Texas Garden Stones

Limestone

• Texas has extensive limestone deposits. Much of this porous stone is used to produce cement for building. However, this stone also works well for pathways, gardens and water features. Accents of Selado recommends using this native sedimentary rock in water features and gardens. Limestone works well to make pools, waterfalls and other attractive features. Its tendency to erode over time gives landscaped water features a natural look that's harder to accomplish with other stone types. Limestone is less suitable for outdoor sculptures, since exposure to water tends to blur details over the years.

Cantera

• Strictly speaking, cantera refers to any natural quarried stone, as opposed to manufactured stone. The term is derived from the Spanish word meaning quarry. However, in Texas, cantera stone usually refers to a strong, porous, lightweight stone formed from compressed volcanic ash. Cantera stone comes in a number of colors, including white and pink, and it is unlikely to crack from temperature expansion. Cantera stone is a common choice in benches, fountains and accent sculptures. Its porous nature causes it to retain moisture and enables it to be relatively cool to the touch, even on very hot days.

Sandstone

• Sandstone is another common sedimentary rock, formed from settled sand under water. It can be made of coarse sand or have an extremely fine grain. In Texas, this stone is found mostly south and east of major fault lines. Sandstone is also found in western Texas. This stone is available in a number of different colors, ranging from pale to reddish, orange and pink. Crushed sandstone works well in paths, and the stone can be worked for garden benches and other ornamental uses. Unlike limestone, it does not tend to leave calcium stains as it erodes.