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Texas Native Container Plants: 7 Plants to Grow in Containers

January 1, 2025
, Plants

Many people look for ways to add landscaping to small backyards, patios, and balconies but don’t always know how to start. One of the easiest ways to landscape these small spaces is to simply add some containers with plants or create a container garden. Using containers can also be used as a way to keep plants you aren’t ready to put in the ground safe from harsh weather conditions while also adding a visual appeal to your patio, balcony, or limited yard space. In this post, we have included a list of 7 Texas native plants that you can grow in containers. This collection of plants that are native to Texas will be a great addition to any container garden project, showcasing their beauty and color in planters or pots.

Prairie Verbena

The Prairie Verbena is native to Texas; it is visually appealing and a surprisingly low-maintenance plant. While it is often considered an annual, the Verbena species is also seen as a “short-lived perennial,” as it blooms from March to December every year. Because it is low maintenance, this plant requires less water and only needs to be watered weekly. The Prairie Verbena can grow in both full sun and partial shade and grows up to 12 inches in height and 24 inches in width. Lastly, its visually appealing blooms appear in purple tubular flowers that naturally replace themselves each season.

Texas Lantana

The Texas Lantana is a perennial plant native to Texas that blooms from April to October and can effectively withstand extreme heat. This heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant plant is also low-maintenance with minimal watering needed to substantiate it. As for its dimensions, the Texas Lantana is considered a flowering shrub that can grow up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide. This appealing plant presents vivid orange and red tubular flowers, as well as deep green foliage that complements many of the spring flowers planted in our north Dallas area.

Texas Bluebonnet

Many Texans know the Bluebonnet for its significance to the state but don’t realize what a great plant it is to have and grow. The Texas Bluebonnet is an annual plant that blooms in March and April, so don’t forget to add planting these flowers to the duties of your spring landscaping checklist. As it is declared the state flower, any fertilizing of this plant is prohibited. Though it is known for its classic purple blooms, the Bluebonnet comes in other colors like pink, blue, and white. Lastly, this plant takes a rounded form, grows 8-12 inches in height, and has 6-8 inches of spacing between most of its bloom clusters.

Pink Evening Primrose

The Pink Evening Primrose, also known as the Pink Lady, is an appealing perennial herb native to Texas that is identified as semi-evergreen. This means that they are able to keep their leaves during the winter seasons, but in extreme conditions may lose them. This plant comes in a variety of pinks, spanning from the deepest magentas to the palest pinks. Because of its tendency to spread, this perennial is often used in container planting, which helps showcase its beauty without taking away from the liveliness of other plants. The Pink Evening Primrose thrives in full sun and prefers moist or well-drained soil. It does not require a substantial amount of water and presents its vivid and colorful blooms all the way from February to July.

Frogfruit

Frogfruit is a perennial herb native to Texas that is often defined as evergreen but can become dormant in colder Texas conditions. It can be grown in both full sun and partial shade, displaying its unique white blooms from May through October. This plant can grow up to 8 inches tall and spreads up to 4 feet in width. Frogfruit serves as an excellent groundcover plant but can also be used in containers, making it a great option to use when landscaping around a backyard pool in large planters and container pots.

Heartleaf Skullcap

Heartland Skullcap is a unique and appealing perennial native to Texas, specifically the Houston area. This plant blooms in April, May, and June and thrives in partial or full shade. When it does bloom, it presents purplish-blue flowers that grow on spikes, having a similar visual to Salvia. It can reach 3 feet in height, including its stalk. This perennial is very low-maintenance, and the only real maintenance required is making sure that it doesn’t spread. To combat this, Heartleaf Skullcap can also be planted in a container, controlling mass spreading.

Winecup

Winecup is a perennial plant native to Texas that blossoms from mid-spring to early summer, presenting its appealing blooms of deep magenta, pink, or white. This plant is considered small, as it does not exceed 12 inches tall. The Winecup plant can withstand most Texas conditions and is drought-tolerant and dependable. It is often used as ground cover but can also be planted in plant containers.