Creating Habitat

As we add more native plants and intervene less, the ecosystem in the yard becomes stronger.  As the ecosystem becomes stronger, it requires even less intervention from us. No need for chemicals and less need to replace plants. Mostly it is adjusting for our sense of aesthetic by moving plants that have ‘volunteered’ to grow in our yard to a spot we feel is more suited or we pass them along to friends. 

When we began our landscaping journey, we didn't know much about native plants. We saw plants in the nursery and big box stores that we thought were nice and put them in. Some thrived and many died. 

To date we have 74 species of plants in the garden and 40 are native.

Top 20 Native Plants:

• Frogfruit* - Semi-evergreen - spreading ground cover. Tolerates foot traffic. Small white flowers. Sun. 
• Horseherb - Perennial - spreading ground cover. It can be mown or leave it to grow to 8”. Yellow flowers. It dies back with a freeze but comes back faithfully. Tolerates foot traffic. Sun to shade.
• Tx. Columbine - Evergreen - 2x2’ - Feathery foliage & unusual yellow flowers in the spring. Shade. 

• Pipevine* - Perennial - vine - Host for the Pipevine Swallowtail. Early sun & afternoon shade. 
• Mealy Blue Sage* - Perennial - 1x3’- Blue flowers to frost.Hummingbird & butterfly favorite.Sun-part sun.
• Zexmenia* - Perennial - 2x3’-Yellow flowers from May to Nov. Part shade to sun. 
• Salvia Greggii - Semi-evergreen shrub - 3x3’ - Many colors. Pollinator attractor. Sun-part shade.
• Gregg’s Mist* - Perennial - 2’ - Spreads. Purple flowers all summer. Butterfly attractor. Sun-part sun.
• Passion Vine* - Semi-evergreen - Spreads. Unusual flowers. Sun to part shade. 
• Rock Rose - Semi-evergreen shrub - 2.5 x 3’ - Pink flowers May–Nov. Part shade to sun.

• Thornless Prickly Pear* - Evergreen - 5x6’ - Yellow flowers in spring - Sun to part shade. 
• Turk's cap - Perennial - 6' - Hummingbird favorite. More sun, more height. Sun to shade.
• Datura* - Perennial - 3x3’ - Large white flowers & blooms at night. Sun to shade.
• Frostweed*- Perennial - 3x7’ - White blooms Oct-Nov. Pollinator favorite. Monarchs love it. Sun to shade.
• Red Yucca - Evergreen - 3x3’ - Coral tubular flowers spring through summer. Sun to part shade.
• Texas Sage* - Evergreen - 5x8’ - Silver leaves with pink flowers after rain. Sun to part sun. 

• Flame Acanthus - Perennial - 3x3’ - Woody shrub with red tubular flowers. Sun to part shade.
• Feathergrass - Evergreen - 18” - No shearing, just comb & make seed balls. Sun to part shade.
• Inland Sea Oats* - Perennial - 2’ Long leaves with fun seed pod. Reseeds freely. Shade–part shade. 
• Little Blue Stem*- Perennial - 3x3’ - Grass for mass plantings. Nesting material & seeds for birds. Sun. 

*Host plant for butterflies & moths