Backbone Valley Nursery

Native Perennials for Central Texas

 

Acanthus, Flame      Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

3’-5’ by 3′-5′

Sun.

Summer blooms attract hummingbirds. May be trimmed to shape during the growing season. This is a deciduous woody shrub that may also be trimmed right before it flushes in the spring.

Deer resistant.  Zone 7 (Edwards Plateau)

 

 

Betony, Texas     Stachys coccinea

12″-18″ by 2′-3′

Shade, Part Shade.

Low growing herbaceous perennial with red flowers from April to October. Cut back to the ground in late February.

Not reliably deer resistant.

Zone 7. (Trans-Pecos region of Texas, AZ and Mexico)

 

Blackfoot Daisy          Melampodium leucanthum

  1’ x 3’

Sun.  

Low mounding evergreen with white daisy-like flowers with yellow center.  Great for the front of a border. “Ponytail” prune into green growth right before the spring flush.

Evergreen.

Not deer resistant. Zone 5. (AZ, TX, Mexico)

 

Calylophus (Square Bud Primrose)   Calylophus berlandieri       1’x2’-3’

Sun, Part Sun.

Herbaceous perennial that blooms mid-spring through early summer, then sporadically.  Good for low borders or draping over walls. Foliage turns red in the fall, then dies back to the ground in a freeze. Cut back to the ground in late February. Not deer resistant.  Zone 8a. (TX,OK,LA,NM to Mexico)

 

Columbine, Red   Aquilegia canadensis   

1′-2′ by 1′-2′

Shade, understory plant native to moist, humus-rich soils. Spring blooms.

Herbaceous perennial. Cut back to the ground in late February. Not deer resistant.

Zone 5 (Native through the U.S. to Canada)

 

Columbine, Texas Gold   Aquilegia chrysantha var. ‘Hinckleyana’ 

1′-2′ by 1′-2′

Shade, understory plant with Spring blooms. Prefers moist, well drained soil.

Herbaceous perennial. Cut back to the ground in late February. Not deer resistant. Zone 5. (AZ, CO, NM, TX-Big Bend)

 

Copper Canyon Daisy     Tagetes lemmonii

3’-4’ x 3’-4’

Sun. 

Give this perennial room to grow! Yellow-gold flowers cover this plant in late summer to fall. Aromatic foliage may irritate skin.  Cut back to the ground in late February. Herbaceous perennial. Deer resistant.  Zone 8.  (SW TX, Mexico)

 

Coreopsis, Lanceleaf   Coreopsis lanceolata

1′-2′ by 1′-2′

Sun, Part Sun.

Not a reliable perennial, but re-seeds readily. Deadhead during bloom season to encourage blooms. Cut back in late February.

Not deer resistant. Zone 4. (FL, E.TX)

 

Damianita    Chrysactinia mexicana

1’-2’ x 1’-2’

Sun

Low, often floppy evergreen with yellow blooms off and on spring to summer. “Ponytail” prune after a heavy bloom. Aromatic foliage. Only prune into green growth during the growing season or right before the spring flush.

Evergreen. Deer resistant.

Zone 6. (TX Hill Country)

 

Autumn Sage    Salvia greggii

3’-4’ x3’-4’ 

Sun. 

So many colors are available. Attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. Prune several inches into foliage to remove spent blooms in summer. May be pruned hard in late spring.   

Evergreen.

Deer resistant.   Zone 6.   (SW TX into Mexico) 

 

Datura   Datura wrightii

3’-6’ x3’-6’

Sun

Large white blooms open at night just in time for moths to pollinate. Reseeding annual, all parts are poisonous. 

Deer resistant.

Zone 9. (CA,NM,TX)

 

 

Esperanza    Tecoma stans

Size depends on variety, with some reaching 6′ by 6′, and others staying under 3′. 

Slow to emerge in the spring, so be patient. Wait to prune back the the ground in late February.

Herbaceous perennial.

Deer resistant in most areas.

Zone 8b.(AZ,FL,NM,TX) 

 

 

Gaura    Gaura Lindheimeri

3′ x 3′

Sun

Pink and white blooming varieties available as cultivars. Attractive to butterflies. “Ponytail” prune between blooms during the growing season. Prune to the ground in late February. 

Herbaceous perennial     Not deer resistant.    Zone 5  (TX,LA)

 

 

Gayfeather   Liatris punctata var mucronata

1′-3′ by 12″-18″

Sun

Herbaceous perennial that grows from bulb-like corms. Late summer to fall blooms. Drought tolerant once established. May spread.

Not deer resistant.

