flowers

Time for hummingbirds in South Texas! We’re lucky to see a few pretty much year-round, but mid-late April and September are when we typically see big migration surges. If you want to attract and enjoy hummingbirds, feeders can help, but plants are key. Did you know that most plants which are pollinated by hummingbirds have evolved over time to replenish nectar at night while hummingbirds are least active? That means hummingbirds can feed on the same flower over and over again without depleting the nectar! Here are 10 of our favorite plants for attracting and feeding hummingbirds – plant these now!

1. Firebush (Hamelia)

Firebush’s long tubular blooms are made for hummingbird beaks. And with so many blooms, hummingbirds will hang around and browse for a good while. Give it some space! Firebush grows 6-8 feet tall and wide and it grows fast. It loves sun, thrives with little water, and comes back quickly after a freeze. Give it a hard pruning in February and it’ll be back at full size by summer.

2. Native Turk’s Cap

Hummingbirds have been stopping to visit native Turk’s Cap in Texas for a loooooong time. Not only is it a hummingbird favorite, but its one of the most versatile landscape plants there is. Drought tolerant, grows in sun or shade, grows in clay or sand, withstands hot summers, withstands freezes, attracts and supports pollinators…Turk’s Cap can do it all.

3. Native Flame Acanthus

Here’s another top performer for hummingbirds and for South Texas landscapes. Native Flame Acanthus (Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii) is excellent for full sun, clay or sandy soil, grows 3-5 feet tall and wide, is very drought tolerant, and produces tons of blooms for hummingbirds.

4. Native Wild Olive

It’s not uncommon to see an established wild olive tree absolutely covered in hummingbirds. Again, these are not red, tubular blooms, but hummingbirds find them anyway.

5. Native Tangerine Beauty Crossvine

We saw our first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird of the season here at Gill’s just the other day on our native Bignonia aka Tangerine Beauty crossvine trellis. If you haven’t seen it in person, you need to stop by! Plant crossvine in full sun to partial shade and expect fast growth! If the hummingbirds don’t find it this spring, they certainly will this fall.

6. Duranta erecta

These blooms are not like the others – they’re purple and white and they’re not tubular. Nonetheless, hummingbirds make frequent stops for Duranta. These small trees typically grow to 12-15′ tall with a spread of about 10′ here in South Texas. Lots of room for lots of blooms!

7. Native Salvia greggii

If you plant Texas native Salvia greggii, you might have hummingbirds on it before you finish filling up the hole. This is true for so many of the different red salvias like Roman Red, native Salvia coccinea, Hot Lips, and more. They even love the blue salvias like native Henry Duelberg and Mystic Spires.

8. Pentas

We grow pentas as annual flowers here in South Texas, and the timing for planting them aligns perfectly with the April and September hummingbird migration. They come in many colors, but hummingbirds prefer the red variety.

9. Native Red Yucca

If you’re looking for low-maintenance, Red Yucca wins. Once established, you can pretty much leave them alone and they’ll thrive and bloom and look beautiful through the heat of summer and through freezes. And they’ll be frequented by hummingbirds!

10. Firecracker Plant (Russelia)

If you’re looking for a summer-tough, fast-growing, shaggy, wild-looking plant that attracts tons of hummingbirds…you found it! Firecracker Plant gets 3-5′ tall and wide and is a tried and true favorite here in South Texas – reliable and drought-tolerant.

These are just 10 of our favs, but we have a whole universe of other plants for hummingbirds, as well as feeders and nectar. Come see us or get in touch if you have any hummingbirds questions.

Happy National Pollinator Week! Gardeners know that planting to support and protect pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and good bugs creates a healthy local ecosystem. And pollinators return the favor by making our gardens and landscapes so much more beautiful with healthier plants and more blooms. Here are our top 11 summer-tough plants to create a pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard – in stock at Gill’s and ready to plant now!

