Best plants to grow in Texas -zone 8b December garden!

Today’s video highlights eight drought tolerant perennials in my zone 8b December garden. Many of these are Texas natives!
Turks cap(Malvaviscus arboreus)
Autumn sage(Salvia greggii)
Mexican bush sage(Salvia leucantha)
Mealy blue sage(Salvia farinacea)
Zexmenia(Wedelia acapulcensis)
Wright’s skullcap(Scutellaria wrightii) the purple one
Gregg’s mistflower(Conoclinium greggii)
Blackfoot daisy(Melampodium leucanthum)
Check out my earlier garden tour videos to watch the progression of the plants and garden!

[@robinseymour3874]

It is so nice seeing you plant natives and watching your garden grow.

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I so appreciate that comment. My transition into native plants has been somewhat recent, but has made all the difference in terms of a more successful garden!

[@jeanflores2242]

I love how the butterflies came along to help you out. Well done yet again!

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I know right?! Appreciate you💗

[@TheLivingBackyard]

All of them beautiful! This fall so far has been very nice and mild, I'm sure you will still flowers a few more weeks! The part about your knees lol so relatable!

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

Thank-you! I’ve been enjoying seeing everything rebound in our “second spring.” I don’t know what I was thinking with all that squatting. My knees let me know it was not appreciated 😝

[@susannebarnhart1322]

Beautiful‼️I want them all😘

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I’ll help you shop!😜

[@therockyhillgardener]

I need to get some Blackfoot Daisy! Yours looks so good!!

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

They’re so cheerful! Appreciate you stopping by 💗

[@JosTXGarden]

Awesome! Thanks for the tour! I’m always learning from you. Oh, I finally bought a desert willow after seeing yours! (I know-Houston rain will probably doom it, though I put it in a humongous pot! 🤞🙃🙃)

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

Thanks Jo💗 I’m excited to see your set up! Sounds like you’re being intentional about drainage so I bet it’ll be fine🙌

[@jorgegarcia5283]

They are only doing that because it has been spring-like in both temperature and rainfall. And of course, the horrible drought that they experienced this year.

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I’ll enjoy it while I can😊

[@jorgegarcia5283]

@@theplantninja-texasgardener me as well. I have sunflowers still trying to reseed, lol.

[@luisreviews6412]

I was hiking in Big Bend and came across a trail filled with blackfoot daisy and some type of marigolds.

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

How many spiders and snakes did you see? I keep telling myself I want to visit Big Bend, but then I picture a full on spider/snake assault and I talk myself out of it😜Think it was Mexican mint marigold you saw? They are fall bloomers. I have a couple that are blooming now but they’re a bit wimpy looking because I just put them in. (which is why they didn’t make it into the video😝)

[@luisreviews6412]

@@theplantninja-texasgardener Zero, our family goes during Thanksgiving and we haven’t had an issue. The landscape is beautiful and to see the plants in the wild that I have at home is really cool. It reinforces going native.

[@marynielson1705]

Love your videos!

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I appreciate that!💗

[@jeanflores2242]

lol... should wait til the end to comment.... I was wondering how your knees were doing. 🤣🤣

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

Girl! If you listen closely you can hear them creaking in the video😝

[@jeanflores2242]

😂@@theplantninja-texasgardener

[@kevinglazebrook4189]

I’m in your same area (Leander) - I have several cannas in pots - should I dig them up and bring them in or just leave them through the winter? Thanks! Love your videos!

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

Hey neighbor! Appreciate the positive feedback😊 Full disclosure…I’m totally ignorant on the subject of cannas(but I want some!) However I’m an including a a couple of trusted sites that discuss the topic. neilsperry.com/2016/07/cannas-can-do/ and txmg.org/hendersonmg/plant-library/canna-yellow-and-orange/. Sounds like you can overwinter in the ground with some good mulch from what I read. Maybe go half in ground and half overwinter indoors. Might be a cool garden experiment!

[@kevinglazebrook4189]

@@theplantninja-texasgardener I would be more than happy to share! My pots are full and I need to divide them. I found these at Lowe’s and fell in love with the color! They are a beautiful bronze apricot color. I also have over a hundred seeds I harvested from them if you want to try growing them from seed. I cannot figure out how to post a picture but they are beautiful.

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

Wonderful! I’ll take you up on that. Plants feel just a bit more special when they come from other gardeners😊If you’d like to coordinate feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@user-lx2cy5cn5e]

Is it to late to plant in Houston? I'm new to Texas and gardening. My front yard needs serious help.

[@theplantninja-texasgardener]

I usually plant anything but tropicals through fall. Talk to your local nursery about any potential tender plants, but I would say go for it. You have a lot more rain in Houston so make sure you amend your soil accordingly to facilitate good drainage. Best wishes!

[@user-lx2cy5cn5e]

@@theplantninja-texasgardener Thank you so much!