Malvaviscus arboreus var drummondii – Turkscap
Usually one sees this in “full” bloom, although the hibiscus-like flowers never do open up completely. However, the blooms are only just now beginning to show up, and you might miss this bud – if so, this bud’s for you.
Capsicum annuum – Chile Pequin
Hadn’t really looked at the tiny flowers of the Chile Pequin before, but here they are, with a slight touch of purple in them.
Off to the right is the fruit, which turns a bright shiny red when it has fully ripened. Easy to grow, withstands drought, edible, attracts nectar feeders when in bloom and birds after bloom has turned to fruit. Reseeds itself if allowed to.
Ratibida columnifera- Mexican Hat
Also known as Prairie Coneflower, this perennial also comes with yellow petals instead of the orange, brown, and yellow petals shown here. In their native environment, they can form large colonies, sometimes interspersed with similarly colored Gaillardia pulchella Firewheel. Whether seen singly or en masse, it is singularly and strikingly sttractive. It is drought tolerant and can grow in a wide variety of soil types.
Rudbeckia hirta – Blackeyed Susan
Two of these wildflowers have shown up in my garden this year, most likely sown by birds. Not surprising, since it is one of the most widespread native plants in North America, native across Canada and the U.S. westward to New Mexico. It can grow in many light conditions, from sun to shade, but apparently doesn’t like calcareous or alkaline soils. It propagates itself easily by reseeding and can become aggressive if not faced with competition. It also has been widely used for medicinal as well as aesthetic purposes. What’s not to like about this cheery ornamental? For more information and links to more information than you can imagine, check out the entry at the NPIN plants database.
Rudbeckia hirta – Blackeyed Susan
leaves and flower
Aloysia gratissima – Beebrush
This Beebrush has been in the front yard under the Oak tree for several years now, and it probably should be transplanted to a spot where it will get full sun. Although it does have these vanilla scented spikes of flowers that attract bees and butterflies and other nectar feeding insects, I find it tends to be spindly in the partial shade it gets, and trimming shrubs is not my strong suit.
So if anyone in my vicinity (Round Rock TX) wants a high maintenance native plant that has a medium water use profile and likes moist soils, feel free to come over and dig it up with my blessings. Because this lovely little shrub will probably not make it through the summer in my yard, as it gets replaced by shade loving plants with low water requirements.
Penstemon tenuis – Brazos Penstemon
Peucetia viridans, the green lynx spider, hangs out on one of the purple, bell-shaped blossoms of the Brazos or Gulf Coast Penstemon. The flowers grow on spikes reaching a mere foot to foot and a half in height. They thrive in moist soil and sun and partial shade, in both clay and sandy loam soils. Native to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Mississippi, it can handle poor drainage. A good choice for a perennial garden, it can easily reseed itself and spread through the garden. It is attractive to hummingbirds and nectar feeding insects, which apparently also attracts predators like the spider shown above. Also known as Sharp sepal Beardtongue, the blooms begin in March and continue through June.
Lupinus texensis – Texas Bluebonnet
The earliest blooms on my Bluebonnets have gone to seed, leaving behind these pods with five visible bulges indicating the fruit inside. Compare with this view taken in March of this year:
Lupinus texensis – Texas Bluebonnet
One can clearly see that the flowers have turned to fruit. Later it will become dessicated, turning brown. If you aren’t aware of the life cycle of the bluebonnet, it will then appear to be a weed, in violation of Home Owners Association rules almost everywhere. Then it will open, expelling the seeds forcefully and sowing the Bluebonnets of the future.
Opuntia species – Prickley Pear
Caught this bloom today at the Wildflower Center south of Austin. The Prickley Pear Cacti behind my house don’t seem to be in any hurry to bloom, or I’d have taken a picture of one of them instead. Prickley Pear is almost ubiquitous in these parts – they’re what’s left after folks let cattle and goats overgraze their land in order to get the agricultural use tax rate. The “tunas” (fruit) of this cactus is edible, as are the pads, once the spines are removed. They call them nopalitas and you can search Google to find recipes, products and such.
Pavonia lasiopetala – Rock Rose
Also known as Rose Pavonia, Rose Mallow, and simply Pavonia, this small shrub is a member of the Mallow family. It blooms from April through November, and got started blooming a little earlier this year in March. Its pink flowers remind you of Hibiscus, but unlike its cousin the Swamp Rose Mallow (found in swamps and ditches), this is found in rocky areas (thus the monicker “Rock Rose”) and slopes in woodlands and at the edge of thickets.
Also known by the scientific name of Pavonia wrightii, Rock Rose is a perennial shrub, with oblong alternating leaves, as seen here. It is drought tolerant and cold tolerant, and can handle full sun to partial shade conditions. It attracts butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds and is a good choice for a perennial garden, providing blooms throughout the summer.
bob's brain: living well with a movement disorder and other comorbidities 