By Jackie Sledge
Big Country Master Gardener
The Big Country Master Gardener Association has been busy all week with the Fall Plant Sale, and we have had some wonderful plants available to share with our plant-loving friends.
Tomorrow is the in-person sale from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon in the Modern Living Mall on the Expo grounds. We will have quite a few plants for sale in all categories – annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, trees, vines, succulents – lots of plants that will survive and thrive in our area.
BUT… We will also have a section of Texas Superstar® plants to celebrate Superstar® Saturday. These are tough, beautiful plants that received the Superstar® designation because they had been trialed and proven successful in a variety of Texas climates across the state. The average homeowner can be successful when using these plants in their landscapes because of their superior performance in tough Texas environments.
Some of the Superstar® plants we will have for sale tomorrow are:
Mexican Mint Marigold
New Gold Lantana
Trailing Lantana – purple and white
‘Henry Duelberg’ Salvia
Red Yucca
‘Gold Star’ Esperanza
Pride of Barbados
Rock Rose
Texas Lilac Vitex
American Beautyberry
Texas Mountain Laurel
Chinkapin Oak
Mexican White Oak
‘Green Magic’ Broccoli
Holly Fern
Note: Quantities may be limited for some of the Superstar® plants.
Let me mention one of my favorite Superstar® plants – ‘Gold Star’ Esperanza. This is a shrub that makes me so happy when it’s covered with golden yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is very drought-tolerant once it is established. Esperanza is a wonderful pollinator and attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. It is fascinating to watch a bee go into the flower and back out covered in pollen! This plant is wonderful in both containers and in mass plantings. Another bonus is it is resistant to pests.
Remember that fall is a great time to plant so the new additions to your landscape have time to establish strong root systems and be ready for you to enjoy next spring.
If you have any questions, call the Taylor County Extension Office at 325-672-6048 or email us at mgardeners@yahoo.com. We hope you visit bcmgtx.org for all Big Country Master Gardener information and events, like us on BCMGA Facebook, and check out training presentations on BCMGA YouTube. We are here to help you.
We hope to see you tomorrow at the in-person Fall Plant Sale!
Until next week, Happy Gardening!