Texas Superstar®

COMMISSIONER TODD STAPLES

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

TexasSuperstar®

.

Strong and Stunning Plants for Texans.

What it takes to be a Superstar®

It isn’t easy to become a Texas Superstar® plant. Only the toughest, most reliable and best-looking plants make the cut.Every plant earning the Texas Superstar® designation undergoes several years of extensive field trials by Texas AgriLifeResearch and the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, both part of the Texas A&M System. They must be proven to besuper-performing plants under Texas growing conditions. During the field trials, plants receive minimal soil preparation,minimal water and no pesticides. What does that mean to the average homeowner? It means landscape success withbeautiful, proven, Texas-tough plants. Visit www.TexasSuperstar.com for additional details about these amazing stars.The term “Texas Superstar” is a registered trademark of Texas AgriLife Research, Texas A&M System.

GO TEXANGO TEXAN is the Texas Department of Agriculture’s program promoting the products, culture and communities that callTexas home. As a mark of Lone Star pride, the GO TEXAN logo – a glowing brand in the shape of Texas – can be foundon everything from floral products and grapefruit to cowboy boots and retirement destinations.

Texas BluebonnetLupinus texensis

The Texas state flower is ahardy winter annual nativeto Texas. This species is themost commonly seen variety along roadsides andin pastures throughout thestate. Flowers are denselyarranged on a spike with acharacteristic ice white terminal tip.

Exposure: full, hot sun

Height: 12-24 inches

Plant type: annual

Planting time: fall

Soil type: well-drained soil

Suggested uses: flowerbeds, meadows and hillsides

Special notes: The Texasbluebonnet, which bloomsbetween March and May,has a blue flowering stalktipped with white (like abunny’s tail). These heartyplants rarely suffer frominsect and disease problems, however a well-balanced fertilizer appliedin the fall will help withflower production.

Texas MaroonBluebonnetLupinus texensis “Texas Maroon”“Alamo Fire”

A selection of the Texasstate flower is a hardy win-ter annual native to Texas.Flowers are denselyarranged on a spike with acharacteristic ice white terminal tip.

Exposure: full sun essential


Plant type: annual

Planting time: fall


Suggested uses: bedding,window boxes, patio con-tainers and hanging baskets

Special notes: Texasmaroon bluebonnets have aspreading growth habit andreddish-maroon flowerswith a characteristic whiteterminal tip. It is recom-mended they are spaced12 inches apart whentransplanting or seeding.

Texas GoldColumbineAquilegia chrysantha var.hinckleyana “Texas Gold”

This cool season perennialhas bright yellow, lightlyfragrant spring flowersatop its long stems. Itsgray-green foliage is ever-green in warmer climates.

Exposure: filtered shadein the summer and fullsun in the winter andspring, such as foundunder the canopy of adeciduous tree


Plant type: cool seasonperennial

Planting time: spring


Suggested uses: gardenaccent, specimen, hummingbird garden and container garden

Special notes: The TexasGold columbine is recom-mended for hardiness zones6-9. It has an open clump-ing habit and grows as wideas 24 inches. It works bestin a full sun environmentwith medium water.

Gold Star EsperanzaTecoma stans “Gold Star”

This heat-loving, semi-ever-green shrub has golden-yellow bell-shaped flowerslate spring through fall.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 4 feet

Plant type: evergreen



Suggested uses: contain-ers, flower beds, butterflyand hummingbird gardens

Special notes: Gold Staresperanza is recommendedfor hardiness zone 9. It hasattractive glossy foliage andgrows up to 3-feet wide.Gold Star esperanza requiresmedium amounts of water.Water weekly in lieu of oneinch of rain. Immediatelyremove the fruit (beans)after flowering to promoterebloom.

New Wonder Fan FlowerScaevola aemula “New Wonder”

This spreading tenderperennial offers fan-shapedlilac-mauve flowers fromspring to fall.

Exposure: full sun to partial shade

Height: 6-8 inches

Plant type: annual



Suggested uses: specimenplant, groundcover, flowerbeds and large containers

Special notes: The NewWonder fan flower is a heatloving, easy care annualthat thrives in the sun andcovers itself with a profusion of fan-shaped,lavender flowers. Worksbest in a large containerwith well-aerated pottingmix and medium to highamounts of water. ThisTexas Superstar thrives bestin hardiness zone 9 and can be evergreen in mildclimates.

FirebushHamelia patens

Firebush offers real hope toheat-hammered summerlandscapes. Once estab-lished, firebush is very heatand drought tolerant.Firebush is an evergreenshrub or small tree nativeto many areas in tropicaland subtropical America.