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Pollinators: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
Why We Love It: Bright orange-red blooms all summer long!
Planting Tip: Loves full sun. Foliage dies back in winter. Cut back hard in early spring and it grows back very fast.

Purslane

Pollinators: Native bees and small butterflies
Why We Love It: A low-growing, drought-tolerant succulent with vivid blooms in lots of different colors. And Purslane is edible! High in omega-3s and minerals.
Planting Tip: Tuck it into hanging baskets, borders, or between rocks—just give it sunshine and dry feet.

Esperanza – all varieties

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Comes in several different varieties from the tidy, dwarf ‘Sparklette’ with orange blooms to the large ‘Yellow Bells’ with bright yellow blooms.
Planting Tip: Full sun and low water needs. Plant in your sunniest spots.

Texas Native Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Pollinators: Monarchs (host plant!), bees, and other butterflies
Why We Love It: Orange or yellow blooming varieties + life support for monarch caterpillars = must-have native!
Planting Tip: Full sun, well-drained soil, and very little water—this one likes it tough.

Gregg’s Mistflower

Pollinators: Queen butterflies, monarchs, skippers, bees
Why We Love It: Soft lavender puffs that butterflies go wild for.
Planting Tip: Likes part sun to full sun and moderate moisture. Give it some space—it spreads!

Texas Sage (all varieties)

Pollinators: Bees and butterflies
Why We Love It: Lavender blooms that pop before and after rain, and it’s practically unkillable.
Planting Tip: Plant in your hottest, sunniest spots and avoid overwatering.

Firecracker Plant (Russelia)

Pollinators: Hummingbirds and butterflies
Why We Love It: Cascading coral-red blooms that hummingbirds can’t resist.
Planting Tip: Likes moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Looks stunning in containers or hanging over walls.

Pride of Barbados aka Dwarf Poinciana

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Tropical drama with vivid red-orange blooms and feathery foliage.
Planting Tip: Needs full sun, good drainage, and a little patience in spring—it doesn’t start to perform until temps reach 90!

Texas Native Flame Acanthus

Pollinators: Hummingbirds and bees
Why We Love It: Red tubular flowers that keep hummingbirds zipping around all summer.
Planting Tip: Drought-tolerant and easy-going—cut back in winter and it bounces back fast

Salvia Mystic Spires

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Spiky deep blue blooms and non-stop action from all pollinators. Our best-performing blue salvia for South TX.
Planting Tip: Plant in full sun and deadhead for more blooms.

Texas Native Frogfruit

Pollinators: Butterflies (especially Phaon Crescent), bees, and skippers
Why We Love It: A native groundcover with charming flowers and big ecological value.
Planting Tip: Use as a living mulch or lawn alternative. Thrives almost anywhere – sun or shade and spreads quickly.

We like to think of small, ornamental trees as anchors and focal points in the landscape. They provide balance and give us structure to design other beds and landscape features around. So, we want them to perform! Choose these native trees and you get tons of blooms for pollinators, very low water use, very few problems with pests, and great longevity. No need to worry about a freeze with any of these. Plus, these trees don’t just survive our summers—they show off in them. We feel lucky to have all these natives in stock at Gill’s right now – come check ’em out!

🌸 **Anacacho Orchid Tree (Bauhinia lunarioides)**

Why you’ll love it: A compact beauty with delicate white or pink orchid-like blooms in spring.
Pollinators: Butterflies and native bees are frequent guests—especially swallowtails and hairstreaks.
Growing tips: Needs good drainage and full sun. Bounces back quickly after cold winters.

🌼 **Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis)**

Why you’ll love it: Large trumpet-shaped blooms in pinks and purples, blooming on and off all summer.
Pollinators: Hummingbirds can’t resist it. Bees and large butterflies like monarchs and Gulf fritillaries show up too.
Growing tips: Loves heat, sun, and dry soil. If planting in heavy clay soil, it’s a good idea to mound up and plant high. Can be pruned as a tree or left shrub-like.

