Top tips for drought-tolerant plants for Texas landscapes.
It wasn’t that long ago that Texas experienced one of its worst droughts. But sometimes, the worst droughts show us which plants do best during extreme bouts of heat and drought. For many Texan homeowners, finding the right plants for their yard is essential for a low-maintenance, thriving landscape. These are a few trees, succulents, and flowers which will thrive with little water and care in Texas’ worst heat and drought.
Shrubs
The salvia shrub is native to the state, often found in limestone outcrops and canyon areas. Salvia comes in a variety of different colors, ranging from white to pink to red. It has fragrant leaves and flowers that bloom all summer long and into the fall, making it an easy and low maintenance shrub to add to your yard. Other shrubs you could consider include:
- Succulents (agave, yucca, and Texas sotol)
- Bottlebrush
- Texas sage
Trees
Trees are just as sensitive as smaller plants and flowers to a lack of moisture in the soil and air, but a weak or dying tree can cause far more damage to your home than wilted flowers. Since drought conditions are not unusual in Texas, it’s wise to choose a tree that is native or specially designed to tolerate dry conditions. A few of these include:
- Arizona cypress
- Black cherry
- Cedar elm
- Prairie flameleaf sumac
- Southern red oak
- Texas ash
- Texas live oak
- Texas oak
Grass
The Mexican feather grass’s wiry, slender, and hair-like leaves combine well with other plants in Texas landscapes, waves well in the wind, and is a sustainable solution for any landscape.
Flowers
Flowers certainly add color and vibrance to any backyard, but choosing the right flower to withstand the Texas heat is imperative. Flowers tend to be needy: they like a certain amount of water and a certain amount of sunlight. If you’re looking for an easy-to-grow perennial that survives droughts, the Columbine flower may be for you. Cape Plumbago is also another beautiful addition, especially when used as groundcover.
What are some of your favorite drought-tolerant flowers and plants? Let us know! For all of your personal and commercial insurance needs, contact your local team at Reata Insurance Group today!
