Ajuga Chocolate Chip Ajuga retans ‘Chocolate Chip’ Ajuga reptans, commonly called bugleweed, is a dense, rapidly spreading, mat-forming ground cover which features shiny, dark green leaves. Whorls of tiny, blue-violet flowers appear in mid to late spring on spikes rising above the foliage to 10". Cultivars of this species feature leaves with more interesting and varied foliage color. When in full flower, large clumps of bugleweed can produce a striking display. Dense foliage will choke out weeds. Mist Flower - Blue Conoclinium coelestinum An open shrub with slender branches that can reach six feet tall, fragrant mist flower explodes in the fall with masses of blue, fuzzy, very fragrant flowers that act as a magnet to hummingbirds, butterflies, and a plethora of other insects. The light green, triangular-shaped leaves are 1 to 3 inches long and have wavy edges. It is more tolerant of dry conditions than are most Eupatoriums, although it will tolerate poorly drained areas as well. It grows in partly shaded to mostly sunny sites, but will bloom more profusely with more sun. Fragrant mist flower makes a showy fall plant in the garden, or can be used massed as an understory or edge plant in more naturalized sites. Heavy shearing in the winter will promote a denser shape and more flowers the following year, since the long-lasting blooms appear only on new wood. Cat Whiskers White Orthosiphon stamineus The Cat Whiskers is a very showy plant that grows 3-4ft tall with bluish-white flowers that look like whiskers. The flowers of the Cat Whiskers are a lovely and are great to use as cut flowers. White Cat Whiskers appear to be fragile, but they are tough in a stressful environment. Cat Whiskers are a favorite target for butterflies. Orthosiphon stamineus flowers bloom from the bottom upward and will continue to bloom if cut and placed in a vase. LA Iris - Purple The Louisiana Irises are some of the most wonderful native plants in North America. Growing in and near wetlands in Louisiana and neighboring states, these amazing irises have cross-hybridized naturally over the years, so there are now an infinite number of colors and types. Their unique blooms make this Iris a rare and spectacular addition to the summer garden. Turks Cap - Pam’s Pink 1", sleepy, rose to coral-pink flowers are borne from late spring to fall on this vigorous perennial. Tough, easy, and great for Hummingbirds. This shrub grows to 4’X4’ and is cold tolerant. Will grow in full or part sun or shade. Drought tolerant. This Turk's Cap has won the prestigious Lynn Lowery Award from the Native Plant Society of Texas! Lizard’s Tail Saururus cernuus Lizard's Tail gets its name from its flower stalk, which somewhat resembles a lizard's tail. Many tiny white flowers make up a raceme. A raceme is a group of flowers in a long narrow column. Lizard's Tail racemes grow up to six inches long, and droop from a stalk which is three inches long. Lizard's Tail leaves are heart-shaped, about five inches long, and dark green. This plant can grow up to five feet tall, but much of the plant will be underwater. Plant is smaller is a bed. Barleria - White Barleria cristata ‘White’ Grows into a shapely shrub with minimal pruning. The trumpet-shaped 2" long, white flowers opening in terminal clusters in November and continue into mid-December. This is an easy-to-grow shrub, about 4-6ft height, which can be used for a garden hedge or tightly clipped into geometrical shapes. Barleria is easily propagated from cuttings planted in fall directly in the ground. It requires some sun to flower profusely and occasional pruning to promote bushy growth. Bromeliad, Casablanca Billbergia 'Casablanca' Following a few simple steps can keep you enjoying bromeliads, both indoors and out, for several seasons. • Provide bright light without direct sun exposure • Maintain optimal humidity • Keep air flowing around the plants • Make sure the plants stay moist but not soggy • Provide adequate drainage • Fertilize sparingly Bromeliad, Halleluja Billbergia 'Halleluja' Following a few simple steps can keep you enjoying bromeliads, both indoors and out, for several seasons. • Provide bright light without direct sun exposure • Maintain optimal humidity • Keep air flowing around the plants • Make sure the plants stay moist but not soggy • Provide adequate drainage • Fertilize sparingly Bromeliad ‘Matchstick’ Aechmea gamosepala Bromeliads [Bro-MIL-ee-ads] are a family of over 2,000 tropical American plants that includes Spanish Moss and the edible Pineapple. They're commonly called "air plants" or "epiphytes" for their habit of growing up in the air on tree limbs and crotches, or in rock crevices, free of any connection with the ground beneath. (A few species grow on the ground, rooted in the soil.) Bromeliads are valued for the many forms, textures