Five Reliable Plants for Austin Gardens

Austin, Texas, falls under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Zone 8. This Central Texas city typically experiences a subtropical climate, which means hot, humid summers and mild, dryer winters. Several plant varieties thrive in Austin gardens.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose), a member of the Asclepiadaceae family, is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that thrives in USDA Zones 3 to 9. This clump-forming perennial reaches 12 to 30 inches in height with spreads ranging from 12 to 18 inches. Bright yellow or orange flowers bloom on top of hairy stems from June through August. This plant prefers dry, sandy soils in fully sunny locations. Butterfly weed sometimes suffers from leaf spot, rust or crown rot when planted in poor-draining soils. Austin gardeners often plant butterfly weed plants in butterfly gardens, sunny borders and native plant gardens.

Black-Eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta), short-lived perennials belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae), generally perform well in USDA Zones 3 to 7. These plants reach up to 3 feet high with spreads up to 2 feet. Sometimes called the gloriosa daisy, this plant features yellow to yellow-orange petals surrounding dark brown central disks. These flowers typically bloom from June through September. Black-eyed Susans prefer moist soils in full sun positions. Powdery mildew and snails sometimes affect this plant. Gardeners in the Austin area frequently plant black-eyed Susans in native plant gardens, wildflower meadows, borders and cottage gardens.

Blanket Flower

The blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata), a perennial plant in the Asteraceae family, performs well in moist, well-drained soils in fully sunny locations. This clump-forming plant reaches 9 to 12 inches in both height and spread. Red to orange flowers bloom from May through September. Aster yellows, powdery mildew and root rot sometimes occur. Winter hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 8, Austin gardeners often plant blanket flowers in borders, rock gardens, cutting gardens, containers and cottage gardens.

Texas Sage

Texas sage (Salvia coccinea), also called scarlet sage and bloody sage, belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae). Winter hardy in USDA Zones 8 to 10, Texas sage reaches 12 to 24 inches in both height and spread. Bright red flower spikes bloom in from July through October. Texas sage performs best in moist, loamy soils planted in northern locations that receive full sun. This sage variety often suffers from powdery mildew and aphid infestations. Texas sage plants work well in flowerbeds and perennial borders.

Prairie Poppy Mallow

The prairie poppy mallow (Callirhoe alcaeoides), also called the wine camp, is an herbaceous perennial in the Malvaceae plant family that performs well in USDA Zones 4 to 9. This mat-forming plant reaches 6 to 12 inches in height with spreads up to 3 feet. The white, pink or purple flowers appear from June through August. The blossoms close every evening and stay shut once pollination has occurred. Prairie poppy mallow plants grow best in moist, well-drained soils that receive full sun. Crown rot occasionally occurs in poorly draining soils. Austin gardeners frequently use prairie poppy mallows in rock, wild and formal gardens.

References
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=B490
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=A109
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=A723
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=B449
http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/plant.asp?code=Y820