💛 **Retama (Parkinsonia aculeata)**

Why you’ll love it: Elegant open form, green bark, and brilliant yellow blooms from spring to fall.
Pollinators: Butterflies, especially sulphurs, and small bees crowd the flowers.
Growing tips: Full sun, fast-growing, and extremely drought-hardy. Just keep in mind—it does have thorns!

🌿 **Arroyo Sweetwood (Myrospermum sousanum)**

Why you’ll love it: A graceful small tree with shiny foliage and dainty white blooms with a honey-like fragrance.
Pollinators: Honeybees and native bees buzz all over this tree when it flowers.
Growing tips: Needs sun and good drainage. Works beautifully in wild naturalistic or low-water landscapes.

🖤 **Eve’s Necklace (Styphnolobium affine)**

Why you’ll love it: Pink wisteria-like blooms in spring followed by shiny black seed pods that look like beads.
Pollinators: Butterflies and small bees are drawn to the nectar-rich blooms.
Growing tips: Grows about 15 feet tall, tolerates sun to part shade, and adds great texture in the landscape.

🌿 Texas **Kidneywood (Eysenhardtia texana)**

Why you’ll love it: This small, airy tree erupts in fragrant white flower spikes in spring and after summer rains.
Pollinators: Bees love this one—especially native solitary bees and honeybees.
Growing tips: Full sun to part shade, and does fine in our clay or sandy soil types. Grows up to about 12 feet and is very low-maintenance. Very easy to prune and shape to your liking.

How is 2025 halfway over already?! We hope you’re having lots of fun this summer – holidays, BBQs, weekend trips, and garden projects! Here are our top must-do’s to keep your plants healthy and happy in July, including tips for planting, watering, and summer pests to watch out for.

1. Yes, You Can Plant in the Summer!

Myth: I’ve heard that you can’t plant in the summer because its too hot… FACT: Of course you can!! You can plant just about anything in our summers, including trees, as long as you have a good plan for watering. In fact, summer is a great time to plant crape myrtles because they’re blooming and you get choose the color IRL! While we’re past the season for spring veggies like tomatoes, there are still plenty of summer veggies like okra, peppers, eggplant, and melons to plant now. If you want your own fresh pumpkins for Halloween, start ’em in July. Plus, now’s a great time to set table for the fall hummingbird migration with their fav blooming perennials like Firebush, Firecracker plant (pictured), native flame Acanthus, and Dicliptera aka Hummingbird Bush. Don’t let any myths discourage your summer gardening!

2. Watering: Think Depth, Not Frequency

Proper hydration happens when you get water down to the roots of the plant. This means watering deeply, not more frequently. The key for watering plants, lawns, and trees is long, slow, deep drinks! Encourage those roots to dive deeper for water. Even with recent summer rains (yay!!), continue to watch your watering and maintain that depth moisture. If you notice this summer that you’re having to water your potted plants a lot more often, it could be time to re-pot. As the pot fills up with roots, you end up with less soil and therefore less moisture retention. Obviously we have a lot of potted plants here at Gill’s. We just added several more large rainwater collection tanks to help reduce our dependence on City water. And boy do the plants love rainwater! If you’re interested in a rainwater collection system, Gill’s landscape team can design and install at your home.

3. Mulch to Keep Roots Cool

Another way to save water is to keep landscape beds and gardens mulched through the summer. Studies show that a good 3″ layer of mulch will keep your plant roots more than 20 degrees cooler! Not only that, a good mulch layer also helps retain moisture AND keeps weeds at bay. Healthy plants, less watering, and fewer weeds – that’s a win/win/win! It’s important to use natural wood or pine straw mulch that breaks down over time. As it breaks down, it adds nutrients and makes your soil more workable. Keep in mind, mulch is also a great placeholder. If you have areas that you plan to plant later, keep them mulched to keep weeds out and keep your soil healthy and ready to plant when you are.