Zone 3. (AR, KS, MO, OK, TX)

 

 

Orange Milkweed    Asclepias tuberosa  

1′-1 1/2′ by 1′-2′

Sun, well-drained soil, drought resistant, blooms May through September

Herbaceous perennial with tuberous roots. Native to most of the U.S. Butterfly magnet.  Does not have milky sap like other Milkweeds.

Zone 3a

 

 

Gregg’s Mistflower   Conoclinium greggii

2’-3’ x 6′

Sun to Part Sun

Spreading perennial that is a butterfly magnet! Herbaceous perennial. Prune to the ground in late February.

Deer resistant.

Zone 7a (AZ,NM,TX)  

 

Blue Shade Mistflower   Conoclinium coelestinum

2′-3′ by 3′-4′

Shade

Requires moist, well drained soil. Late summer to fall blooms attract butterflies.

Herbaceous perennial.

Not deer resistant.

Zone 6. (Most of southern U.S. including TX)

 

Four Nerve Daisy   Tetraneuris scaposa

8″-12″ x 8″-12″ 

Sun

Small evergreen with tufts of fine foliage. Yellow daisy flowers held above foliage almost year-round. Requires little pruning, and only into the new growth during the growing season.

Not deer resistant.

Zone 5a. (TX,OK,CO,IL,NM) 

 

Texas Lantana   Lantana urticoides

3’-6’ x 3′-6′

Sun, Part Sun.

This is the most deer-resistant of all the Lantanas. It is quite drought resistant once established and produces blooms from spring to frost. Herbaceous perennial. Prune to shape between blooms during the growing season and cut back to the ground in late February.

Zone 8. (TX,LA,MS Mex.) Foliage may irritate skin. 

 

 

 

Purple coneflower   Echinacea purpurea  

1’-3” x 18” 

Sun, Part Sun

Butterflies love the spring blooms. In mild summers the bloom may be extended. Re-seeds readily. Herbaceous perennial. Remove spent leaves in late February.

Not deer resistant.   Zone 4 (E. and Central N. America)

 

Rock Rose    Pavonia lasiopetala 

3’ x3’

Sun, Part Sun.

Bright pink flowers open in the evenings from late spring to fall. Prune to shape between blooms during the growing season and cut back to the ground in late February.

Herbaceous perennial. 

Not deer resistant. Zone 8, (TX,Edwards Plateau to Mex.) 

 

 

Sage, Cedar   Salvia roemeriana  

1′ x 1′

Sun to shade.

Small, spring-blooming herbaceous perennial. Cut back to the ground in late February. Good for understory plantings. Will re-seed.

Not deer resistant.

Zone 7a,  (Central and West TX to Mex.) 

 

 

Sage, Mealy Blue  Salvia farinacea

1 ½” x 1 ½’

Sun, well drained soils. Summer blooms, may be trimmed between blooms. Cut back to the ground in late February.

Deer resistant.

Zone 7a, (TX,NM OK To FL) 

 

 

Sage, Tropical (Salvia coccinea)

1′-3′

Sun, Part sun, Shade. Blooms spring through fall. Tolerates caliche, sand, loam and clay soils

Re-seeding annual to Zone 6. Herbaceous perennial in Zones 9 and 10.  Comes in red, pink or white blooms.

Somewhat Deer resistant. 

(AL,FL,GA,MS,TX)

 

 

Skullcap, Purple  Scuttelaria wrightii

6″-10″ x 1′-2′

Sun, Part Shade

Blooms March through July. Requires well-drained san, loam or limestone soils.

Evergreen    Not Deer Resistant

Zone 8b, (Texas, Oklahoma, Edwards Plateau)

 

Turk’s Cap    Malvaviscus arboreus var. Drummondii

3’-5’  or taller and spreads like the dickens!

Sun, Part Sun, Shade.

A favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. Great understory planting. Wait until late February to cut it back to the ground.

Not deer resistant.

Zone 8. (Central TX to Fl, south to Mex) H

 

 

Wooly Stemodia       Stemodia tomentosa

1’ x 2’-3’ or more, rooting at nodes.

Sun, well drained soils.

Ground cover for sunny areas.

Herbaceous perennial. Prune back in late February.

Deer resistant.

Zone 8. (Coastal regions of  TX and Mexico)

 

Silver Ponyfoot     Dichondra argentea

6″ tall and several feet wide.

Sun, Part Sun and well drained soil.

Silver leaves look like hooves.

Herbaceous perennial, may be evergreen in mild winters.  Prune back in late February.

Not deer resistant.

Zone  9  (Texas and Mexico)

 

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