Gardening in North Texas can be challenging. How do you select plants that will survive here?
Q: Gardening in North Texas can be challenging. How do you select plants that will survive here?
A huge variety of plants are offered for sale at area nurseries and selecting the right one isn’t always easy. Fortunately, some of the screening work has been done for us. Texas Superstar® is a Texas A&M Agrilife program for plant testing and evaluation. The result of their work is seen in plants in local nurseries carrying a tag identifying them as Texas Superstars®.
Before being designated a Texas Superstar®, plants are grown in multiple test gardens across Texas, in realistic conditions, with minimal soil modification and moderate applications of water. No pesticides are used. Test plants are then rated for disease resistance, dependability, and beauty. Only the best performers are approved for the Texas Superstar® label. Many are Texas natives and all are well adapted to a wide range of Texas conditions.
Not every Texas Superstar® selection will thrive in every location in Texas. This is a huge state and soils, water availability, and climate vary enormously. Nevertheless, there’s a good chance that the Texas Superstar® you find in stock in a nearby nursery will be an appropriate selection in your area. Always read the Superstar tag for cultural information such as preferred soil type, water and light requirements, and temperature limitations before you purchase a plant. Be assured, though, that plants with the Texas Superstar® designation are tough enough to thrive in a large part of the state.
The Texas Superstar® brochure (https://issuu.com/gotexan/docs/tda_superstar_2020_0520?fr=sNjU3ZjkxMjg2) is a good place to browse before you select plants. There are sections for annuals (plants that last only one season), perennials (plants that return year after year), woody shrubs, trees, and specialty plants. The Texas Superstar® website (https://texassuperstar.com/index.html) includes lists of plants highly recommended by Texas A&M AgriLife and the retailers who offer them, along with general information about the Texas Superstar® Program.
