Our 5 favorite perennials for Texas

An Italianate garden in Houston filled with perennials

Houston gardeners know the heat, humidity, and unpredictable weather can be tough on plants—but not these! These hardy, low-maintenance perennials love the Texas climate and come back year after year with minimal fuss. Whether you're looking to attract pollinators, add some color, or grow something that’s low-maintenance, here are some of our favorite perennial plants to brighten up your Houston yard.

Lantana

Lantana is like the party guest that never wants to leave—and you’re glad they don’t! This cheerful, sun-loving shrub blooms non-stop from spring through fall in bright clusters of color. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, and it actually prefers a bit of neglect—overwatering or over-fertilizing will just make it sulky. Plant it in a sunny border, along a driveway, or in containers for a pollinator magnet that butterflies and bees adore. Just give it space—it can spread out!

Bright red-orange Lantana

Salvia (Especially 'Mystic Spires')

Salvia is the overachiever of the Texas garden. 'Mystic Spires' produces beautiful spires of deep blue-purple flowers and laughs in the face of heat and drought. Plant it in full sun for the best blooms, though it can handle part shade. It likes well-draining soil and doesn’t mind being trimmed way back after blooms fade—it’ll come right back. Deer and rabbits don’t care for it, but hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees love it. Great for beds, borders, or mass plantings.

Deep purple Salvia flanking a rustic bird bath

Turk’s Cap

Turk’s Cap is like the cool, laid-back friend who looks effortlessly stylish. This shrubby native sports bright red, hibiscus-like blooms that never quite open all the way—perfect little hats for hummingbirds to sip from. It tolerates full sun to deep shade and handles drought like a champ. Use it in a woodland garden, under trees, or along a fence line. It dies back in winter but bounces back fast in spring, often spreading gently by root. Bonus: it’s edible!

Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana)

Pineapple guava is the multitasker of the garden—beautiful, edible, and evergreen. This South American native grows as a dense shrub or small tree, with silvery green leaves and stunning red-and-white flowers in spring that hummingbirds can’t resist. The flowers are edible (and sweet!) and later give way to small green fruits that taste like a tropical blend of pineapple, mint, and bubblegum. It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-draining soil. Pineapple guava is drought-tolerant once established and makes a great privacy screen, hedge, or specimen plant. Give it some space and a little patience—it’s slow-growing but totally worth it.

Pineapple guava makes a great hedge shrub

Esperanza (Yellow Bells)

Esperanza, or Yellow Bells, brings the sunshine with its trumpet-shaped golden flowers that bloom all summer long. Native to the Southwest, it loves full sun, thrives in heat, and doesn’t mind dry soil. It can grow into a small shrub or be trained into a small tree with pruning. Plant it near patios, against fences, or in hot, dry areas of the yard. It’s a great choice if you want something flashy and low maintenance—just give it lots of sun and let it shine.

Photo courtesy of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Enjoy your plants and have a great summer!

-Lindsey