Got a spot with plenty of light? Here are the top 5 plants to grow in Houston’s heat:
Yellow Bells Esperanza
Here in Houston, we grow Esperanza as a deciduous shrub and root-hardy perennial. In colder zones, plants are grown as an annual or container plant. Best blooming will be achieved by plants in full sun locations, but they can tolerate a bit of afternoon shade. Too shady though, and plants will bloom minimally or not at all. Add Esperanza to your shrub or tropical borders, or place in a large container on your patio.
Esperanza is quite drought tolerant once plants have had time to get established. They can also tolerate a wide variety of soil types, as long as they provide good drainage.
Pentas
If you’re looking to satisfy your beneficial pollinators, consider pentas as your number one option. They come in a variety of colors with clusters of star-shaped blooms. Pentas are heat-loving perennials and would look fantastic in a flower bed or in containers. They bloom from spring to fall and can grow from one to three feet, with other varieties getting much bigger than that. Butterflies and bees go crazy over these perennials.
Portulaca
Portulaca, also known as moss rose, is a drought-tolerant annual that does well in our Houston summers. The cup-shaped blooms come in various colors, and they grow in small mounds. Purslane, a type of portulaca, contains round leaves and spreads in a small trail. It will bloom from May until it freezes and gets about eight inches tall. You can pair this with sedum for your container gardens.
Red Yucca
Got a large, sunny spot for a low-maintenance native? Red yucca is the way to go. It’s a fantastic addition to a xeriscape garden. It’s also drought-tolerant and gets beautiful red blooms that reach about five feet tall. The blooms of red yucca will last all spring and summer. You’ll find many Houston landscapes with this hardy staple.
Pride of Barbados
This tropical shrub or small tree produces spectacular upright racemes of luminous yellow, orange, and red blooms that are long lasting; graceful foliage creates a wonderful texture; perfect for patio containers, or near walkways. This is a relatively low maintenance tropical plant and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season’s flowers. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard.
