Texas native, Autumn Sage is a popular semi-evergreen shrub ideal for hot and dry and well-drained alkaline soils. Once established, it is one of the best drought tolerant choices for any landscape.

Branch growth normally originates from the base, forming a natural vase shape with dull green aromatic leaves.  Blooms appear in abundance spring to fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with ease. Appreciates a good pruning in the winter when leaves have fallen off. 

Texas native, Autumn Sage is a popular semi-evergreen shrub ideal for hot and dry and well-drained alkaline soils. Once established, it is one of the best drought tolerant choices for any landscape.

Branch growth normally originates from the base, forming a natural vase shape with dull green aromatic leaves.  Blooms appear in abundance spring to fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with ease. Appreciates a good pruning in the winter when leaves have fallen off. 

Texas native, Autumn Sage is a popular semi-evergreen shrub ideal for hot and dry and well-drained alkaline soils. Once established, it is one of the best drought tolerant choices for any landscape.

Branch growth normally originates from the base, forming a natural vase shape with dull green aromatic leaves.  Blooms appear in abundance spring to fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with ease. Appreciates a good pruning in the winter when leaves have fallen off. 

Texas native, Autumn Sage is a popular semi-evergreen shrub ideal for hot and dry and well-drained alkaline soils. Once established, it is one of the best drought tolerant choices for any landscape.

Branch growth normally originates from the base, forming a natural vase shape with dull green aromatic leaves.  Blooms appear in abundance spring to fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with ease. Appreciates a good pruning in the winter when leaves have fallen off. 

Texas native, Autumn Sage is a popular semi-evergreen shrub ideal for hot and dry and well-drained alkaline soils. Once established, it is one of the best drought tolerant choices for any landscape.

Branch growth normally originates from the base, forming a natural vase shape with dull green aromatic leaves.  Blooms appear in abundance spring to fall, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies with ease. Appreciates a good pruning in the winter when leaves have fallen off. 

Hybrid between S. farinaea and S. guaranitica. Vigorous perennial recognized for the long  twisting flower spikes that appear non stop throughout the warm season. Appreciates full sun and adequate drainage, and recovers quickly from pruning if  you chose to control it’s size. Easily attracts butterflies and humming birds.  

Salvia leucantha 'Santa Barbara,' or Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage is a cultivar brought to Mortellaro's in 2022 for it's more compact and managable form. It is a drought-tolerant, evergreen perennial that thrives in Texas’s challenging climate conditions. Known for its adaptability, this compact variety is highly suited to hot, dry regions with minimal rainfall, making it an excellent choice for Texas landscapes prone to extended droughts. It matures to a height of about 4 feet and spreads approximately 4 feet wide, creating a tidy, manageable form ideal for smaller garden areas, borders, or xeriscapes.

'Santa Barbara' is renowned for its vibrant flower spikes in late summer and fall, with striking purple and white blooms that attract a variety of pollinators, including hummingbirds and butterflies. The plant’s blooms rise above the foliage, adding visual contrast and texture to the garden. While it prefers well-draining soils, 'Santa Barbara' can tolerate poorer soil conditions typical in Texas as long as there is adequate drainage. The fuzzy, gray-green foliage adds a soft texture to the landscape, enhancing the visual appeal even when the plant is not in bloom.

This low-maintenance sage performs best with full sun exposure, tolerating Texas’s intense summer heat with ease. Santa Barbara Mexican Bush Sage requires little watering once established, making it a great choice for water-wise gardens. For best results, light pruning after flowering will encourage a tidy shape and support fresh growth the following season. Its compact size, resilience to drought, and pollinator-friendly nature make it a valuable addition to Texas gardens focused on sustainable, low-water landscaping.

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Summer blooming perennial that grows three feet tall and two feet wide. Color is predominately purple....although a color blind person may see blue. 

Salvia nemorosa, also known as woodland sage, is a perennial herb originating from Europe and Western Asia. The cultivar ‘Marvel Rose’ has some of the largest flowers of any salvia nemorosa. Its graceful stature, reaching around 14 to 16 inches, is adorned with lance-shaped, gray-green leaves emitting a delightful fragrance when crushed. The rose-pink flowers appear spring to fall. Not only admired for its aesthetic appeal, Salvia nemorosa also attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing its ecological significance.

Thriving in well-drained soil and full sunlight, this salvia is a hardy and drought-tolerant perennial, making it a popular choice for various garden settings, including borders and rock gardens. Regular pruning after flowering helps maintain its shape and encourages additional blooms.

Senisa, or Cenizo, is a Texas native shrub that tolerates just about any type or condition of soil as long as excellent drainage is provided; tolerates heat, drought, and salt spray very well.

The semi-loose round growth habit can be amended with regular pruning, encouraging a tighter and more uniform growth habit. The silver foliage is moderately pubescent, no more than one inch in length. Purple-pink tubular flowers appear throughout the growing season, primarily after a healthy rain.

Senisa is a superior choice for xeriscaping, but can fit easily into any greenscape. No serious pest or disease issues. 

