After our exceptional drought of 2011 here in Central Texas, I decided to install xeriscapes along the south side of our property. Along ...Read Morethe street there, measurements indicate it's up to 20° hotter than 20 feet back under the Pecan shade. One of my selections was Hesperaloe campanulata. The first year, newly installed plants received regular supplemental irrigation. The second year, four extra waterings for the entire year. After that, exclusively rain. Going into the fourth year, this plant flowered, enabling me to determine its species (can't always trust garden centers to properly label). The flower stalk is about 12 feet tall, loaded with pink flower buds (see my picture). It's produced more offsets, and as evidenced by the flowers, it's obviously tough enough to survive long, hot summers in an environment that kills Bermuda grass. If you want a reliable, no-fuss xeriscape plant that offers eye-catching flower stalks in the spring, this is a great selection.
After our exceptional drought of 2011 here in Central Texas, I decided to install xeriscapes along the south side of our property. Along ...Read More