Texas Flower Garden Plans

Bearded Iris

• The bearded iris (Iris germanica) makes an excellent perennial flower addition to the Texas home garden, according to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at Texas A&M University. For color during the springtime, choose the bearded iris, which blooms in April or June in hues of blue, red, purple, pink, white and bicolor combinations. Bearded irises come as small as dwarf varieties with a height of 8 to 15 inches and as large as the tall varieties with heights of 28 to 38 inches, according to the North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension Service. With thousands of varieties, this flower broadens your plans for the Texas garden by offering versatility in size and color. Thriving in full sunlight, certain paler-hued varieties need shade to avoid color fading and sunburn. Irises grow in well-drained slightly acid to neutral soil with a pH of 6 to 7.

Salvia

• Salvia (Indigo spires) is a vigorous perennial favorite of the Texas garden, according to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Indigo spires display long arching stalks topped with indigo, or dark blue-purple, blossoms that exhibit a long bloom time from summer until the first frost, according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension. With a preference for full sun and well-drained soil, this plant reaches a height of approximately 3 feet in the Texas home landscape. Add salvias to your garden plan for use as specimen or border plants; this perennial is also well-suited for use as cut flowers.

Verbena

• Verbena is a good annual flower for spring planting and summer blooming in Texas, according to the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. Prized for their heat tolerance and long bloom time from spring until first frost, verbenas display compact flowers in shades of pink, red, lavender, purple, white and blue, according to the Clemson Cooperative Extension. Grow verbena in areas that offer full sunlight in well-drained soil. Verbenas are sensitive and develop problems caused by excessive shade or moisture. These flowers reach a height of up to 1 foot with a spread of 2 to 5 feet. Verbena's array of varieties makes it a versatile plant for use as an accent, as a border plant or in a container. If your plans include flower beds or outdoor patio space, verbena is a wonderful candidate.