Read This: The Texas Native Plant Primer

Texans emotion autochthonal plants. Our authorities angiosperm is the beloved bluebonnet, a Texas autochthonal wildflower. Our authoritative authorities botanic plot is the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, planted exclusively with autochthonal taxon from crossed Texas. Many of our autarkic nurseries — similar Green Sleeves successful Pflugerville, Pollinatives successful San Antonio, and Buchanan’s successful Houston — give themselves mostly oregon afloat to selling Texas autochthonal plants. And gardeners, particularly successful the hotter and drier parts of the state, often question retired natives for their yards.

After all, it conscionable makes bully sense. Plants from present evolved to past the Death Star of our summertime sun, and they tin bounce backmost from extremes of drought oregon acold wherever nonnatives whitethorn springiness up the ghost. I’m nary purist and besides turn nonnatives that are Texas tough. There’s not a happening incorrect with mixing it up. But natives person a peculiar spot successful my heart. I learned to emotion them arsenic a babe gardener done repeated visits to the Wildflower Center, wherever I was inspired by Lady Bird Johnson’s imaginativeness for keeping Texas looking similar Texas, not Anyplace, USA. (And the aforesaid for each the different states.)

When I was a caller gardener, I pored implicit books astir Texas autochthonal plants by aboriginal proponents similar Jill Nokes and Sally Wasowski. I’ve recovered different worthy autochthonal works guides since past (see my publication reviews page, prime “List View,” and hunt for “Texas”). But I’m blessed to say, a caller publication astir Texas autochthonal plants is out, and it’s 1 of the champion I’ve read: The Texas Native Plant Primer: 225 Plants for an Earth-Friendly Garden by Andrea DeLong-Amaya, manager of horticulture astatine the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, which shares co-authorship with her.

I’ve agelong known that Andrea is simply a knowledgeable horticulturist and talented decorator with autochthonal plants. She’s besides an engaging educator. What I didn’t cognize is what a bully writer she is. Forget each those dry, unoriginal works descriptions you’ve ever snoozed through. Andrea packs The Texas Native Plant Primer with keen observations, striking ocular comparisons, a bully woody of humor, and heavy affection for Texas plants — adjacent the standoffish ones guarded by prickles, thorns, and spines.

I’ve been increasing autochthonal plants for 30 years and inactive recovered plentifulness of caller info successful the book. First off, it covers 225 plants! No substance however galore autochthonal taxon you grow, you’re definite to find caller ones here. And adjacent for aged favorites, Andrea offers a caller item astir each plant: possibly her favourite companion plants to marque it radiance adjacent brighter, oregon a cardinal attraction tip, oregon the peculiar mode it provides wildlife habitat. I particularly similar her conception of time-sharing — pairing plants that instrumentality implicit for each different erstwhile 1 goes dormant (whether successful summertime oregon winter), helping you debar bare spots successful your plot portion maximizing seasons of flowering.

For immoderate Texas gardener not already invested successful autochthonal plants, oregon for folks caller to Texas, who haven’t learned that the plants they’re utilized to from “back home” volition evaporate successful a wisp of fume aft we’ve sizzled astatine 102 degrees for 3 months straight, the publication makes a beardown case. Water conservation, redeeming wealth connected unnecessary fertilizers and ungraded treatments, illness and pest resistance, a consciousness of determination identity, connecting with the earthy world, and adjacent the excitement of trying cool, caller plants — for each these reasons and more, autochthonal plants beryllium successful your plot oregon landscape.

Likewise, this publication belongs connected immoderate gardening Texan’s bookshelf, with pages grimed by dirt-stained hands from predominant referencing. It would marque a bully acquisition for a caller gardener oregon homeowner arsenic well.

Speaking of autochthonal plants…

This Thursday, April 10th astatine 7:30 pm, travel larn astir a visionary autochthonal works plot called SummerHome! Tickets are inactive available. I’m excited to invited Lisa Negri to my Garden Spark talker series and present her to an assemblage of appreciative autochthonal works lovers. Hear however she transformed an bare batch adjacent doorway to her Denver location into an oasis for wildlife and neighbors. The speech volition beryllium held astatine Leaf Landscape Supply (north location), and tickets indispensable beryllium purchased successful advance. Join america for an evening of learning, inspiration, and assemblage with chap plot lovers!

Disclosure: Timber Press sent maine The Texas Native Plant Primer, and I reviewed it astatine my ain discretion and without immoderate compensation. This post, arsenic with everything astatine Digging, is my idiosyncratic opinion.

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Digging Deeper

Fill up your plot with plants from the 2025 works merchantability by the Hill Country Bloomers Garden Club connected April 12, from 10 americium to 3 pm. Held successful Milburn Park successful Cedar Park, the nine volition connection “a wide assortment of rootlike starts, autochthonal plants, perennials, and annuals, on with cacti and succulents. Our plot members and growers volition beryllium connected manus to assistance you prime plants and reply questions. All proceeds from the works income enactment our Educational Garden Grants for schools and non-profit younker programs successful the LISD district.”

Shop the Spring Native Plant Sale astatine the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center each play done April 27, 9 americium to 1 p.m. (last introduction astatine 12:30 pm). Plant merchantability admittance is free. Bring your ain wagon oregon cart to transport your treasures.

Tour 5 unsocial Houston gardens connected Saturday, April 26, from 10 americium to 4 pm, during the Garden Conservancy’s Open Day Tour for Houston. Tickets indispensable beryllium purchased online successful beforehand done the Garden Conservancy.

Come larn astir gardening and plan astatine Garden Spark! I signifier in-person talks by inspiring designers, scenery architects, authors, and gardeners a fewer times a twelvemonth successful Austin. These are limited-attendance events that merchantability retired quickly, truthful articulation the Garden Spark email database to beryllium notified successful advance; simply click this nexus and inquire to beryllium added. Read each astir the Season 8 lineup here!

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