Flowers: night and day purslane, moss rose, vinca, Ice plant, Joseph’s coat,
salvia, Mexican heather, ruellia, gerbera daisy, dusty miller, gazania,
coreopsis, caladium, coleus, celosia.
Trees: Plant container grown trees only! But if must buy trees with root balls
wrapped in burlap, make sure the tree is green and healthy.
Anacua Tree in bloomNatives: Mountain Laurel, guayacan, guajillo, live oak, anacua, Rio
Grande ash, mesquite, retama, wild olive, black willow.
Non-native: Cottonwood, crepe myrtle, weeping willow.
Shrubs: Natives manzanita (barbados cherry), lantana, hachinal ,coral bean,
yucca, butterfly bush (buddleia), wild petunia (ruellia), chilipiquin,
dwarf-youpon holly.
BougainvilleaNon-native bougainvillea, plumbago, hibiscus, butterfly weed,
cape honeysuckle, pittosporum, ligustrum sage.
Note: most of these shrubs, especially the native shrubs, attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Vegetables: Cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, okra, peppers, pumpkin.
Herbs: Thyme, rosemary, rue, anise, borage, basil, bay, garlic, parsely,
Mexican mint marigold (tarragon).
Remember:
-When planting trees, shrubs, flowers and herbs use mulch around the base of the plant to conserve moisture.
-Water recently planted materials once or twice a week and water deeply.
-Watch for grub worms in your lawns and gardens Use a granular insecticide, like Dursban, or Diazion.
-Keep all flower beds and vegetable garden areas free of weeds so they don’t compete with your plants for moisture and nutrients.
-Add 1 inch of organic matter to your gardens and beds, work it in.
-Regularly check for whitefly and aphids, control with soapy water spray. Be sure to spray under the leaves.
(Information source: Successful Gardening in the Magic Valley of Texas, Dist. VI, Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. and Native Trees- and Native Shrubs-of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas Landscape Uses and Identification, Native Plant Project, PO Box 1433, Edinburg, TX)
