9 Native Plants & Flowers That Grow Well in Texas
Many homeowners in Texas choose to enhance their landscape and improve their curb appeal with beautiful flowers and shrubs.
When answering the question, “What flowers grow well in Texas?” It’s important to consider the USDA Hardiness Zone Map. Most of Texas falls in zones 7, 8, or 9.
These are generally considered to be some of the best zones for growing plants due to their long growing seasons and general hardiness. Northern Texas is considered to be zone 6 due to its cooler climate, but there are still dozens of plants that thrive in the area.
No matter which zone you call home in Texas, there are a plethora of plants that will enjoy your landscape.
What Flowers Grow Well in Texas? A Look at 9 Unique Flora
Any plants you choose to add to your yard should be able to withstand the high temperatures and low moisture levels that are common in certain areas of Texas. Luckily, you can’t go wrong with these nine unique flowers and plants that will grow well in your Texas yard:
Shasta Daisies — Zones 3-9
Shasta daisies are the quintessential white and yellow daisies that everyone thinks of. This particular kind of daisy is great for Texas homeowners because it’s resistant to heat, drought, and humidity, and it needs very little maintenance. Best of all, you can cut and use them in a floral arrangement to add some beauty inside your home as well.
Turk’s Cap — Zones 7-10
Turk’s Cap is a low-maintenance, heat-loving perennial that bears bright red hibiscus-like flowers. Turk’s Cap is actually native to Texas, so your local garden store is sure to have some. Do not confuse Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk’s Cap) with the American Turk’s Cap Lily, which is not suitable for most Texans.
Red Yucca — Zones 6-11
Red Yucca is an evergreen perennial succulent that produces long, arching, blue-green leaves and exquisite red, coral, and pink rosettes during the spring and summer. It requires very little care once it is established and does best in sandy and dry soils under full sun.
Columbine — Zones 3-9
Columbine is an eye-catching perennial that produces delicate, bell-shaped flowers in shades of red, pink, yellow, and blue. This beauty is easy to grow as long as you have well-drained soil. Columbine also attracts pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies, but not rabbits or deer.
Purslane — Zones 2-12
The hardy, low-maintenance, and fast-growing Purslane is a fantastic way to add a pop of color to your yard. If you find yourself tempted by the bright yellow flowers protruding from clusters of succulent leaves, go ahead and give it a bite. The entire Purslane plant is edible and packed full of vitamins.
However, this plant is not a good choice for pet owners, as it is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
Bird of Paradise Shrub — Zones 8-11
The Bird of Paradise Shrub is a fast-growing, evergreen shrub that thrives in most parts of Texas. During the summer, this shrub produces eye-catching and exotic-looking clusters of yellow flowers with long, protruding red stamens. Once established, these shrubs have excellent drought resistance.
Hibiscus — Zones 4-9
Hibiscus bushes produce some of the most beautiful flowers in all of Texas. But this tropical-looking flower is not as delicate as it appears. There are many different striking color variations of this hardy flower, including bright red, pink, white, yellow, purple, and various combinations of each.
Italian Aster — Zones 5-8
Not to be confused with daisies, Italian Asters produce deep lavender, blue, and pink blossoms with broad daisy-like petals around a golden center. Asters are great for attracting pollinators, so it’s a good idea to plant them in or around your vegetable garden.
Iranian Germander — Zones 6-9
Thriving in zones 6-9, Iranian Germander was practically made for Texas. This drought-resistant perennial shrub not only adds beauty to your yard with its large, upright towers of lavender flowers, but it also adds a light and fresh fragrance.
Take Your Yard to the Next Level
Now that you know what flowers grow well in Texas, you can start adding more foliage to your yard to create a landscape you can enjoy for years to come. Take it slow at first so that you don’t overwhelm yourself. Remember, new plants require the most attention and care.
Grass Works has been providing Expert Residential & Commercial Local Lawn Care Services in Central Texas: Austin, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Avery Ranch, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Steiner Ranch & West Austin since 2007! Need help with your landscaping? Get a free estimate today!
Ferris MyCue is the founder and owner of Grass Works Lawn Care, LLC located in Leander, TX. As a former firefighter who maintained yards on his days off, he saw a need for a dependable, local maintenance company that knew the hill country climate and could deliver quality landscaping services for a reasonable price. Since 2007 he has used his leadership to grow the company into one of the top landscape maintenance companies in Austin and surrounding areas offering landscape maintenance, design, and irrigation services to both residential and commercial clients. Ferris is also a member of the Seasonal Employment Alliance (SEA) and an active participant in advocacy efforts to help promote cap relief.