Texas Gardening: Which plant do you enjoy most in Texas winter?, 1 by Elphaba

Elphaba wrote:
Carla, I just planted some holly because I'm always looking for plants that birds love and the fact that it's evergreen is a real plus. I also really like these old rescued boxwoods I have at the back of the yard. I agree that it doesn't have to flower to be a favorite. The trunks of the boxwoods are white; the old foliage is a dark green and the new is a bright green.

I was enjoying the fragrance of my sweet olive this morning too. I can't say that it's a pretty plant. It's healthy and green all winter, but it's just kind of invisible. If anyone has grown it in a way that it is full and pretty, please share!

Gessiegail, your pics are lovely! I usually bring my hanging lipstick plants inside when it freezes. I was gone this year when the first freeze hit and they were outside. They're not blooming, but they didn't have any freeze damage.

Podster, the problem with abutilons is that they are hard to find in nurseries and when you do find them, they are often unnamed. I have a gorgeous red one that was a stick in a 3" pot with a tag that just said "red abutilon." I'm glad I tried it. Here's a pic of a pink one whose name I do know. It's name is "Raspberry." It's still small thanks to the smothering effect of a passionflower vine, but just surviving the vine says a lot for it. B/c it's small I cheated and lifted the flower up to take the photo. This one seems to have a very pendulous form.