Laura Bush petunia was selected as a Superstar because it is a fast growing, spreading plant with attractive pink or violet blooms. Additionally it is more heat tolerant than most other petunias. If it is planted now it will bloom strongly until July, hang on through the summer and then renew itself for a long bloom period through the fall and into the winter.
If we had a winter like this year it will bloom through the winter. If we have a cold spell in January and the plants freeze back, expect it to reseed. New plants will germinate in the spring. In my landscape Laura Bush petunias have naturalized in containers and raised beds among the satsumas and lemons. Laura Bush petunias also do well in hanging baskets. Plant them in full sun.
Another Texas Superstar that prospers in full sun is the Cora vinca. It is available with red, pink, violet and white blooms. For years vinca was the favorite summer annual flower and then it became overrun with a fungal disease, aerial phytophera. The prevalence of the disease made it necessary to limit vinca planting until June and even then you could expect the disease to attack if the temperatures cooled and moisture sat on the foliage.
The introduction of Cora vinca greatly reduced the threat of aerial phytophera. Now we can plant vincas in April or May and expect them to survive cool, rainy spells and foliage wetting. Cora is blooming when you obtain transplants from the nursery and blooms every day until cold weather arrives about Thanksgiving.
Cora vincas are very drought tolerant. Grow it in a container or garden bed in full sun. It is a favorite nectar source for butterflies. Deer do not eat vinca. There is a spreading version of Cora vinca called Cascade that has the disease resistance of Cora and makes an excellent plant for hanging baskets.
The Texas Superstar, Angelonia is also called summer snapdragon. It is an annual flower that grows to 18 inches tall with white, pink, lavender, or purple flowers. It is drought tolerant and in most neighborhoods escapes being eaten by the deer. The flowers are not striking as vinca or Laura Bush petunias but the plant is effective in a mass planting or as a border. Angelonia is also used as a ground cover and in hanging baskets.
There are several blue summer salvias that have been designated as Texas Superstars for their attractive blooms, drought tolerance, pest resistance and the fact that deer do not eat them. They all freeze back to the roots in the winter to return in the spring for a long blooming season. All of the summer salvias provide nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. Choose from among Mexican Bush Sage, Henry Duelberg Salvia, and Mystic Spires Blue Salvia. Grow all of the blue salvias in full sun.
Mexican Blue Sage grows to 4 ft. tall and 3 ft. wide. The blooms are purple with some white borne on long spikes that make good cut flowers.
Henry Duelberg Salvia grows to about the same size as Mexican Blue Sage but has more of a sprawling growth habit and blue flowers.
Mystic Spires Blue Salvia is a hybrid salvia that grows to 30 inches tall. It has blue flowers.
5 Comments
I see that you have mentioned the Laura bush Petunia. Please advise when you may have some in stock. Thank you.
Hi Barbara! We don’t have any Laura Bush Petunia in stock at the moment, but in the past we have gotten them at some point during the summer. I don’t know exactly when some would be arriving, it all depends on the availabilities from the growers. If you want to send us your name and phone number to nursery@milbergersa.com, we can put you on our wish list and you’ll receive a call from us when and if some become available.
Do you have someone that could come to our home and identify all the different plants, bushes and trees and tell us how to care for them? And, while they are out here advise us on the plant options we have for replanting in an area that needs some attention? Thx Steve
We don’t provide a service for someone to go out to your home for a consult, but you could bring pictures of your plants and yard and we could identify/advise at the nursery. We also have a referral list for other landscaping services that may be able to help you with your request, if you would like us to email it to you let us know.
Do you’ll have an Olive Tree?
Or can we purchase an Olive branch from you’ll?
My son is getting married and his wife to be want an Olive branch in her bouquet.