Little Bend Nursery
Plant List for: Perennials
Common Plant Name Latin Name Height Spread Evergn Decid Light Water Color Months Bloom Type Plant Wildlife Tx. Native Deer Res. Comments Maintenance
Aloe, Hardy, or Soap Aloe or Zebra Aloe Aloe saponaira 12" - 18" with stalks to 3' 1-12' Evergreen Sun/light shade L Yellow or orange Spring - early summer Perennial     √ The main rosette gets 18" tall and wide. It quickly forms a colony of offsets.  The leaves can be nipped when temperatures drop below 32 degrees but they recover quickly.  Adapts to a variety of soils but requires good drainage.  Plants grown in partial shade usually look greener than plants grown in full sun.  During the growing season water only after plant has completely dried out.  During the winter months, keep cool to initiate flower development and water only enough to keep foliage from shriveling. This aloe's sap is an irritant to skin. If desired remove old flower stalks or thin colony.
Barbara's Buttons Marshallia caespitosa 6-18" 6" D Sun/part shade L White Apr-Jun Perennial Butterfly √   Forms clumps.  Good for borders or as cut flower.  Also good in rock garden.  
Beebalm, Pringle's Monarda pringlei 18-24" 24-30" E Part shade M Scarlet Spring-summer Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird     Large scarlet flowers bloom from mid spring to mid summer.  Dappled or afternoon shade.  Flowers can also be  used to make tea. May want to divide and thin every few years.  Cut back after blooming to encourage fall blooming.
Betony, Texas  Stachys coccinea 1-1.5' 2-3' E Sun to shade L Red Mar-Oct Perennial Hummingbird √ √+ Constantly blooming.   Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Blackfoot Daisy  Melampodium leucanthum 6-12" 1-1.5' D Sun VL White Spring & summer Perennial Butterfly √ √ Taproot.  Short lived in well-watered garden-will rot if kept moist. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Blue Flax Linum lewisii 1-2' 1-1.5' D Sun/part shade L - M Blue Spring - fall Perennial Birds √   Prolific bloomer-covers itself with 1" blue flowers that arch above the leaves.  The flowers are open only in the morning.  Great plant for a perennial garden, rock garden or container.  Typically found growing in woodland edges, or prarie/meadow fields.   Normally found in West Texas and the Panhandle. Cut back in winter if desired
Bulbine Bulbinella robusta 20"   E Sun L Yellow or orange Winter to spring Perennial     √ Aloe-like leaves.  Good blooms over winter.  
Buttercup, Creeping Ranunculus repens 6-24" 3' E Sun/part shade MH Yellow Mid spring Perennial   Eurasia √ Grows in low areas & likes steady moisture.  All parts of the plant are poisonous.  Buttercups produce a chemical known as ranunculin which is quite acrid and can cause a rash to those who are allergic.  Most grazing mammals stay away from the plant.  Can be invasive in the Pacific NW area of the country.  
Butterfly Weed or Tropical (Mexican) Milkweed Asclepias curassavica 3-4' 1-2' D Sun/part shade L Orange / Red Summer to Fall Perennial Butterfly   √+ Flowers attract Monarch butterflies, foliage good larval food.  Short lived but reseeds freely. Prune, remove top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Calylophus Calylophus drummondianus 1-1.5' 1-1.5' D Sun L Yellow to orange Mar-Nov Perennial Butterfly √   Low moisture requirement, needs well drained soil.  Flowers open in evening & stay open all of next day, closing shortly before fresh ones open.  Excellent rock garden plant because it loves good drainage & reflected heat.  Flowers can be prolonged with water. Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Calylophus or Sundrops, Creeping Calylophus hartwegii 2' 3' D Full Sun or lightly filtered M Yellow Best in spring Perennial Butterfly √   Looks good with Lavender.  Needs well drained soil but does like weekly watering.  Works good with Yuccas and salvia greggii.  Prune once in late winter.  Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis 6"-6' 1' E Part shade H Red May - Oct Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird √ √ Toxic.  In garden soil, generally gets 18" high.  Winter rosette.  Likes water and can tolerate poor drainage.  The shade it gets, the less moisture.  Spreads by layering (bend a stem over & partially bury it).  