Senisa, or Cenizo, is a Texas native shrub that tolerates just about any type or condition of soil as long as excellent drainage is provided; tolerates heat, drought, and salt spray very well.

The semi-loose round growth habit can be amended with regular pruning, encouraging a tighter and more uniform growth habit. The foliage is moderately pubescent, no more than one inch in length. Purple-pink tubular flowers appear throughout the growing season, primarily after a healthy rain. 'Greencloud' has a slightly faster growth habit over Compact Senisa, and the foliage is grayish-green. 

Senisa is a superior choice for xeriscaping, but can fit easily into any greenscape. No notable pest or disease issues. 

Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Blue is a beautiful cultivar of the Veronica plant that is prized for its striking blue flowers that bloom on tall, sturdy stems. This perennial plant typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet and has a spread of about 1 to 2 feet. The foliage is a rich green color and is lance-shaped with a serrated edge.

This plant is very easy to grow and maintain, making it a popular choice for gardeners of all skill levels. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil types. Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Blue is also resistant to most pests and diseases.

One of the best features of this plant is its abundant flowering. The blue flowers bloom from late spring to early fall and are a favorite of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The flowers are long-lasting and can be used for cut arrangements or left on the plant to enjoy in the garden.

Overall, Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Blue is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add some vibrant color to their garden.

Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Pink is a beautiful cultivar of the Veronica plant that is prized for its striking pink flowers that bloom on tall, sturdy stems. This perennial plant typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet and has a spread of about 1 to 2 feet. The foliage is a rich green color and is lance-shaped with a serrated edge.

This plant is very easy to grow and maintain, making it a popular choice for gardeners of all skill levels. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil. It is drought-tolerant and can thrive in a variety of soil types. Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Pink is also resistant to most pests and diseases.

One of the best features of this plant is its abundant flowering. The pink flowers bloom from late spring to early fall and are a favorite of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The flowers are long-lasting and can be used for cut arrangements or left on the plant to enjoy in the garden.

Overall, Veronica longifolia Skyward™ Pink is an excellent choice for anyone looking to add some vibrant color to their garden.

Available spring-summer-fall

Cultivars 2022

Snaptini Mixed
Snaptini Yellow

Jatropha, also known as Peregrina or Spicy Jatropha, is a tropical shrub or small tree known for its attractive red flowers and glossy green leaves. Native to the Caribbean and Central America, it is a popular ornamental plant in warmer climates. In central Texas, can be a striking addition to gardens due to its year-round blooming potential and ability to attract butterflies and other pollinators. However, its sensitivity to cold temperatures poses a significant challenge, as the plant is not frost-tolerant and can be damaged or killed by freezing conditions.

To address the issue of freeze sensitivity, growing Jatropha in containers is highly recommended. Container planting allows for greater control over the plant's environment, making it easier to move the Jatropha indoors or to a sheltered location during cold spells.  Containers should be large enough to accommodate the plant's root system and should have good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which Jatropha is sensitive to.

In addition to protection from freezing temperatures, container cultivation of Jatropha integerrima offers other benefits. It allows gardeners to control soil quality and moisture levels more effectively, ensuring optimal growing conditions. Regular pruning can keep the plant at a manageable size, enhancing its ornamental appeal and promoting healthy growth.

Not recommended to be planted in areas with children or pets as the entire plant is considered toxic.

A Texas native shrub that tries to be a small tree, however the stems are thin and droop easily with age. Naturally forms an irregular crown with crooked, spreading branches. Underground rhizomes, coupled with its ease of self-seeding, allow this Sumac to quickly create thickets and massings.

The name “Winged Sumac” comes from the easily identifiable leaf stalk being winged between leaflets. The dark green foliage in the summer is complimented by the large tight terminal panicle of flowers, yellow-green in color.  “Flame Leaf Sumac” comes from the outstanding red foliage in the fall, which is complimented by the multitude of red drupe berries following the blooms mid-summer.

This sumac is very low maintenance, and highly drought tolerant; an ideal choice for harsh landscape environments that demand some type of vegetation. 

Super Chili pepper plant is a very productive semi-compact pepper plant with upward facing chili peppers with a surprising kick to them. Start out as green, turning orange to red.

The Mexican Sycamore was introduced to the Southern Texas landscapes in the past decade; its higher resistance to bacterial leaf scorch makes it a superior substitute to the American Sycamore. In addition, it prefers alkaline soils and is generally insect and disease free; very fast growing. The bark peels off in irregular patches as the tree grows, giving a handsome mottled look.

The top of the large leaves are green, while undersides a silvery pubescent hue, growing up to eight inches across. They turn brown in the fall and if windy, blow effortlessly into your neighbor’s yard, saving you time and energy in raking them up.

Mexican Sycamore is monoecious, meaning male and female flowers are separated but borne on the same tree, and pollinated by the wind. Pollinated female flowers will form a stiff ball, covered with densely compacted mesh of several hundred seeds, forming a ball measuring 1.5 inches in diameter. In the winter, the cohesion of the ball breaks down releasing the hundreds of seeds into the wind to be blown away – maybe to your neighbor’s yard yet again – the gift that keeps giving!