Texas Superstars for your garden
Blue Daze is latest to join the list of colorful blooming plants that are hardy enough to thrive in the state’s summer heat
Every year a team of horticulturists from Texas A&M and Texas Tech universities designate one or more ornamental plants as a Texas Superstar. To receive the designation, the plant must be attractive, well adapted and available to the entire state of Texas.
In 2020, plants recognized as Texas Superstars have included the Tidal Wave Red Velour petunia; the Cupcake, Muffin and Rio Grande purslane; and the Lucky Star Deep Pink penta. Now, Blue Daze joins the list.
Blue Daze
This tropical plant grows 9 to 18 inches tall, depending on the selection, and spreads to 36 inch- es. The foliage is a gray-green that provides a good back- ground for the small but showy blue flowers that are its main claim to a special status. As testimony to the attractiveness of its flowers, some gardeners call it “Hawaiian Blue Eyes.”
Blue Daze grows well in a container with a large surface area to show off the blue eyes, but it also works as a summer blooming ground cover for intimate spaces. In addition to being pleasant to look at, Blue Daze attracts butterflies and other pollinators to its blooms as a nectar source.
The key to Blue Daze’s performance is a full-sun setting and plenty of water. Last winter was exceptionally mild and some Blue Daze survived to sprout again this spring, but usually it only lasts one growing season, unless you shelter it in the winter in a greenhouse.
Butterfly vine
In 2019, butterfly vine was designated a Texas Superstar. The vine gets its name because its seed pods are the size and shape of butterflies. The pods start out green and then turn brown as they mature. Area horticulturist David Rodriguez reports that the pods have long been used as a raw material for butterfly-based crafts.
As distinctive as the pods are, the yellow blooms and the evergreen foliage also are an important part of the plant’s appeal for area landscapes. Pollinators including butterflies and hummingbirds use the summer blooming flowers as a nectar source.
The butterfly vine is tame enough to grow in a container against a trellis or arbor on a patio. The shiny green foliage, yellow flowers and butterfly shaped seedpods make it an interesting and attractive addition for visitors to admire.
But it is aggressive enough to serve as a hedge to block an unpleasant view when grown on a fence. Expect a plant to grow upward to 15 feet and to cover the same horizontal area. Most winters the vine is evergreen.
Grow butterfly vine in full sun. Deer do not eat the vine in most neighborhoods.
Cora vinca
Another past Texas Superstar to consider for the landscape this summer is the Cora vinca. Up until Cora became available on the market, it was a waste of time to plant a vinca/periwinkle before midsummer because with the first rain during cool temperatures, it would melt down from aerial phytophthora, or
stem blight.
Now with the addition of Cora selections, vinca can be planted in late spring and be expected to survive in full bloom (red, white, lavender, or pink) until Thanksgiving, when cold weather arrives.
The flowers are attractive, and vinca is drought tolerant. Grow it in full sun, where butterflies will use it for nectar.
Whopper begonia
The Whopper begonia is the Texas Superstar for a showy plant in the shade. It is closely related to the semperfloren begonia, which it resembles, except for the larger size leaves and blooms. Expect it to grow to 30 inches tall and 24 inches around.
It is especially attractive when planted in a large clay pot or a half whiskey barrel. There are two colors of blooms available, red and rose, and two different foliage colors, bronze and green.