Texas Star Hibiscus is a slender, multi-branched, perennial shrub. From June to October, it produces eye catching, red and white, star-shaped blooms that are three to four inches wide. This Hibiscus does well in moist soils and is great along streams or in rain gardens.
The Lemon Drop Iris, like the Orange Drop Iris, is an evergreen perennial that may get two to three feet tall at maturity. The big difference between Lemon and Orange Drop is the coloring on the petals. Lemon Drop has yellow spots near the base of the flower while Orange Drop has orange spots. They both have narrow, dark green leaves. Both plants are often found along the margins of ponds in their native South African home.They are both hybrids of the Dietes iridioides and the Dietes bicolor.
Orange Drop Iris is an evergreen perennial that can get to be two to three feet tall at maturity. It has beautiful cream colored flowers that have distinctive orange spots at the base of the petals. Each flower will only last a day, but the plant will continue to bloom throughout the spring and summer months! Orange Drop has short, dark and narrow green leaves. It is originally from South Africa. Orange Drop does particularly well in South Texas.
Montrose Purple Vitex, or Chaste Tree, is a large deciduous shrub or small tree with aromatic, palmately compound leaves. From early summer to the first frost, this Vitex is covered with 10-12” long, purple flower spikes. The Chaste Tree is also very drought tolerant and deer resistant!
The Little Gem Magnolia is a small flowering evergreen tree. It is very slow growing and can get to be around twelve feet tall in the span of fifteen years. It has beautiful white flowers that are extremely fragrant and will bloom continuously throughout the hot Texas summer months. It has dark green, glossy leaves that are a bronze-brown color on the underside of the leaf. It is an overall smaller plant than the other grandiflora varieties, so it is a great selection for smaller home sites. Little Gem does particularly well in East Texas.