Exposure: full sun


Plant type: annual fromCentral Texas northward,perennial in South Texas

Planting time: set trans-plants from mid-Maythrough summer monthsand space one foot apart

Soil type: almost any well-drained soil, even highlyalkaline, heavy clays

Suggested uses: massplantings with white bloom-ing annuals, containers andhummingbird gardens

Special notes: The fire-bush blooms between Juneand November with termi-nal clusters of scarlet red,tubular blossoms withdeeper red throats. Itsfoliage turns to a blood red color in the fall. Twopounds of a high-nitrogenfertilizer (without herbicide)per 100 square feet of bedarea are recommended.Firebush does not usuallyshow signs of insect or disease damage whengrown outdoors in a fullsun location.

Possum HawDeciduous HollyIlex deciduas

This outstanding smallnative tree requires verylow maintenance. It willdrop its leaves in fall toreveal showy red or orangeberries (on female plants)that remain throughout thewinter. Possum Hawattracts songbirds and isheat and drought tolerant.


Height: 10-15 feet

Plant type: large deciduous woody shrub or small tree

Planting time: anytimefrom containers

Soil type: adapts to mostsoils from acidic to slightlyalkaline

Suggested uses: accent,shrub border, fall to winterspecimen, limbed up as asmall ornamental tree orpatio tree

Special notes: Plantfemale clones for fruiteffects, however a male pollinator must be in thearea. Possum haw toleratesseasonal poorly drainedsoils.

DurantaDuranta erecta

Brazilian Sky Flower is arapid-growing, dense shrubwith small glossy leaves anda profusion of pendulousracemes of small flowerswith colors varying fromlight blue to purple.

Exposure: sun or shade;flowers heavier in sun

Height: 12-15 feet in southTexas depending on pruning

Plant type: root-hardyperennial in South Texas, butannual or tender perennialin most of the state


Soil type: adapts to mostsoils

Suggested uses: can beused as a container plant or an accent plant in a landscape

Special notes: Some selec-tions fruit heavily and theplant becomes covered withsmall, golden ball-like dru-pes. Must be treated as anannual-root hardy perennialin most parts of Texas, butwill be perennial in SouthTexas. Brazilian Sky Flowerblooms best from summeruntil the first frost.

Photo provided and copyrighted by Dr.Michael Arnold, Texas AgriLife Research

Lowery’s LegacyCenizo Leucophyllum langmaniae

Lowery’s Legacy was select-ed for its profuse and fre-quent flower displays. Itssage-green foliage is a won-derful backdrop for thelavender flowers. Comparedto most selections of Texassage, it is not as dependenton changes in relativehumidity for flowering andcan bloom more often dur-ing the course of the sum-mer than other selections.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 5 feet

Plant type: woody shrub

Planting Time: anytimefrom containers

Soil type: tolerant of mostsoils as long as they are welldrained and not soggy

Suggested uses: general-purpose shrub where atouch of silvery foliage isdesired; other uses includeas a foundation shrub, inisland plantings, xeriscapesor in mixed boarders; withappropriate substrate, it canbe used in containers onsunny patios

Special notes: Multipleflowering flushes frequentlyoccur during a growing sea-son; avoid over-watering.


Firecracker JatrophaJatropha integerrima

This subtropical evergreenshrub has glossy leaves andclusters of star-shaped brightscarlet or vermilion flowers.The plant has a rounded ornarrow domed form.Jatropha is a spectacularshrub in bloom, which ismost of the year in warmerportions of the state, andspring to frost in colder locations.

Exposure: best flowering is in full sun, but plants willremain attractive in partialshade

Height: in tropical climatesplants may grow 8-10 feettall, but as patio plants orsummer annuals they areusually 3-5 feet tall.

Plant type: summer annual where winters arecold, woody shrub along thecoast and in south Texas

Planting time: spring afterdanger of frost is past

Soil type: adapted to mostwell-drained garden soils andcan be grown in a variety ofpotting mixes

Suggested uses: use as asummer accent where frostsare frequent or in a mixedshrub border where wintersare warm. Use as a containerplant to attract butterfliesand hummingbirds.

Special notes: Leaves comein unlobed, one-lobed ortwo-lobed forms all on thesame plant; fruit are reportedto be poisonous, but appearto be seldom produced inmost Texas regions.

Ask a certified nursery professional at your local nursery for Texas Superstars and support local Texas producers.

New Gold Lantana Lantana camera “New Gold”

The New Gold Lantana is alow maintenance annualwith golden yellow flowers.It is drought and heat toler-ant, and its reduced fruit setpromotes prolific bloomingfrom spring until frost.

