Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

We think you are correct, that it will take a succession of plants for blooming year-round, or nearly. We have been asked before for lists of plants that will give bloom year round. This, of course, will vary greatly according to the part of the country, the soil, the available moisture, etc. On our Recommended Species page, there is a collection list for "South Texas Plains".

When you look at that South Texas Plains site, you will see a color-coded map of Texas at the top of the page. Laredo is close to the line between South Texas Plains and the Edwards Plateau. However, there are no natural plant barriers between the two areas, and a plant that would grow in one area would probably grow in the other. Here is the description of that area:

"The South Texas Plains lie south of a line from San Antonio to Del Rio. This area is the western extension of the Gulf Coastal Plains merging with the Mexico Plains on the west. The area is a nearly level to rolling, slightly to moderately dissected plain. Upland soils are of three groups: dark, clayey soils over firm clayey subsoils; grayish to reddish brown, loamy to sandy soils; and brown loamy soils. Gray, clayey, saline, and sodic soils are extensive on the coastal fringe, along with Galveston deep sands. Bottomlands are typically brown to gray, calcareous silt loams to clayey alluvial soils."

The climate there is considered hot, semi-arid, with winters that can be cold by South Texas standards. So, it would be best to choose plants from the list of 250 on our recommended list. Your mother is most apt to get her desired year-round blooms from herbaceous blooming plants and shrubs. The blooming plants can be both perennial, to return every year and annual, for long blooming periods and reseeding. Shrubs may take a few years to reach blooming stage, but will last longer in the garden.

We are going to teach you how to use our Native Plant Database and get the kind of information you need for yourself, giving you and your mother an opportunity to choose for shady or sunny situations, color, size and so forth. Return to the "South Texas Plains" site; looking at the sidebar on the right side, select "herb" (herbaceous blooming plant) under General Appearance. We are going to find one sample selection each for January and July, probably the two most difficult months for blooming in that area. For this first round, click on "January" on bloom time. On the next round, we will choose "July" for the bloom time, and then start over selecting "shrub" under General Appearance and the same months. When you get the resulting lists, there will be a small picture - pick one you like (if there is more than one choice), click on the link, and learn all about the plant. You will note that many of the bloom times overlap, as plants will generally bloom more than one month. Here are our samples:

January, herbaceous blooming plant, 1 on list: Hibiscus martianus (Heartleaf rosemallow), blooms red January to December, sun or part shade

July, 26 results: Salvia coccinea (Scarlet sage), blooms white, red, pink February to October, sun, part shade or shade

January, shrub, 3 choices: Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo), evergreen, blooms white, pink, purple February to October, sun, part shade or shade

July, 19 choices: Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana), blooms red, orange, yellow April to October, sun

From our Native Plant Image Gallery:

Hibiscus martianus

Salvia coccinea

Leucophyllum frutescens

Lantana urticoides