Black-eyed Susan and blue mistflower
The black-eyed Susans love the heat, but even they have limits in Austin’s heat-seared climate. Mine grow best in morning sun, with dappled shade in the afternoon. They demand more water than most of my plants, so they pair well with blue mistflower (Eupatorium coelestinum) in that regard. This is the mistflower’s first year in my garden, and it is fairly aggressive, spreading quickly into my lilies-of-the-Nile and coneflowers. However, it is easily pulled up by the handful to keep it in bounds. And because it’s such a great plant for attracting butterflies, it seems worth the trouble.

White Turk’s cap. The white variety is so cool and creamy in the shade. It isn’t quite as vigorous as the more common red variety, but it comes back reliably each summer.

Here’s a long shot from the driveway across the front garden. From front to back: rock rose (pavonia), black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower, Mexican oregano.

In this photos you can see, from left to right, agave, white skullcap, Mexican oregano, pink roses, society garlic, spineless prickly pear, and yellow hymenoxys. The small tree in the background is kidneywood, a fragrant, white-flowering, airy tree.

Damianita and spineless prickly pear—two of my toughest natives.

More Mexican oregano, seen here with Indigo Spires salvia, coral honeysuckle vine, iris foliage, and Belinda’s Dream roses.