Columbine, Red  Aquilegia canadensis 1-2' 1-2' D Part shade / shade M Red Early Spring Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird √ √ Grow with Missouri violet and pigeonberry for continuous color.  Likes dry shade; reseeds to return in cool season.  Susceptible to leaf miners. Prune off spent foliage and seed heads in late May or leave seeds for reseeding.
Columbine, Yellow  Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinkleyana 1-3' 1-2' D Part shade / shade M Yellow May Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird √ √ Likes dry shade but can take more sun & less moisture than Red columbine.  Plant reseeds to return in cool season; native to Big Bend.  Susceptible to leaf miners. Prune off spent foliage and seed heads in late May or leave seeds for reseeding.
Coneflower, Purple Echinacea purpurea  Note: Enchinacea angustifolia would be native 2' 1.5' D Sun/part shade M Purple Apr-June Perennial Bird, Butterfly √ √ Wonderful, long lasting flower that butterflies love. Will frequently have a winter rosette. Cut back stalks after blooming & seeds are gone.
Coreopsis, lanceleaf  Coreopsis lanceolata 1-2' 1-2' D Sun/part shade M Yellow Apr-Jun Perennial Butterfly √ √ Let some seedlings stay because individual plants don't live forever.  Native to E. & SE Texas. Prune off old blooms for repeated flowering.  
Cuphea Bat Face Cuphea llavea 18-24" 2-3' D Sun/part shade L Red with purple tips Spring to Fall Perennial Hummingbird Mexico Cuphea llavea does great in the heat, requires excellent drainage, and is also drought tolerant. This perennial is frost hardy in the upper 20's and root hardy in the lower 20's. Native to Mexico.  Great attractor of hummingbirds.   Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Daisy, Engleman   Engelmannia peristenia 1-3' 1-3' D Sun/part shade   Yellow Feb-Nov Perennial Bird, Butterfly √   Great native plant but must be protected from deer.  Has taproot so can't be grown very large in a container. Prune unattractive foliage
Daisy, Four Nerve  or Hymenoxys Tetraneuris scaposa 1' 9-18" E Sun/part shade L Yellow Mar-Jun, Sep-Oct Perennial Bird, Butterfly √ √ Perfect for a rock garden or at the front of a border since blooms almost all year.   Needs good drainage & is highly drought tolerant. Shaping not necessary
Daisy, Ox-eye Leucanthemum vulgare 2-3' 1-2; E Sun/part shade M White Mid spring to early summer Perennial Butterfly     Prefers consistent moisture.   This plant found in many old gardens.  Should be planted in well-prepared, mulched garden soil from which weeds can be easily pulled without hoeing that could damage the daises' roots.   Remove old bloom stalks at the base
Damianita  Chrysactinia mexicana 1-2' 2-3' E Sun L Yellow Spring & some summer Perennial Bird √ √+ Drought hardy & aromatic foliage.  Needs good drainage. Prune early spring & late summer to shape if desired.
Datura, White or Jimson Weed Datura wrightii 3' 6' D Sun to part shade L White Summer Perennial   √ √ All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested. Large, showy, white flowers, 2 to 8 inches in diameter. Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season.  
Dianthus, Magenta Dianthus sp. 6-12" 2' E Part shade   Magenta Mar-May Perennial     √ Makes a deep green groundcover.  
Dyckia gigantea Dyckia altissima 2-3' 3' E Sun to part Sun L Yellow   Perennial     √ Plant forms stemless rosettes of spiny-edged, curving leaves.  Good in rock garden with Agaves, cacti and succulents.  Compact growth pattern. In the Bromeliad family but can handle long cold spells as long as temperature above freezing.  Should be okay to about 25 degrees.  Also good container plant.  
Esperanza or Yellow Bells Tecoma stans var. angustatum 3-6' 3-5' D Sun/part shade M Yellow Summer and Fall Perennial Butterfly √ √ Native to Trans-Pecos area.  Showy blooms. May not survive with hard frost.  Can try to keep it going through winter by cutting it to the ground in late fall & mulching good.  As winter approaches don't water it so it won't put out new growth.  
Fall Aster   Aster oblongifolius 2-4' 3-4' D Sun-shade M Purple Fall Perennial Butterfly √   Loaded with fall color. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Firebush Hamelia patens 2.5'   D Sun M Orange - red Summer to Fall Perennial Hummingbird     Good fall color.  Plant needs regular moisture to establish. The clusters of fruit also are showy. Each fruit is a juicy berry with many small seeds, ripening from green to yellow to red and finally to black. A firebush plant usually has flowers and fruit in various stages. Once established, firebush is drought tolerant, but it does best with frequent watering as long as the soil has excellent drainage. Water weekly during the first year after transplanting.  Best to prune to 6" above ground after first hard freeze and mulch well.
