3 garden beauties that survived our first winter freeze in Texas

My mother always called her crawling Jenny, but she also goes by crawling Charlie or money. I love growth lysimachia nummularia. It’s a lovely mat-like creeper that works well as a ground cover or as a spill in a pot mixed with annuals or perennials. Many grow it in a rock garden or around a pond. The lime, green, and golden tone of the small, round leaves are the main draw. It contrasts beautifully with most plants, but especially those with dark green or red leaves/flowers. When the leaf node contacts the soil, the fibrous roots grow, crawl, and creep their way.

In some areas of the country it can be aggressive, but I didn’t find that here. On the contrary, he has always been a bit shy to me. Growing a purchased pot will work faster than trying to divide it and repot it. If they are propagated by division, try to keep as much soil intact as possible and make sure they are watered well. This plant benefited from a February 2021 freeze. Never before has it been in better health or fuller. One downside is that weeds can spread. As you pull it up, hold the money herb down as far as possible so the roots are less disturbed.

There are invasive species that also pass through a genetic creeper, but it is a field-related herb (ivy arvensis).

Mexican Heather

Hyssofolia cup It has a rich history, but it only hit the Texas Superstar list last year. This means that it performs consistently well across the state. Small flowers are pollinator magnets, especially for honeybees. You can imagine the effect it has when planting in groups, but the 1- to 2-foot-high perennial form also suits those with an eye for symmetry in their design.

Several bodies were lost during the February freeze last year. Our spot has been in the ground for two years, and although affected by the long freeze, it held up enough that it bounced back to the same size.

There are small parts of the leaves that were affected by the freeze last month, but the shoots seem to have survived, proving once again to be a good discount to temperatures that only hover around 32 degrees. While Mexican heather makes a lovely container plant, you’ll need to move it to a lower temperature shelter because the soil in a pot won’t provide as much insulation as earth and mulch.

There are original substitutes for this plant, but none of them can compare with the many small and common flowers of the Mexican heather, although they, too, can be aggressive in some yards.

Salvia “The Mysterious Blue Constellations”

There are many types of salvia that thrive in Texas, but our “mysterious blue turrets” (Salvia longispicata x farinacea) I just went to Earth in October and settled down quickly. Although nearby hibiscus and peace lily show leaf damage from the last cold, this salvia showed no signs of cold weather passing on its leaves or flowers. Some reports claim that the secret to cold hardiness is this plant’s well-draining soil. I don’t expect that tolerance, but it’s nice as long as it lasts.

The 10- to 12-inch flowering spikes of perennials contrast well with the compact shape of the green leaves. Add it as a medium height when layering colors and textures. It likes full sun and does well in the ground or in larger containers. The mature size is 18 to 30 inches tall, which is slightly shorter than ‘Indigo Towers’. It is very low maintenance and common among pollinators. If a freeze causes it to return, avoid pruning it to the ground, and instead wait until new spring growth appears and appears healthy.

‘Mystic Spiers Blue’ is another Texas superstar, that does well with heat and humidity.