The Beauty of Native Texas Perennials
he sun is warmer, the birds are singing, the snails are snailing and the Texas native wildflowers and perennials are blooming. The sight of fields alive with colorful blooms signals a joyful spring for many Central Texans. These flowers — reseeding annuals and herbaceous perennials — thrive in our harsh Texas environment and are tolerant of wildlife.
Most wildflowers are reseeding annuals which drop their seeds when the blooms are spent. These seeds lie dormant until spring, when the rain and sunshine encourage blooming. Our Texas Bluebonnet (Lupinus texensis) is the star of the show in March and April; frequently in spring, our fields and roadsides come alive with the beautiful combination of bluebonnets and the orange blossoms of the Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa). Another blast of pink/lavender color is provided by the Prairie Verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida). To start a new wildflower garden in your yard or field, gather the seeds dropped by the flowers in late spring, save them until the fall (many folks keep then in the freezer) and spread them in late October or November.
