. Dianthus (Pinks or Carnations) — blooms in April
4. Iberis (Candytuft) — blooms in April
5. Myosotis (Forget-Me-Not) — blooms in April

Long Blooming Perennials 

Long blooming perennials last from six to ten weeks. Some bloom in the summer, and some start late summer and go into the beginning of fall. One thing to consider is the annuals you plan on planting for summer and if you plan on planting fall annuals to have your property looking good for the holidays.  

1. Coreopsis (Tickseed) — blooms May – July
2. Achillea (Yarrow) — blooms May-August (drought-tolerant)
3. Echinacea (Coneflower) — blooms June – September
4. Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) — blooms June – August ( drought-tolerant)
5. Leucanthemum (Shasta Daisy) — blooms June – September
6. Agastache (Hyssop) — blooms July – September (drought-tolerant)
7. Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan) — blooms July to September
8. Phlox paniculata (Garden Phlox) — blooms July to September

Fragrant Perennials  

Adding aromatic plants around zones where people gather or the places you retreat to relax can add another dimension to your garden. 

1. Achillea (Yarrow)
2. Lavender
3. Dianthus (Pinks or Carnations)
4. Agastache (Hyssop)
5. Echinacea (Coneflower)
6. Monarda (Bee Balm)
7. Salvia (Meadow Sage)
8. Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)