Fluttermills or Missouri Evening Primrose Oenothera macrocarpa macrocarpa (O. missouriensis) 8" - 16" 12" - 24" D Sun/part shade L/M Yellow Mar-Jun Perennial   √   Giant yellow cup-shaped blooms are up to 4" across appear during the day (afternoon), close at night. Deep green foliage usually disappears in winter. Perfect for rock gardens, borders and containers. Needs well drained soil. Also known as Oenothera macrocarpa.  
Gaura Gaura lindheimeri  2' 3' D Sun L White or pink Spring to summer Perennial Insects √ √ Often forms extensive colonies.  Flowers open in early morning.  Plant has tall spikes adorned with 1" flowers. Best to prune to 6" above ground after first hard freeze and mulch well.
Gayfeather  Liatris mucronata 1-3' 1-1.5' D Sun L Purple Aug-Sep Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird √ √ Likes well-drained limestone soil.  Beautiful long purple spikes when flowering. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Goldenrod, Prarie   Solidago nemoralis 2-7'   D Sun/part shade M Yellow Fall Perennial Butterfly √ √ Colonizes by rhizomes.  Some people mistakenly believe this plant causes bad allergy problems-not true for average person. Prune in mid-winter after first frost browns leaves.
Gopher Plant or Rigid Spurge Euphorbia rigida 2' 2-3' E Sun/part shade L Yellow Late winter to early spring Perennial     √ Mounding shrub, good planted with bulbs or agave. Attractive in a rock garden but especially so in winter when the evergreen fleshy gray foliage takes on burgundy and blue tones. Very early in spring, the acid yellow flowerheads begin to develop at the stem terminals. Sap is poisonous. In same family as Snow on the Mountain. Prune old stems after flowers fade.
Hibiscus, Texas Star Hibiscus coccineus 4-6' 3- D Sun/part shade M Red Jun-Oct Perennial Butterfly     Low to medium water usage but well drained  
Hyssop various sp. Agastache various sp. 2-3' 2-3' D Sun/light shade L Pale orange with purple tip Srping - Summer Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird   √+ Erect clump-forming habit.  It is used in cold drinks and teas for flavoring.   Constant show of flowers throughout the summer months.  Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Iris, Bicolor or Butterfly Dietes bicolor 4' 2-3' E Sun/part shade L Cream with markings Spring to early Summer Perennial     √ Forms clumps of iris like foliage Prune foliage if desired.  Divide clumps every 3-5 years.
Ironweed, Wooly  Vernonia lindheimeri 1-2.5'     Sat L Purple Jun-Sep Perennial Butterfly √   Undersides of leaves are densely hairy.  A very showy plant for dry prairie gardens.  Flourishes on slopes in the Edwards Plateau.  Can be aggressive in rich well watered soil.  
Lambs Ear  Stachys byzantina 3"-18"   D Full sun to partial shade. L Puple-gray bloom stalks Midsummer Perennial     √+ Good plant for contrast; pale green fuzzy foliage. Prune to control growth or remove unattractive foliage
Lantana, hybrid Lantana x hybrida 2' 4' D Sun to part shade M Varies Spring to frost Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird   √ The hybrid varieties of lantana are not as deer resistant as the native variety. Shape only if desired.
Lantana, Trailing Lantana montevidensis 1' 4' D Sun/part shade L Lavendar or white Spring to Frost Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird   √ May be used as a groundcover.  Very tolerant of poor, dry sites. Prune for shaping but not required
Lantana, Tx native  Lantana horrida 1.5-3' 2-4' D Sun to part shade M Orange & Yellow Apr-Oct Perennial Bird, Hummingbird, Butterfly √ √ Good consistent bloomer.  This plant grows quickly. Deer may browse the flowers in heavily populated areas. Prune after first frost.  Some shaping may be necessary during the year for a fuller shrub.
Lavendar, Spanish       E Full sun to partial shade.   Purple   Perennial Butterfly   √+ Plant in full sun to prevent the deer browsing.  Lavender is indigenous to the Mediterranean mountains.  Lavender is an herb that can be used as a flavoring.  The flowers are edible.  They can be added to jams, ice cream and vinegar.   
