Plants that Bloom all Summer in Texas Landscapes
Yellow Bells, Mexican Petunias, and Crape Myrtle Color for Summer
Sep 17, 2009
July and August in Texas can sometimes seem devoid of color. The roadsides and even some lawns are turning brown and the sky is white-hot with only a trace of light blue. However, there are some flowering plants that actually thrive in the heat and constant sun of Texas summers—Yellow Bells, Mexican Petunias, and Crape Myrtles.
Yellow Bells for Texas Gardens
Yellow Bells, also called Esperanza, bloom from April through November. Their showy bell-shaped flowers grow along woody stems in clusters. They are popular with bees and butterflies. Yellow Bells grow from three to six feet tall and will spread out two to three feet. They grow well in Central and West Texas preferring sand or loam soil. Yellow Bells prefer well-drained soil with weekly watering.
The plants like full sun but will tolerate some shade. Yellow Bells are not winter hardy. However, even though they die back to the ground during cold winters, they will often re-emerge in the spring from their roots. Cutting them back to the ground in the late fall and adding a layer of mulch will help sustain them through the cold weather.
Yellow Bells are easy to grow from transplants. They also produce seed pods in the fall that look like green beans or pea pods. Seeds from these may be saved for planting the following year. They require a bit of fertilizer twice a year and are not prone to damage from insect pests or diseases.
Growing Mexican Petunias
Mexican Petunias are also called Ruella. The flowers range from pink to lavender or violet in color. They bloom from March through December, but become dormant beginning with the first hard freeze. They will grow in any well-drained soil anywhere in Texas.
Usually planted from transplants initially, Mexican Petunias will spread rapidly. They self-seed anywhere and Texas gardeners will find that they need to remove starter plants in other flower beds, gravel areas, and even between stepping stones or drive-way cracks.
Mexican Petunias prefer some shade and especially protection from afternoon sun. Although the plants will survive in full sun, they may not bloom as profusely. The flowers should be enjoyed in the ground as they do not do well as cuttings for indoor vases.
Expect for keeping then watered and lightly fertilized, Mexican Petunias require very little care.
Crape Myrtles—a Texas Treasure
Crape Myrtles are the king of Texas summer color. They bloom continuously from June through October in colors that range from white to dark red and purple. Although basically a shrub, Crape Myrtles can grow to 20 or 30 feet. There are small or dwarf varieties that will only get about 3 feet tall.
Crape Myrtles are planted in the spring and fertilized with a high nitrogen fertilizer twice a year during their growing season. During the winter, they lose their leaves and become dormant. Crape Myrtles are vulnerable to powdery mildew when the humidity is high. Insect pests include aphids, Japanese beetles, and primrose flea beetles.
Texas gardeners can see an awesome display of the variety of colors and uses of Crape Myrtles in Texas landscapes by attending the Crape Myrtle Trails of McKinney, Texas during a visit to the northern part of the State.
Texas gardeners and those who want colorful landscapes should not despair when summer comes. Choosing summer blooming plants like Yellow Bellow, Mexican Petunias, and Crape Myrtles promise color and beauty all summer long.
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