Exposure: full sun


Plant type: small spread-ing woody shrub, herba-ceous perennial or annualdepending on the locations

Planting time: spring tosummer from containers

Soil type: adapts to most soils from acidic tomoderately alkaline withmoderate drainage

Suggested uses: accent,bedding, bank cover orpatio containers

Special notes: When wellestablished, the plants arevery drought tolerant andcontinue to produce brightand attractive blooms inthe hottest of weather. Thisannual also needs periodicrenewal pruning to removeold dead wood.

Lord Baltimore Perennial HibiscusHibiscus x “Lord Baltimore”

This perennial has glossyfoliage and large red flowersup to 10 inches wide.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 5 feet

Plant type: perennial


Soil type: prefers neutralto acid soils

Suggested uses: perennialborder, butterfly and hummingbird gardens

Special notes: The LordBaltimore performs best inhardiness zone 5. It hasattractive foliage, providesstunning color, loves theheat and requires very littlemaintenance. It also hasexcellent pest and diseaseresistance, and works bestwith medium amounts ofwater.

Flare PerennialHibiscusHibiscus x “Flare”

This herbaceous perennialhas apple-green foliageand large iridescent fuchsia-red flowers up to10 inches wide.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 3-4 feet



Soil type: any soil type,including high alkalineclays

Suggested uses: perenni-al border, butterfly andhummingbird gardensand containers

Special notes: The Flarehibiscus performs best inhardiness zone 5. It pro-duces large leaves and is aprofuse bloomer with amounding habit. It is also self-sterile, whichencourages re-bloom. The Flare hibiscus willbloom from summerthrough the first frost.

Moy Grande Perennial HibiscusHibiscus x “Moy Grande”

The giant-flowered rose mallow has the largest flow-ers of any hardy perennial.These are descendants of thenative hibiscus found inLouisiana and other GulfCoast states. They are amongthe most spectacular andeasily grown plants. YingDoon Moy, research anddevelopment horticulturistat the San Antonio BotanicalCenter, cross-bred a Hibiscusmoscheutos hybrid withHibiscus grandiflorus to createthe largest, open-face hibis-cus flower in the world. The phenomenon of hybridvigor (the offspring is superior to either parent)resulted in huge, rose-pinkflowers of the new varietynamed Moy Grande.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 5 feet



Soil type: well-drained soilcontaining plenty of organicmatter and nutrients

Suggested uses: perennialborder, butterfly and hummingbird gardens

Special notes: MoyGrande will grow up to 5-feet wide and bloombetween May andSeptember. Removing spentflowers and developing seedpods will promote re-bloom. Flowers are usually12 inches wide and have a rose-pink color. MoyGrande hibiscus will perform best in hardinesszone 5.

Pink Flare andPeppermint FlareHibiscus Hibiscus x 'Pink Flare' and‘Peppermint Flare’

Part of the Flare Series, thisshowy perennial has largeglowing fuchsia flowers.The offspring have the samesuperior traits as the originalbut their colors are pinkand peppermint (white withred stripes). Their maple-likeemerald-green foliage isvery attractive on compactplants that are practicallysterile, which encouragescontinuous bloom.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 3-5 feet

Plant type: herbaceousperennial


Soil type: any soil type,including high pH clays

Suggested uses: perennialborder, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, containers

Special notes: Great com-plements for use with Flare,Moy Grande and LordBaltimore hibiscuses withan expanded color range.Peppermint Flare offers anunusually striking two-toneflower.


Shantung MapleAcer truncatum

This beautiful maple has aspreading canopy withattractive foliage that turnsspectacular red or red-orangein late fall. It is reminiscentof Japanese maple but muchtougher.

Exposure: full sun to partialshade

Height: 25 feet

Plant type: ornamentaldeciduous tree

Planting time: fall andspring

Soil type: various soil typesand tolerates alkaline soils

Suggested uses: shade treefor small yards

Special notes: Shantungmaples tolerate heat, however they are not adapt-ed to West Texas, and thetrunk must be wrapped thefirst three years to preventsunscald. Performs best inhardiness zone 6.

Chinkapin Oak Quercus muehlenbergii

Chinkapin Oak is an attrac-tive medium to large shadetree suitable for use inmuch of Texas. Its distinc-tive saw-tooth leaves,which resemble those ofthe chinquapin tree foundin the eastern United States,are a rich green, turningyellow to bronze in fall.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 50-60 feet

Plant type: large deciduous tree


Soil type: adapts to mostsoils from slightly acidic tomoderately alkaline withmoderate drainage

Suggested uses: shade tree,street tree or park tree

Special notes: It grows inthe wild on well-drainedbottomland soils and lime-stone hills near water, but itis adaptable to a range ofsoils and exposures. It ismoderate- to fast-growingand develops an openrounded crown as it ages.Chinkapin oak is heat anddrought tolerant, whichmakes the species widelyadaptable throughoutTexas.