Lavender, Fernleaf Lavandula multifida 18"-24" 18" E Sun M Blue Violet Spring to fall Perennial Butterfly   √+ Beautiful silver-gray foliage with fuzzy texture.  Water regularly but do not overwater.  This lavender has a pine-like smell.  It is tender and may need protection in the winter.  
Lavender, Munstead   15" 15" E Full sun to partial shade.   Purple to white   Perennial Butterfly   √+ Plant in full sun to prevent the deer browsing.  Lavender is indigenous to the Mediterranean mountains.  Lavender is an herb that can be used as a flavoring.  The flowers are edible.  They can be added to jams, ice cream and vinegar.  Prune unattractive foliage
Lion's Tail or Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca 3-4'   D Sun   Orange, white Summer Perennial     √+ Pungent leaf, flower whorls resemble lion's tail.  Native to Europe.  
Mexican Honeysuckle Justicia spicigera 2' 4' E Full sun to partial shade. L     Perennial Hummingbird   √ Very tidy, mounding plant.  Great for attracting hummingbirds. Prune back as needed to encourage fullness.
Mexican Mint Marigold  Tagetes lucida 2.5' 2.5' D Sun/part shade L Yellow to orange Fall Perennial     √ Anise-flavored culinary herb which can be substituted for tarragon when cooking.  Spreads over time. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Mexican Oregano  Poliomintha longiflora 1' 3' E Sun L Pink / lilac May-Aug Perennial     √+ Aromatic foliage.  Brown, withering flower stays on the plant. Prune unattractive foliage or to shape
Mistflower, Greg's Eupatorium greggi 1.5' 1.5' D Sun/part shade M Purple Aug-Sep Perennial Butterfly √   Plant spreads quickly.  Grows well in soil that gets seasonally flooded. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Obedient Plant, Fall  Physostegia virginiana 2-4' 1' D Sun/part shade M Purple Aug-Oct Perennial   √   Colonizes by rhizomes.  If planted in dappled shade it can be drought tolerant.  It spreads aggressively by the roots which are shallow and easy to pull up.  Makes a very good cut flower. Remove old bloom stalks at the base
Obedient Plant, Spring Physostegia spp. 2-6' 1' D Sun/part shade M Pink / white Apr-Jul Perennial   √   Good for water garden since can stand in shallow water.  Most do best on edges of bank of stream.  After it goes dormant, it is drought-tolerant. Remove old bloom stalks at the base
Pavonia, Hastata Pavonia hastata 5' 7'   Sun/part shade L White Late spring to frost Perennial Butterfly     Flowers are 2" and hibiscus shaped with a dark crimson spot in the center.  Very hardy. Prune after last frost if desired
Pavonia, Rock Rose  Pavonia lasiopetala 2-3' 2-3' E Sun to shade L Pink Late spring to frost Perennial Butterfly √ √ Hibiscus-like blooms. Only lives 3-4 yrs but reproduces freely by seed.   Prune end of May to keep plant bushier.  May need to remove frost burned tips after hard freeze.
Penstamon, Foxglove, wild  Penstemon cobaea 18" 9" D Part shade, full sun M White / purple Apr-May Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird √   Spends most of its life as a small rosette.  Before blooming, the rosette swells to at least doubted it original size, followed by bloom stalks.  Plant massed in the middle of a garden where it will be visible while in bloom, but where the shrunken rosettes can get shade from other vegetation in the summer.  Individual plants don't live more than 3 or 4 years so let seed ripen and scatter from stalks. Remove old bloom stalks at the base
Penstemon, Gulf Coast or Brazos Penstemon tenuis   1.5' 1' E Dappled shade, part shade, full sun M Purple Mar-May Perennial   √   Good in moist perennial borders and beds.  Fabulous cut flower. Remove old bloom stalks at the base
Penstemon, Hill Country or Scarlet Penstemon Penstemon triflorus 1.5' 1.5' D Part shade, full sun L Red Apr-May Perennial   √   Flowering can be extended by watering.  Allow seedlings to develop at 9" intervals to keep a healthy crop going.  Endemic to Edwards Plateau.  Hybridizes with other closely related Penstemons.  
