The Mediterranean Fan palm, or European Fan Palm, is a cold-hardy palm that keeps a maintainable size at 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide. The main trunk is often covered in brown bristly-hairs, with the base of old leaves persisting. The blue-green leaves predominantly have an upright habit, and can reach up to two feet across --the stems are lined with extremely stiff spines.

Although small and of manageable size, the Mediterranean Fan Palm often sprouts multiple trunks from the base, resulting in a clump-forming palm as it matures. Although some home owners desire to have a single trunk, it’s not easy as the small trunks are secure at the base, and the leaves are covered in those vicious spines.

Bright yellow flowers appear at the top of the trunk, but are often hidden behind the leaves and often go unnoticed. The reddish-brown fruits that follow are often unseen as well. Grows very well with regular watering, however will tolerate drought conditions and poor soils as long as it’s given adequate drainage. 

This feather leaf palm is best planted in large areas where the leaves don’t need to be trimmed to make room for walkways or traffic. The overall height of the Pindo is only 20 feet, however the leaves can reach up to 10 feet past the four foot stems, falling downward then curving back towards the trunk. They are pinnate, and blue-gray to silver-gray in color, with spines down the leaf stems.

In the late spring to early summer female palms have a thick pink-purple inflorescence emerging from the crown. Fall brings bright orange pindo dates that are popular for making jellies and jams. If left on the plant, they can create a large mess that attracts insects and vermin.

Pindo Palm doesn’t tolerate extended periods of freezing temperatures, and grows best in well-drained sandy soils. Once established, it’s incredibly drought tolerant. 

This landscape palm is a lovely conversation piece for any landscape, as it can fire up debates depending on your beliefs -- scientist estimate this plant was growing on this planet over 150 million years ago! Sago Palm is almost a misnomer, as it belongs to the plant family Cycadaceae, and is a palm only by aesthetics alone.

It forms a prominent trunk that grows very slow with age. Once or possibly twice a year, new bright green leaves emerge from the central trunk, then slowly unfurling like a fern to reveal leaves up to five feet long. Although soft to the touch and fragile, the leaves eventually harden up with a stiff midrib, sporting plenty of needle like leaves with a sharp point, turning dark green.  Leaves are noticeably larger when grown in full shade.

Sago Palm is dioecious, with easily identified blooms for the male and female. It also reproduces from small suckers borne at the base of the plant; the ideal time to remove them would be in winter with a shovel or hatchet.

Sago palm appreciates well drained soils, and a slow release fertilizer on a regular basis . Be sure to cover in freezing temperatures as leaves will die if exposed too long, and it would take quite a while to replenish all the leaves. 

An attractive upright growing palm that sways easily in the wind as the gray-ringed trunk is at maximum twelve inches thick; this palm sways easily in the wind. Greatly appreciates rich, fertile soils but can tolerate worse and even withstand periods of drought.

The large palmate leaves have a slight drooping effect on the ends, and grow up to five feet in length and width. The leaf steams are light green with orange streaks, and have prominent spines along both edges. Once the older leaves die, they lay down flat and begin to form a highly attractive skirt or curtain around the trunk. Several years’ worth of leaves will continue to fall and pile on each other, which although attractive, can become the home of rats and other vermin -- great care must be taken when pruning old dead leaves.

Creamy white inflorescences appear in the early summer on stalks up to ten feet in length, growing out beyond the leaves. They produce black berries that easily attract wildlife, or germinate quickly after falling to the ground.  

Windmill Palm is the most cold-hardy upright palm available for the state of Texas. Relatively fast growing if grown in fertile soil with regular watering, but can grow in drought conditions with little soil nutrients.

Windmill is idea in tight landscape areas as it’s completely upright growing, with the main trunk no more than twelve inches in diameter. The large palm leaves are at the end of stems up to three feet in length, forming a nearly completely symmetrical crown. To assist in identification, there are no thorns on the palm branches. The upper trunk is covered in a loose mat of brown fiber, while lower trunk is uncovered, displaying a handsome smooth ringed trunk.

 Windmill is dioecious, meaning only the female will bear large long branched inflorescence blooms in the spring, with clusters of blue fruits in the fall. 

Popular bedding plants that bloom all winter long. Mainly come in a blue-yellow-white flower, but also available in yellows, creams, and blues. Self-seeds easily.

