I am trying to create a red, white and yellow flower bed for in front of my house. I live in West Texas which is zone 7b. We have very dry and very hot summers! This flower bed will get full west texas sunshine for most of the day. I would like to avoid annuals when I can and focus on perennials and naturalizing bulbs! Anyone have any ideas for me? Thanks!
Red, White Yellow Blooms for West Texas Garden
If you have room for vines Butterfly Vine (Yellow flowers) and Swt.Autumn Clematis (White blooms) are evergreen and beautiful and can take the heat.
Ann
For the red you can't go wrong with Flame Acanthus
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ANQUW
Yellow Damianita
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CHME3
and for the white Blackfoot daisy
http://wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MELE2
They all love the sun and heat.
Josephine.
Thanks for the suggestions guys! Unfortunately I don't have a great place in this particular bed for vines but I would like to do some vines along the fence in the backyard and will look into your suggestions!
I LOVE flame acantus. I planted 3 in this red, yellow and white bed earlier this summer and one in particular has done so well and attracts hummingbirds like crazy. The other 2 have stopped blooming and appear 'poor'...I am not sure if I did something wrong - they are definetely in full sun and I water every few days... Also, since you suggested it, you might know something about pruning. I have read that this plant benefits from pruning. What is the correct time to prune? October, November, March?? Do you cut the entire top off of it, thin out branches? What is the correct way to prune it?
Also, I can't wait to try and order some yellow dam and blackfoot daisy! I, in particular, like the way the blackfoot daisy looks! I just want to research both options to make sure they aren't invasive! I want my plants to be vigourous, love the sunshine, but not choke out other plants!
Thanks again - Anyone else with suggestions - keep them coming!
Oh...Esperanza (Yellow Bells), so beautiful if you have room for it! And the white Autumn Sage (Salvia greggi) is my favorite Autumn Sage of all! And there's a Mexican Milkweed that is sort of red & yellow.
I have had the blackfoot daisies for many years. I occasionally get a seedling pop up(usually a welcome stray), but it doesn't spread by runners. I have damianita too and it is not invasive at all. The white and red salvia greggis are really nice
I love four nerve daisy. Has very happy yellow flowers from early spring to fall. In my zone , even in winter.
Thanks everyone! I am planning on trying out some of the white salvia greggi! The mexican milkweed is really pretty too. I am getting really excited about planning my garden! It is hard not to get overwhelmed by all the plant options you can find on this website but I have to remember that people's recommendations are the best source of all - after all, the Texas sunshine can zap a plant pretty fast. A lot of the really droubt tolerant ones can be mistaken for weeds - I want my front flowers to grow together and be lush and full without taking over the house or looking wild!