Penstemon, Mexican Blue Penstemon amphorellae 18" 24"   Sun/part shade   Light Blue Late Spring Perennial Hummingbird     Requires moderate irrigation tolook its best.  Nice foliage. Remove old flower spikes
Penstemon, Rock  Penstemon baccharifolius 1.5' 1' E Part shade, full sun L Red Jun -Sep Perennial   √   Suckers, taproot.  Likes to keep its root cool so mulch is good.  Looks great with rock piled around it.   If it doesn't die back in the winter, cut it back so it stays bushy.
Phlox, Louisiana  Phlox divaricata 'Louisiana' 12-15" 12-15" E Part shade to shade M Blue Spring Perennial Butterfly Louisiana   The 1 inch flowers are held in 5 inch clusters and are strongly scented. Its foliage turns a nice burgundy.  Sheer after flowering to reinvigorate. 
Plumbago Plumbago auriculata 4' 6' D Sun/part shade M Blue or white Summer Perennial Butterfly, Hummingbird   √ Light green foliage.  Does best with morning sun and afternoon shade. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.
Poppy, California  Eschachoizia california 12" 18"   Sun M/L Orange Spring - early summer Perennial       Prefers sandy soil.  This is a good plant for a wildflower garden.  It will naturalize.  This is a tender perennial but it will re-seed itself.  
Primrose, Silverleaf Oenothera macrocarpa 1-1.5' 3' D Sun/part shade L Yellow Spring to summer Perennial   √ √   Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Rose Campion Lychnis coronaria 2-3' 12-15' D Sun/part shade L Generally pink to magenta Late spring to early summer Perennial     √ Silver fuzzy leaves.  Grows in poor, dry soil.  The plant sometimes acts as a biennial but easily reseeds.  Originally from southern Europe. Deadhead flowers to keep it blooming longer.
Rudbeckia "Goldstrum" Rudbeckia fulgida 18-30" 24" D Sun to light shade M Yellow Late summer to fall Perennial Butterfly   √ It tolerates clay soils and mild droughts, but grows best in well-drained, consistently moist soil. Rhizomes spread the semi-evergreen basal leaves thickly enough to shade out weeds making it an effective non-invasive ground cover. Native North American plant. The long, strong stems make orange coneflower ideal for cutting which actually encourages reblooming.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.  Mulch for winter.
Rudbeckia, Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta 1-2' 1-2' D Sun to shade M Yellow Summer Perennial Butterfly √ √ 3" daisy-like flower.  Native to E. Texas. Prune, removing top half at end of May.  Prune to a 3" height in mid-winter or after first frost browns leaves.  Mulch for winter.
Ruellia drummondiana Ruellia drummondiana 2.5'   D   L Lavendar  Summer Perennial Butterfly √   It has larger flowers and is taller than Ruellia nudiflora. Cut back bloom stalks in the winter.  
Ruellia or Wild Petunia  Ruellia nudiflora var. metzae 1.5' 1' D Part shade L White or Purple   Perennial Butterfly √      
Ruellia, Chi Chi Ruellia brittoniana "Chi Chi" 3-4' 12-18" D Sun/part shade L Pink Spring to summer Perennial     √ Reseed easily & can become invasive if not controlled. Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Ruellia, Dwarf Katie Ruellia brittoniana "Katie" 6-12" 6-12" D Sun/part shade L Varies Spring to summer Perennial     √ Is not as aggressive as the non-dwarf varieties.  Forms nice rounded clumps. Prune to 3" height after first frost browns leaves
Ruellia, Violet or Wild Petunia Ruellia nudiflora 2'   D Part shade L Purple Mar-Dec Perennial Butterfly √   There are different forms: tall straight up, medium & bushy, flat and round, flat & spreading. Good at woodland edges.  Good combined with Cherry Sage, Flame Acanthus, Thoroughwort & verbena.  Works well as a groundcover and tolerates mowing.  
Sage Jerusalem-Large Leaf Phlomis fruticosa "Grande Verde" 4-5' 3-4' E Sun/part shade L Yellow Summer Perennial     √+ Plant provides good contrast to darker green plants.  Foliage nice all year; spring blooms are unusual and spectacular. Prune for shape only; may want to remove dead flower heads
Sage Jerusalem-Little Leaf Phlomis lanata 2-3' 4-5' E Sun/part shade L Yellow Summer Perennial     √+ Leaves provide interest year round.