Rocket LarkspurConsolida ambigua

This reseeding annual hasa backward-projectingspur, formed by the upperpetal of the flower. Thelong spikes or panicles offlowers come in both sin-gle and double forms.Colors range from variousshades of blue or purple-blue to pink and white.The soft, lacy foliagemakes a great backdropfor the showy flowerspikes.

Exposure: full sun forbest bloom but will tolerate partial shade

Height: 36 inches

Plant type: reseedingannual

Planting time: fall

Soil type: well-drainedsoil

Suggested uses: in bed-ding, window boxes, cutflowers and dried flowers

Special notes: TheRocket Larkspur performsbest in hardiness zone 7,spaced 10-12 inches apart.Disease or pest problemsare minimal if plants aregrown in well-drainedsoils.

Mari-mumTagetes erecta

There are several differentvarieties of American-type(large-flowered) marigoldssuch as Antigua which canbe used to produce theMari-mum effect. The Mari-mum-type marigoldsbloom two to three timeslonger than chrysanthe-mums and are very lowmaintenance.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 8-16 inches

Plant type: annual

Planting time: transplantin mid-August using plantswith only tight flower budsshowing – preferably noopen flowers

Soil type: well-drained soilwith organic matter

Suggested uses: Mari-mums have such visualimpact, even at a distance,that they’re a wonderfulchoice for mass planting inthe accent corner of thebackyard or along the frontedge of a flower bed, walk-ways or garden paths. Mari-mums also doextremely well in containers.

Special notes: Applying 1-2 pounds of a slow releaselawn fertilizer per 100square feet of bed area willenhance blooming.

Satsuma MandarinCitrus reticulata

Satsuma Mandarin pro-duces the highest quality,most cold tolerant citrus forTexas. The tree has attrac-tive evergreen foliage andproduces white flowerswith a wonderful fragrance.The mandarin fruit is verysweet, juicy, easy to peeland almost seedless.

Exposure: minimum of 8-10 hours of sun a day

Height: 4-6 feet after several years in container

Plant type: evergreen citrus tree

Planting time: fall

Suggested uses: accentplant for the patio and containers

Special notes: This TexasSuperstar will perform bestin hardiness zone 9. It willflower between March andApril with fruit ripening inlate fall. Use at least a 20-gallon container withdrainage holes. Follow labeldirections in applying thefull rate of a slow releasefertilizer formulated specifi-cally for container use andincluding both macro- andmicro-nutrients. Reapplyfertilizer every four months.Don’t water too frequently;and bring inside whenthere is a freeze warning.


Laura Bush PetuniaPetunia x “Laura Bush”

This is an old-fashionedreseeding petunia. It ismore cold tolerant, diseaseresistant and heat tolerantthan modern hybrids.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 24 inches

Plant type: annual

Planting time: spring and summer


Suggested uses: bedding,window boxes, patio con-tainers and hanging baskets

Special notes: The LauraBush petunia performs bestin hardiness zone 7. It has a spreading growth habitwith medium-size violetflowers. It grows best whentransplanted 36 inchesapart. This Texas Superstarblooms from spring untilfrost. Between bloomcycles, prune back by 20percent and lightly fertilize.

Dwarf MexicanPetuniaRuellia brittoniana (various dwarf cultivars)

Under proper growing conditions, dwarf Mexicanpetunias tend to reseed andproduce tall upright, darkgreen plants with lance-shaped leaves and bright,tubular flowers when in fullbloom during the hottestpart of the summer.


Height: 6-8 inches

Plant type: herbaceousperennial or annualdepending on the location



Suggested uses: accent,small scale groundcover,perennial borders, edging ormixed plantings

Special notes: DwarfMexican petunias are veryadaptable and will tolerateboth wet and dry soils.They prefer full sun but willgrow in shade; however,since flowering is light-related, the plants willflower less in the shade.Although dwarf Mexicanpetunias are droughttolerant once established,they perform best with regular irrigation duringdroughts and with regularfeeding of high phosphorusfertilizers. Dwarf Mexicanpetunias are available inblue, pink and white.

Lacey OakQuercus glaucoides

This beautiful small oak,native to the Texas HillCountry, has a spreadingcanopy with attractivebluish-green foliage. Laceyoaks are highly tolerant ofheat, drought, alkaline soiland pests. They makewonderful shade trees forsmaller yards.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 25 feet

Plant type: deciduous tree


Soil type: will survive inwell-drained clay soils, butgrows best in well-drainedlimestone soils

Suggested uses:Xeriscapes or low water-uselandscapes are perfect conditions for growingLacey oak. Works best as ashade tree in a small tomedium landscape.

Special notes: Best adapted to the westerntwo-thirds of the state.Don’t water too frequently.

