When you are in nurseries in Austin, look for the little book Native and Adapted Landscape Plants. It is put out a group of conservation groups in the Austin area concerned with the protection of our wild areas and watershed. It costs $1 - $2 in San Antonio, but is frequently given away free in Austin (or go to http://www.growgreen.org/ to see the contents of the book and other information).
Among the many wonderful landscape plants that they suggest for our area is Scarlet Firecracker Fern. This little gem is a weeping evergreen shrub that does resemble a fern, but is not one. It is a native of Mexico, so it tolerates our heat and droughts (give it extra water the first year to get it established). It also did very well in my yard this past frigid winter. It likes some afternoon shade and can be pruned without any damage. If left unpruned, it can grow to a 3’X3’ shrub. In June and most of the summer it will be covered in red blooms that attract butterflies until frost.
Among the many wonderful landscape plants that they suggest for our area is Scarlet Firecracker Fern. This little gem is a weeping evergreen shrub that does resemble a fern, but is not one. It is a native of Mexico, so it tolerates our heat and droughts (give it extra water the first year to get it established). It also did very well in my yard this past frigid winter. It likes some afternoon shade and can be pruned without any damage. If left unpruned, it can grow to a 3’X3’ shrub. In June and most of the summer it will be covered in red blooms that attract butterflies until frost.
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