2009 Expected Cultivars:

Colossus Deep Blue W/ Blotch
Colossus Neon Violet
Colossus Red W/ Blotch
Colossus Rose W/ Blotch
Colossus White W/ Blotch
Colossus Yellow W/ Blotch
Delta Blaze Mix
Delta Blue W/ Blotch
Delta Primose W/ Blotch
Delta Premium Deep Blue W/ Blotch
Delta Premium Pure Golden Yellow
Delta Premium Pure Yellow
Delta Premium Pure Violet
Delta Premium White W/ Blotch
Delta Premium True Blue
Delta Premium Pure Red
Delta Premium Pure White
Delta Premium Pure Violet
Delta Premium Yellow W/ Blotch
Designer Rising Sun
Dynamite Wine Flash
MG II BOnfire
MG II Marina Shades
MG II Ocean
MG II Purple W/ Bloth
MG II Red W/ Blotch
MG II White W/ Blotch
MG II Yellow W/ Blotch
Matrix Purple
Matrix Sunrise
Matrix White W/ Blotch
Matrix Yellow W/ Blotch

Outstanding Texas native found in the rocky limestone areas from west to east texas; Texas Persimmon is a small tree with an irregular growth habit, known for its tolerance to pretty much most of Texas in terms of environment, weather, and pest.

The trunk has smooth, light gray bark; as it matures, it peels off in slightly brittle patches displaying fresh bark with shades of white, grey, and pink. Leaves are only up to two inches in length, light to dark green and slightly rolled downward on the sides.

Flowers are borne only on female Persimmon trees, never more than a half-inch wide and bell shaped. They appear in clusters on new growth in March to April, then form small one inch wide green fruits that turn black and ripen in September. Although they are edible, they do well in attracting wildlife; they also stain clothes and desk easily so avoid planting in foot paths.  

The Petunia 'Dreams Series' stands as a captivating choice for landscape designers and gardeners seeking vibrant, long-lasting blooms. This series offers a diverse palette of colors, including shades of pink, purple, blue, and white, creating a dreamy tapestry of hues. With its mounding growth habit and abundant blossoms, 'Dreams Series' petunias add a burst of color to garden beds, borders, hanging baskets, and containers. These versatile annuals thrive in sunny locations with well-drained soil, exhibiting excellent heat tolerance and continuous flowering throughout the growing season. Whether used as a focal point or as part of a mixed planting scheme, Petunia 'Dreams Series' lends an enchanting allure to any landscape, making it a beloved choice for both beginner and seasoned gardeners alike.

Spring 2024

Dreams Midnight
Dreams Pink
Dreams Red
Dreams White

This tropical Brazilian native is semi-hardy for southern Texas; with large glossy leaves growing off a large unbranching stem that sprawls along the ground. The leaves are up to three feet in length, dissected into many large lobes with slight ruffles. It will reach heights of ten feet in warm climates, or dies back in colder only to return if protected sufficiently.

The bloom isn’t really noticeable; it emerges from the base only one foot in height, a modified leaf with a hood, with a club-shaped base in the middle being the flower.

Philodendron appreciates moist, well drained soils and does not tolerate drought conditions at all. It should be placed in the landscape with consideration of the directly the stem can grow. 

Red Tip Photinia is a popular, fast growing, evergreen shrub commonly used as a screen or large hedge, reaching 15 feet tall and wide.  Fraseri has some tolerance to leaf spot and mildew, and is best grown in well ventilated sunny areas.

Large white blooms in the spring are only one of the visual aesthetics; rich bronze-red new foliage emerges from the branch tips, giving the Photinia the nickname "Redtip Photinia". They eventually turn a handsome green a month later, but new foliage will continue to slowly emerge through the summer. Easily pruned into hedges, topiaries, or even tree forms.

Photinia is drought tolerant once established, but it is in no way deer tolerate – it ranks pretty high on the deer’s favorite menu item right after Hawthorns. 

Unique Jalapeno plant, as the cascading growth habit makes it ideal for a hanging basket or tall container. Early maturing, being one of the first peppers of the season.

Known also as the Peacock Tree or Mexican Bird of Paradise, Pride of Barbados is native to the West Indies. An annual in north Texas, perennial in central to south, it reaches average heights of six feel tall in a growing season. It has a very open, spreading habit, multiple branches with small thorns so avoid planting directly on walking paths.

The bright green bipinnately compound leaves are very light, almost fern-link with leaflets no longer than three-quarters of an inch. It turns reddish yellow in the fall before dropping. Starting in the spring, large panicles of bright red, orange, and yellow blooms with long red stamens appear on the terminal ends of the branches. They continue to appear till fall, and are followed by seed pods no more than three inches long that dry over winter and split open, releasing the seeds.

Pride of Barbados requires easily drained soils, and can grow in acidic or alkaline areas. Mulch heavily to ensure protection from death in colder areas. Prune dead branches, or bring down to a manageable size in the late winter.