Dallas Landscaping with Some of Our Favorite Summer Annuals

For Dallas landscaping, May is a big month for planning and planting summer annuals. Annual color is a great way to fill empty spots in flowerbeds, window boxes, and outdoor flower pots and other containers. There are a plethora of annuals to choose from the suit Dallas landscaping conditions but I asked Jesse Butler and Debbie Carpenter, account and garden managers at Bonick Landscaping, to share some of their favorites with me. The list they provided was too long to share them all, but following is a sampling of some of their favorites.

Scaevola Also known as “fan flowers” because the flowers are shaped as if they have been cut in half, scaevola are sun-loving and prefer soil that is slightly moist, but not too wet or completely dry. They have few disease or insect problems, and do not need dead-heading for continuing flower production. The flower-encrusted, cascading branches with blue, pink or white flowers make scaevola a good choice for tall containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, and landscaping where it’s flowing growth is highlighted.

Flax Lily (Dianella Tasmanica) Another low-maintenance plant that is very drought-tolerant is flax lily. This grass-like plant does well in full sun or part shade and is often used as a border plant or accent plant to bring color and texture into the landscape or as ground cover and also works well in containers. Fast-growing, flax lily can be used to make a dramatic statement in natural gardens and in clean, modern designs.

Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus) It would be difficult not to love this eye-catching tropical shrub with it’s unique, purple and green foliage and iridescent sheen. Persian shield does best in bright shade; too much sun and it will lose its rich, glittering jewel-like purple color. Persian shield only grows to a height and width of 3’ and makes a striking border or container plant,

Angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia) Sometimes called “summer snapdragons,” because of its salvia-like flower spires studded with snapdragon-like flowers, angelonia are bushy plants with narrow, dark green foliage and flowers primarily in shades of bright pink, purple or white. Angelonia likes full sun and will bloom all summer until the first frost. Growing up to 2’, Angelonia are great plants for height and color in your garden and also do well in containers, either alone or with other plants.

Profusion Zinnias (Z. hybrida) These zinnias thrive in the full sun and heat of Dallas, poor soil and drought conditions. Available in shades of apricot, cherry, fire, orange and white, Profusion zinnias keep on blooming well into fall. Their adaptability and ability to tolerate “crowding” makes them a good choice for large plantings in flowerbeds, for edging, and container gardening. Added bonus: unlike most zinnias, Profusion zinnias attract butterflies.

Blue Daze (Evolvulus glomeratus) Blue daze, as the name suggests, has beautiful lavender or blue flowers that bloom profusely and almost continuously, with flowers opening in the morning and closing by afternoon. Growing in a low, spreading mound up to 2’ to 3’ in diameter and about 1’ tall, blue daze likes full sun and well-drained soil. Mostly pest and disease-free, blue daze prefers moist but not flooded soil. In soil that is too wet, the plant will contract fungal disease. Blue daze is a fast growing, not invasive, plant that works well in landscapes as a ground cover or as a cascading accent in a rock garden.

Portulaca Sometimes called moss rose, portulaca is a Dallas landscaper’s dream. Poor soil conditions, full sun, heat and drought bring out the best in this hardy plant. The blooms need sunlight to open, so they close in the evening and on cloudy days. Available in vivid shades of pink, orange, purple, red, yellow, rose and white, portulaca is a beautiful ground cover or used as a border edging or between stepping stone, in a rock garden or any other sunny, well-drained, garden spot.

Purple Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’) Purple fountain grass is easy to grow and requires little maintenance once established. Drought tolerant, purple fountain grass likes sunny locations with well-draining soil. This striking grass, topped by red flower spikes, grows 2’ to 4’ tall and 2’ to 3’ wide, and blooms all summer through to the fall. It looks good when planted in groups or in mass plantings, as a border plant, around entries and steps, and works in containers.

As I mentioned up front, there are many, many great choices for Dallas gardeners and these are just a small sampling of some of our favorites. For additional suggestions on warm season annuals for Dallas landscaping, you might want to check out Neil Sperry’s yearlong north Texas garden calendar, under May.

For over 30 years, Bonick Landscaping has served Dallas area clients with the highest standards looking for out-of-the-ordinary luxury landscape design and pools by offering the best in service, workmanship, and plantings. Services include hardscape and landscape design, pool designs, pool construction and installation, lawn care services and garden maintenance (overall estate management), pool maintenance, and more. For discerning clients in Dallas who want to express their own distinctive style through their landscaping, Bonick Landscaping can help you realize your dream. Call us at 972-243-9673 or visit our website at www.bonicklandscaping.com.