Texas Superstar Plants

By Melody Stramer, Bexar County Master Gardener February 2024 Whenever anyone asks me for recommendations for their yard, especially if they are new to the area or new to gardening, I always mention Texas Superstars.  Gardening in south Texas is challenging!  The extremes of heat, cold and drought with attendant water restrictions that have plagued us in the last few …

Bright and Beautiful – The Kalanchoe

By Becky Mendez, Bexar County Master Gardener December 2023 During the winter, garden beds are resting, and many flowering perennials are dormant. Now is a good time to add beauty and color to our homes and indoor spaces with a variety of potted plants.                                                                                          While there are many perennial plants to choose from that thrive indoors, the kalanchoe succulent …

Pass-Along Plants

By Marsha Krassner, Bexar County Master Gardener November 2023 Since moving to Texas more than thirty years ago from the cold environs of the northeast, I had to learn an entirely new approach (and vocabulary) to gardening in our (mostly) hot climate.  Fortunately for me, one of the first things I learned was the term “pass-along plant” –plants that we …

Borage, aka Starflower:  An Annual Herb

By Barbara Bresler, BCMG July 2023 Borage (Borago officianalis), also known asbee plant, or starflower is an annual herb in the flowering plant family Boraginaceae.  It is well-known for its uses in preparing green sauces, garnishing salads, and adding honey to sweeten desserts.   The leaves and stems are rough and hairy,  giving the plant a somewhat fuzzy look and adding interesting texture to your …

The Beauty of Sunflowers In A Texas Garden

By Yvonne Lopez, Bexar County Master Gardener Intern July 2023 Looking for some color for your garden this summer? Bright sunflowers (Helianthus) can be a beautiful addition to your garden for many reasons. Factors to Consider When Growing Sunflowers There are so many varieties of sunflowers: selecting the right variety for your garden is a key consideration.  The sunflower packets …

Queen’s Tears, A Magnificent Plant

by Marsha Krassner, Bexar County Master Gardener June 2023 Patience is a virtue, especially with gardening.  After a long winter, my Queen’s Tears began to bloom. And, bloom, and bloom, and bloom! Queen’s Tears (Billbergia nutans) is a genus of bromeliads characterized by long, dark green to silvery green leaves with toothed edges and a leathery feel. When the plant …

Growing Irises in San Antonio

By Mary Cennamo, Bexar County Master Gardener May 2023 There are more than 310 species of irises on record. This beautiful flower is characterized by a wide assortment of colors, varying heights and multiple seasonal blooming times.   Irises may be “bearded” or “beardless.”  Bearded refers to the part of the flower that is above the fall (or at the top …

Growing & Using Roselle Hibiscus

By Rhonda Bell, Bexar County Master Gardener Intern March 2023 Roselle Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa), also known as Jamaican Sorrel or Florida Cranberry, is a tropical plant native to West Africa. With its bright red calyx and tart flavor, it has long been used in drinks, teas, and culinary dishes in many cultures around the world. This plant is versatile and …

Blue Daze

Evolvulus glomeratus ‘Blue Daze’ (Evolvulus glomeratus) is a heat and sun loving low spreading annual. Growers are rewarded with summer long flowers in a beautiful sky blue hue. The brilliant blue funnel-shaped flowers are small but plentiful and presented on a backdrop of grey green foliage. ‘Blue Daze’ will thrive in those garden hotspots that threaten less hardy species. Exposure: Ideally …

The Texas Button Plant

By Sherri McShane, Bexar County Master Gardener January 2023 The Culinary Garden at the San Antonio Botanical Garden (SABOT) is truly a magical place. Within this lovely space there is a plant which is the number one curiosity sparker for the many people who visit. The plant? The Texas Buttonbush! With its distinctive look of small round pincushions, the Texas …