Thanks for the lists.

Do not plant Sky Pencil Hollys. These things suck. I've replaced all 4 that were planted last year and even some of those are struggling.

Probably going to rip them all out and put in a columnar juniper instead

HEB sometimes has natives or what they call natives. Some I wasn't aware of and have done well. Flame acanthus, sages like autumn sage and mealy blue, Turks cap, zexmenia, gold esparanza, jacobs ladder, bee balm. Very little water once established. Some of those spread or can propagate.

They all attract butterflies. Most attract bees and hummers too.

Forgot to mention Houston.

Got Bee Balm and Frog Fruit plants at HEB this past weekend. Really good selection and pricing on Texas natives.

My plant list that's seeing some success in "improving" Houston clay gumbo soil is the following:

Dwarf Holly
Carolina Midnight Loropetulum
Iris
Silverleaf Eleangus
Sweet Viburum (viburnum odoratissimum)
Spiderwort aka "Wandering Jew"
Indian Hawthorn
Gulf Coast Muhly Grass

ktownag08 said:

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Got Bee Balm and Frog Fruit plants at HEB this past weekend. Really good selection and pricing on Texas natives.

My plant list that's seeing some success in "improving" Houston clay gumbo soil is the following:

Dwarf Holly
Carolina Midnight Loropetulum
Iris
Silverleaf Eleangus
Sweet Viburum (viburnum odoratissimum)
Spiderwort aka "Wandering Jew"
Indian Hawthorn
Gulf Coast Muhly Grass

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You should def dig out that clay if you can…**** is just terrible to plant in, imo.

I'd also recommend going to Buchanans native plants in heights if possible…smart folks and an outrageous selection of plants.

That's why I said "improving" soil. I've mixed in various things from compost to top soil and also use Medina soil activator 2x annually. It's a process, and I'm seeing results.

My list above is mostly native plants adapted for this crap soil though so just working with the dirt I have. I'm a big fan of using native plants for the most part.