Moth OrchidPhalaenopsis

The moth orchid is one ofthe best orchids for growingin the home. These orchidsgrow in water and take mois-ture from the air. Clumpedorchid plants in small potsare usually the most spectac-ular bloom producers.

Exposure: place nearbright windows with nodirect sun

Height: 2 feet

Plant type: sub-tropicalindoor plants

Planting time: late springor early summer, afterblooming has completed

Soil type: well-drainingmix, such as fir bark, treefern fiber, various types ofstone, peat moss or combi-nations; standard pottingmixes will kill them

Suggested uses: interiorplants to add color to ahome or office

Special notes: Keep thetemperature above 60° F atnight and between 70° Fand 82° F during the day.Temperatures below 78° Ffor three to five weeks withgood light are needed forinitiating flower spikes.Thoroughly water and thenlet stand and do not wateragain until nearly dry.Apply a complete fertilizeron a regular schedule dur-ing the active growing sea-son at a rate of one-half toone teaspoon per one gallon at each watering.Potting should be done inlate spring or early summerafter blooming is complete.

Tidal Wave Silverand Cherry Petunia Petunia X hybrida

These petunias representtwo colors from the TidalWave series of petunia. Theyare more heat, disease andcold tolerant than typicalgrandiflora type petunias.The vigor of these plantsensures a plentiful flowersupply during the summerand into the fall.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 18-20 inches butcan spread 4 feet

Plant type: annual

Planting time: spring andsummer, can be planted inOctober/November for late-winter and early-springflowering

Soil type: adaptable to different soil types as longas well-drained

Suggested uses: bedding,ground cover, large containers

Special notes: Flowers aremore vibrant if plants arenot watered overhead. Dripirrigation is preferred.Drought tolerant, but bene-fits from regular wateringand regular fertilization. Iftrimming is desired in midto late summer, the plantscan be lightly trimmedabout 20 percent (a stringtrimmer works well). Waterand lightly fertilize aftertrimming to stimulategrowth and flowering.Plants can be set out in thefall for late winter, spring,and summer flowering.


Belinda’s Dream RoseRosa x “Belinda’s Dream”

A cross between “Tiffany”and “Jersey Beauty,” thisfast growing shrub isupright and sturdy and hasbluish-green foliage. Itsblossom is a clean pink,double and high-centeredrose in the classic hybridtea style. Blooms occur inabundance all through thewarm months, especially ifspent blooms are removedimmediately. The flowersare produced in abundancethroughout the growingseason and have a rich, distinctive fragrance.

Exposure: full sun for best bloom

Height: 5 feet

Plant type: shrub rose


Soil type: well-drained soilis best but will grow in highalkaline clay soils

Suggested uses: cut flowers, dried flowers forpotpourri and landscapes

Special notes: Belinda’sDream performs best inhardiness zones 7-9. It has a bush habit and can be aswide as 4 feet. Needs day-long full sun and good airmovement over the leaves.Drip irrigation or a soakerhose is recommended. The plant is occasionallyattacked by black spot dur-ing the cool season but isusually vigorous enough toovercome the disease.

Knockout™ RoseRosa “Radrazz”

The Knockout™ Rose produces fluorescent, cherry-red blooms thatbegin in spring and continue to provide coloruntil the first frost.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 3-4 feet, but cangrow up to 5-feet high and5-feet wide when mature



Soil type: adapts to mostsoils from acidic to moder-ately alkaline with reason-able drainage

Suggested uses: accent,shrub border, rose garden orlow hedges

Special notes: TheKnockout Rose grows wellin planting zones 4 through9 and is highly tolerant ofblack spot, powdery mildewand aphids. It is also cold-hardy throughout the state,will grow in a wide range ofsoils (even highly alkalineclays) and is very heat anddrought tolerant onceestablished. During thewinter months, its orange-red rose hips provide added interest.

John Fanick Perennial PhloxPhlox paniculata “John Fanick”

Masses of light pink flowers sporting a darkpink eye in the summerhighlight this heat anddrought resistant perenni-al. It blooms several weekslater than Victoria peren-nial or garden phlox anddoes not lodge as easily as Victoria. It is more disease resistant as well.

Exposure: full sun forbest bloom but will tolerate partial shade




Soil type: well-drainedsoil

Suggested uses: speci-men and background inperennial gardens

Special notes: The JohnFanick perennial phloxhas an attractive evergreenfoliage with a compactgrowth habit and bloomsin the summer and fall.This Texas Superstar tolerates heat, droughtand powdery mildew.Plants should be spacedbetween 24 and 36 inchesapart. Cut back in latesummer for fall blooms.The ideal hardiness zone is 4.

