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The Frostproof Gardenia bears shiny, dark, thick medium-sized green leaves that are considered evergreen and contrast nicely with the intensely fragrant, double white flowers that bloom in late spring and through the early summer. The flower buds, that set in late July and early August and carry through winter, are resistant to late spring frosts that can damage them. This is an excellent choice for a lower-growing hedge or foundation planting. This gardenia can thrive with more direct sun than most other varieties and prefers well drained, acidic soils. When the soil is not acid enough, the plants cannot absorb needed iron appropriately and this can lead to a yellowish cast of the leaves known as Iron Chlorosis.

The Dwarf Calliandra is commonly known as ‘the Powder Puff plant’. This compact shrub will produce showy red Mimosa-like flowers during the warm season, but is not cold hardy. The scarlet red puff ball shaped flowers begin as small clustered buds that resemble small berries. This small to medium sized naturally evergreen tropical shrub also makes a wonderful container plant and can be used for bonsai. Where hardy, it can be used as a hedge that the hummingbirds are sure to fight over! Provide good drainage and a partial to full sun location for the best results. This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

The Desert Rose resembles a bonsai without all the detailed care. It has a thick, swollen trunk that can hold water during times of drought and shiny dark green leaves. But the real appeal comes from its showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in shades of pink, white, purple, and red. Desert Rose is a sun-loving plant, so grow it in the brightest spot you have. It's a perfect companion plant for cacti and other succulents. However, because it is a tropical plant, it cannot survive frost conditions. Note: Desert Rose is not meant for human or animal consumption. All parts of this plant are considered poisonous so keep that in mind when planting in areas of easy accessibility to curious pets and children.

A favorite dryland native wildflower, Melampodium Blackfoot Daisy prefers sandy, well-drained soils and gravel mulch. It doesn’t do well planted in clay. With decent rains, but not excess water, it will flower almost all summer, covering itself with 1" wide, white petal, yellow centered daisies on tidy, mounding plants. It loves full sun, but it’s also great in light shade. Blackfoot Daisies bloom from early spring through fall. It self-seeds easily, but is not invasive. Give it a haircut now and then to remove spent flowers and encourage more flowering. Blackfoot Daisy is hardy to well below zero and is equally hardy in our hot Texas summers.

This truly tropical evergreen shrub is relatively compact. It can be used as a landscape plant in frost-free zones and as container specimens in cooler climates. Where hardy, it is ideal for hedges, borders, and foundation plantings. Mauis prefer full sun to part shade, particularly in the hottest part of the day with sunlight bringing out vibrant colors and more prolific blooming. Its soil must be well-drained and on the acid side. Covered with large, leathery, dark green leaves, it will produce many round flower clusters comprised of lots of four-petaled blooms with long floral tubes. The brightly colored flowers are sunny orangish yellow. They are pollinated by butterflies and followed by hard, fleshy berry-like (non-edible) fruits.