and colors of their leaves and for their showy, long-lasting flowers. As a bonus, they're among the easiest of indoor plants to grow and maintain. Butterfly Weed - Native White Butterfly Weed has white blooms and thrives in wet to average soil. It is a native wildflower and easy to get established from seed. It will tolerate rich or poor soil and is drought tolerant. Plants will flower the second year and get thicker each year thereafter. The flower clusters will bloom from June to October and then produce 4 inch seed pods. The seed pods are great for flower arrangements or let them dry on the plant and disperse the seeds. Monarchs will be searching for this plant on their migration in the fall...get it started in your gardens! Canna - Tropical Canna indica var. 'Phaison' Tropical, bright burgundy exotic foliage, matures with stripes of red, pink, yellow and green, dramatic in garden beds or patio containers Bloom/Features: Lily shaped, bright orange flowers summer to fall Dimensions: 4-6' H x 3' W USDA Zones: USDA Zones 7-11 Exposure: Full sun Soil: Deep, fertile soil Water: Frequent Uses: Container, houseplant, water garden, landscape Canna Pink Variegated Light: full or partial sun Soil: any soil, even poorly drained except for soggy, heavy clay soil which causes rhizomes to rot. Growth Rate: moderate to fast Hardiness: Zones 7 through 10, in colder climates, treat as annuals or dig up and protect rhizomes from freezing. Replant in spring after ground has warmed. Cactus Zig Zag Selenicereus anthonyanus Fishbone cactus boasts many colorful names. Ric Rac, Zigzag and Fishbone orchid cactus are just a few of these descriptive monikers. The names refer to the alternate pattern of the leaves along a central spine that resembles a fish skeleton. This stunning plant is an epiphytic specimen that can grow in low soil situations where other organic media are present. Growing fishbone cactus is easy even for the so-called “black thumb” gardener. Bring in a fishbone cactus houseplant and enjoy the crazy zigzag pattern of its succulent foliage. Coleus Coleus has long been considered a shade plant but the best leaf color is achieved with morning sun and some degree of afternoon shade. Many varieties do well in both shade and part-sun. Some can take quite a bit of sun as long as they are not allowed to dry out. Avoid overly damp soils, which can cause leaf drop and encourage disease. Plant coleus after danger of frost has passed when soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently and evening temperatures are above 60 degrees F. Feed plants regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer, especially if they are growing in containers. Take inside for winter. Night Blooming Cereus Peniocereus greggii - Cereus greggii One of the strangest plants of the desert, the night blooming cereus, is a member of the cactus family that resembles nothing more than a dead bush most of the year. It is rarely seen in the wild because of its inconspicuousness. But for one midsummer's night each year, its exquisitely scented flower opens as night falls, then closes forever with the first rays of the morning sun. Crinum, Giant Spider Lily Crinum asiaticum This crinum lily makes an imposing presence in the garden. Dark green strap-like leaves may be more than 3 feet long by 4 inches wide. These are held erect and arranged in a spiral rosette to form impressive clumps up to 5 feet in height by 7 feet in width. Flowers are shaped like tubes that flair open into a crown of narrow petals. The flowers are white and are arranged in clusters atop thick, succulent stems. This crinum is native to tropical areas of Asia. It is now a favorite landscape plant in Florida, the gulf coast, California and other warm climate areas. Their drought resistance make them useful in xeriscapes. Also does well in containers. Dutchman’s Pipe, White Vein Aristolochia fimbriata Dutchman's Pipe will also attract a host of admirers when they spot the exotic pipe-shaped blooms. The curving flowers show off a fringed face of rich purple-brown with striking yellow band. This definitely is an intriguing example of nature's varied means of attracting insect suitors. After pollination, a row of ridged 1- 1/2" seed pods form and hang like small lanterns along the stems. White Butterfly Ginger Hedychium coronarium ‘White Butterfly’ The Butterfly Ginger is a vigorous grower and needs to be divided yearly at least. Fertilize weekly with a balanced fertilizer The white flowers are extremely fragrant and are good as cut flowers. They come in dense spikes, 6 to 12 inches long (15-30 cm). Remove the old stems after flowers are spent to promote new growth Little Volcano Lespedeza A graceful, deciduous shrub that erupts with bright rosy wine flowers in the fall and normally a surprise bloom in the spring.