Chinese PistachePistacia chinensis

This is a long-lived, wintershade tree with spectacularred, red-orange fall color. Ithas outstanding heat anddrought tolerance and isextremely pest resistant.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 40-50 feet

Plant type: deciduousshade tree

Planting time: fall(September throughNovember)

Soil type: grows in anytype of soil; try to avoidheavy clays that hold water

Suggested uses: ideal sizefor shade, enframementand background for single-story homes

Special notes: TheChinese pistache developsan umbrella-like canopyand has a width of 30 feet.Fruit set will only occur onfemale trees and consists ofclusters of small, roundgreen berries that turn redto reddish-purple in the fall. These fruit clustersmake excellent table decorations and thoughinedible for humans, thefruit is relished by birds.Light but frequent fertiliza-tions are recommended.Once established, it hassuperior drought, heat andwind tolerance but will nottolerate excess or standingwater. The ideal hardinesszone is 5.


Victoria PerennialPhloxPhlox paniculata “Victoria”

This heat and droughtresistant perennial sportsmasses of purplish-pink(magenta) flowers in thesummer and in the fall (if cut back after summerbloom occurs).

Exposure: full sun for bestbloom but will tolerate par-tial shade





Suggested uses: specimenand background in perennial gardens

Special notes: TheVictoria perennial phloxhas an attractive evergreenfoliage with a compactgrowth habit. It is a hardyperennial with showy clusters of magenta pinkblossoms. It also has lightergreen foliage and a moreopen growth habit than theJohn Fanick. This TexasSuperstar tolerates heat,drought and powderymildew. Plants should bespaced between 24 and 36inches apart. The ideal hardiness zone is 4.


Grandma’s YellowRose Rosa ‘Nachogdoches’

Grandma’s Yellow Rose isdeep yellow with 17 to 25petals and repeatedlyblooms from spring untilthe first hard frost. Its newleaves have a shade ofbronze, then turn darkgreen. Flowers have a lightand spicy fragrance. It is arepeat bloomer from springuntil frost and is quite dis-ease resistant. It is coldhardy to zone 6.

Exposure: full sun for atleast six hours per day

Height: 4-5 feet

Plant type: shrub rosewith a floribunda type habit


Soil type: well-drainedslightly acidic soil is best,but it adapts to alkaline claysoils as long as drainage isadequate

Suggested uses: accent,shrub border with perenni-als, low hedges, cut flowers

Special notes: Can beattacked by black spot dur-ing wet periods, mainly inthe spring and fall. A fewfungicide applications in thespring or during long wetperiods will control the disease. Plants tolerate thedisease well by readily producing new growth afterdefoliation. Will be designat-ed a Superstar in May 2010.


Henry DuelbergSalvia farinacea

Henry Duelberg is a low-maintenance; heat-tolerant,Texas native plant that pro-duces masses of showy blueflowers from spring untilthe first frost.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 3 feet; width 3 feet


Soil type: adapts to mostsoils

Suggested uses: bedding,containers, xeriscape,perennial border, cut flower

Special notes: Shearingfrequently between bloomcycles will promote bloomdevelopment. HenryDuelberg is not preferred by deer.

Mystic Spires BlueSalvia (Salvia longispicata X farinacea ‘Mystic Spires Blue’)

Mystic Spires Blue Salvia is acompact form of anotherpopular salvia called IndigoSpires. Though shorter thanIndigo Spires, it flowers evenmore freely during theentire growing season. Itproduces masses of true blueflowers that mix nicely withother annuals and perenni-als, is tolerant of heat andhumidity (low and high)and is not bothered by pests, diseases or deer!

Exposure: full sun




Soil type: adapts to mostsoils, but needs gooddrainage

Suggested uses: bedding,containers, perennial bor-der, cut flower

Special notes: MysticSpires Blue Salvia is hardy tozone 7 with good drainage.Excess water and fertilizercan result in excessive vege-tative growth and lack offlowers. If needed, plantscan be pruned during thegrowing season as reflower-ing occurs quickly. Shootscan be pruned to 12 inchesor more in the fall afterbeing killed by freezing, butrefrain from pruning to theground until growth isstrong in the spring.

Photo provided and copyrighted by Dr.Pemberton Dr. H. Brent Pemberton,Texas AgriLife and Extension

Cape PlumbagoPlumbago auriculata

Cape Plumbago producesprofuse blue flowers andthrives in the hot Texassummer. It is sometimescalled “sky flower”because of the sky-bluecolor of its flowers. It produces from May untilthe first frost.

Exposure: full sun; partial sun

Height: 4 feet tall, up to5 feet wide




Suggested uses:container or accent plant

Special notes: Driedflowers should be prunedfrom the Plumbago toencourage re-bloomingand to maintain desiredplant shape. It is excellentfor attracting butterflies. It can handle hot, humidsummers and is reason-ably drought tolerant.

Marie Daly RoseRosa x polyantha “Marie Daly”

This easy care shrub rosehas few thorns and lots ofvery fragrant, double pinkblooms. It offers succes-sive flushes of bloom fromspring to frost. Developedfor Texas, this rose offers anew color of renownedantique rose “Marie Pavie”and good disease andalkaline soil tolerance.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 3 feet



Soil type: well-drainedsoil is best but will growin high alkaline clay soils

Suggested uses: cut flow-ers, dried flowers for pot-pourri and landscapes

Special notes: MarieDaly Rose performs best inhardiness zone 5. It has abush habit and can be aswide as 3 feet. Needs daylong full sun and goodair movement over theleaves. Drip irrigation or a soaker hose is recommended.

Thyrallis or Shower-of-Gold Galphimia glauca Galphimia gracilis

As the name implies,Shower-of-Gold offers sea-son-long spikes of bright,yellow flowers; flowers aremostly held at or above thedark-green to blue-greenfoliage; with periodic prun-ing, plants develop a densehandsome canopy withenough flowers to draw theeye from a distance.

Exposure: full sun to verylight shade

Height: 3-5 feet

Plant type: woody shrub(South Texas) or summerannual (North Texas)

Planting time: anytimefrom containers as a shrub,spring as a summer annual

Soil type: tolerant of mostsoils as long as they are welldrained

Suggested uses: general-purpose evergreen shrub inwarmer portions of Texas;tolerates summer heat as apatio container; nice back-ground for perennial orannual borders in SouthTexas.

Special notes: This plantblooms whenever tempera-tures permit; annual prun-ing will maintain a denserhabit and plants work wellwhen pruned back as a sub-shrub or herbaceousperennial.


Pride-of-Barbados Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Pride of Barbados is an ever-green shrub or small tree infrost-free climates, a decidu-ous shrub in zone 9, areturning perennial in zone8 and an annual in Northand West Texas. Pride-of-Barbados dies to the groundfollowing frost or freezingtemperatures, but in zone 8b(South Central Texas) itcomes back reliable in mid-dle spring. Pride-of-Barbadoshas incredibly showy blos-soms of orange and red. Thestriking orange-red flowersare an attention grabber!

Exposure: full sun

Height: 8-12 feet

Plant type: summer annual, perennial, or woodyshrub depending upon the severity of winter temperatures

Planting time: spring toearly summer

Soil type: very easy to grow in alkaline to acidic,well-drained soils

Suggested uses: use as aspecimen or in a mixedshrub border

Special notes: Plants toler-ate very high temperaturesand drought, but do not tolerate poorly drained soils.Pride-of-Barbados is bestgrown in raised beds inhumid climates.


Caricature Plant Graptophyllum pictum

Caricature Plant is an excel-lent summer annual for awide range of light condi-tions from full sun to denseshade. Several new cultivarson the market offer foliagethat varies from dark greenor chocolate bronze withcreamy white centers to tri-color foliage with variouscombinations of green,white, cream and pink.

Exposure: full sun to dense shade

Height: 2-4 feet as anannual, to 6-8 feet as a tropical shrub

Plant type: summer annual (cold climates) orwoody shrub (tropics)

Planting time: anytimefrom containers as a shrub,late spring for use as a sum-mer annual

Soil type: tolerant of mostsoils as long as they remainmoist during the growingseason

Suggested uses: ideal forthose transition beds fromsunny courtyards to thedense shade of entryways;can also be used in interi-orscapes and containers.

Special notes: CaricaturePlant is very heat tolerant,but wilts under droughtconditions; it is cold sensi-tive and can be damaged bytemperatures much below55° F.


Blue PrincessVerbenaVerbena x hybrida “Blue Princess”

This butterfly-attracting,easy care perennial hasmasses of beautiful, lavender blue flowers.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 12 inches




Suggested uses: beddingplant, containers, baskets,perennial border, butterflyand hummingbird gardens

Special notes: The BluePrincess verbena bloomsearly spring through latefall. Shear between bloomcycles to promote newblooms.

Variegated TapiocaManihot esculenta

Variegated Tapioca is a tropical plant grown as anannual in all but southern-most Texas. The variegatedleaves form a chartreuse/yellow pattern. It is a non-blooming plant that offers a tropical flare to summerlandscapes.

Exposure: full sun; partialsun, however plants aremost colorful when grownin full sun

Height: 4 feet tall, up to 5 feet wide

Plant type: annual in allbut southernmost Texas

Planting time: springafter last frost

Soil type: requires a well-drained soil or containerpotting mix and will toler-ate a wide range of pH

Suggested uses: containeror accent plant

Special notes: Variegatedtapioca is a heat lover anddoes not grow vigorouslyuntil the night tempera-tures are consistently above60° F. It will exhibit chillinginjury when night tempera-tures dip below 50° F. Keepthe growing medium moist,and mulch if planted in thesoil. Plants will grow just aswell in alkaline soil as theywill in acidic soils. They aresomewhat tolerant to foliarsalt exposure in the CoastalBend area.


Texas DawnNymphaea spp.

Texas Dawn received theInternational Water LilySociety’s 1990 AmericanAward. It can be expectedto produce seven to eightblooms at a time by mid-summer. Texas Dawn pro-duces rich yellow flowerswith outer petals blushedpink, greenish yellow withpink border sepal and deepyellow anthers. Flower sizeis 3-8 inches with a lemony fragrance.

Exposure: full sun

Height: flowers grow 3-8inches above the surface of the water


Planting time: spring-summer when water tem-perature is 70-85° F

Soil type: heavy clay

Suggested uses: ponds,cut flowers, dry flowers

Special notes: Green topleaves speckled purple withpurple undersides. Leavesare 8 inches with a 3- 5 footspread. Even though TexasDawn requires full sun, it is one of a few varieties thatcan bloom with three hoursof sun daily, increasingyour landscaping options.In some instances TexasDawn can produce up tothree blooms per day. Other well-adapted water lily varieties include ClydeIkins, Colorado, LaydekeriFulgens, Panama Pacific,Perry’s Double White, RedFlare and Star of Siam.

Texas Lilac VitexVitex agnus-castus

The Texas Lilac Vitex, also known as Mexicanlavender, is a small-flower-ing tree and grows bestwhen planted in full sunand in a location thatdrains well.

Exposure: full sun

Height: 10-15 feet

Plant type: large deciduous woody shrub orsmall tree



Suggested uses: accent,shrub border, seasonalscreen or limbed up as asmall ornamental tree

Special notes: Texas Lilac Vitex needs periodicrenewal pruning to remove old dead wood. It prospers in hot and dry environments. TheTexas Department ofTransportation recognizesits toughness and plantsvitex in highway medians.It is also a spectacular butterfly-attracting plant.The three cultivars of TexasLilac available are LeCompte, Shoal Creek and Montrose Purple.

Vinca Cora andNirvana Series Catharanthus roseus

Cora and Nirvana vinca(commonly referred to asperiwinkle) are the first varieties of this species to be resistant to the AerialPhytophthora fungus, adevastating disease thatuntil now limited the use ofthis species in Texas land-scapes. In addition, they areheat and humidity tolerantand deer resistant. They areavailable in a wide array ofcolors with either upright ortrailing habits and flowerthroughout the summerwith some of the largestflowers in the genus.

Exposure: full sun, but willtolerate semi-shade


Plant type: annual

Planting time: late springto summer

Soil type: adaptable tomost soils

Suggested uses: bedding,containers, hanging baskets(trailing types), windowboxes

Special notes: The besttime to plant vinca is afterthe soil has thoroughlywarmed in late spring orearly summer. It does bestin hot weather. It is droughttolerant, but does best withgood soil drainage and regu-lar water and fertilization at moderate levels.


USDA Hardiness Zones

°F °C-5 to -10

0 to -5

5 to 0

10 to 5

15 to 10

20 to 15

25 to 20

30 to 25

-21 to -23

-18 to -21

-15 to -18

-12 to -15

-10 to -12

-7 to -10

-4 to -7

-1 to -4

Annual Minimum Temperature

6a

6b

7a

7b

8a

8b

9a

9b

Texas Superstars perform best at thehardiness zones indicated; however,Texas Superstars are widely adapted

across the state.

USDA Hardiness Zones


For more information:

TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCHTEXAS AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE

PROVING THAT TEXAS SUPERSTARS® ARE OUTSTANDING

LANDSCAPE PLANTS SPECIFICALLY ADAPTED TO TEXAS

TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER

P. O. BOX 1849UVALDE, TEXAS 78802

TELEPHONE: (830) 278-9151CONTACT: LARRY STEIN

WEB SITE: WWW.TEXASSUPERSTAR.COM

TEXAS NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION

A Texas trade association representing grower, retail, landscape and supplier segments of the nursery and

landscape industry

7730 South IH-35, Austin, Texas 78745Telephone: (512) 280-5182

Fax: (512) 280-3012Web site: www.tnlaonline.org

COMMISSIONER TODD STAPLES

TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Promoting and resourcing Texas-grown horticulture and other Texas agricultural products

P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711Telephone: (512) 463-7472

For the hearing impaired: (800) 735-2989 (TTY)Fax: (888) 223-5733

Web site: www.gotexan.org

Texas Superstar®

Documents

Transcript of Texas Superstar®