4. Watch for More Bugs in Summer

Not all bugs are bad, so it’s important to know your bugs before you spray anything, even organics. A few bugs here and there is most likely not cause for alarm. If you do get an infestation, cut the plant back first, give it some fertilizer, then treat for bugs. By pruning first, you won’t have to treat every leaf on the whole plant. We see plants come back better than ever using this method. If you’re not sure about bugs or pruning, we’re here to help. During summer, watch out for mealybugs on plants like Hibiscus and Turk’s Cap, lacebugs on Lantana, and chinch bugs in the lawn – especially near sidewalks and driveways! We’ve got solutions for all of the above.

5. Summer Vacays? Train Your Plant Sitter!

Be sure to have a trusted plant-sitter come water your plants while you’re away on summer excursions! It’s a good idea to spend a little time showing them how you water. Make them a list, draw them a map, and walk them through it. You know your plants and which ones get tired and thirsty the fastest. We might even be able to help connect you with a trusted plant sitter…

6. Collect Cool New Houseplants

Now’s a great time of year to work on your houseplant jungle. The greenhouse is restocked with all kinds of interesting houseplant choices, including lots of new Bromeliad and Philodendron varieties, like this fernleaf philodendron aka Philodendron tortum which looks like a small palm! Keep in mind that constant A/C indoors will dry out plants. Keep an eye on watering (use a moisture meter) and don’t place houseplants near an A/C vent. You might also try experimenting with a humidifier near your plants to help regulate moisture.

Holiday season is here…and some cool weather finally! These last few weeks of 2025 are sure to fly by. Our advice: be sure to spend some time in the garden to balance out the hectic holidays. Here are our top to-do’s this month: what to plant, gift ideas, holiday plant care, and more.

1. Plants That Want to Be Planted in December

There’s always the BEST time to get plants growing and here’s a few that LOVE this season as much as we do!

Trees…shade, flowering, small, big, they all benefit from planting now – including living Christmas trees like Junipers and Norfolk Pines. Good root development during the cooler months of winter gives them better growth in spring and a deeper, stronger root system to withstand the summer heat.

Onions…we grow short-day onion varieties here in South Texas. Lucky for us the 1015 Texas Supersweet is one of those along with tasty Texas Early White & Southern Belle Red.

Roses…our mild winters are perfect for big, beautiful roses & the cooler temps will only make them prettier and the flower color richer.

Ornamental Cabbage & Kale…these winter classics need to be planted early this month and enjoyed through the season! Easy care, vibrant colors, and unique texture in the garden.

Alyssum…gorgeous white blooms all winter long. Did you know Alyssum flowers and leaves are edible? They have a pungent horseradish-y flavor.

Crown of Thorns…very easy to grow succulent, low-water, excellent container plant that blooms all year, including all through December.

Other plants that require short days…some plants require short days/enough hours of darkness to bloom and look their best. Think Aloes and other outdoor succulents, Cyclamen, Camelia, native Salvia greggii, and Kalanchoes!

2. Tips for Holiday Classic Plants

Fresh-cut Christmas Trees…we give all of our trees a fresh cut and get them in water immediately to preserve their freshness. Many customers ask us for another fresh cut before they take the tree home. If you decide to have us do another fresh cut, or if you do it yourself, keep in mind that you have 10 minutes to get the tree in water before that cut seals over! Check water in your tree stand daily and keep it full. If you have pets who like to drink or splash the water, try covering with a piece of foil.

Poinsettias…Think of poinsettias as succulents – because they are! They are a type of euphorbia. That means give them a good drink, but let them dry out between waterings. Also, the leaves bruise and break easily, so avoid touching them as much as possible. So tempting to touch!

Christmas Cactus…Probably the easiest of all holiday plants, and they can last a LONG time! There are stories of Christmas Cacti that have been gifted and passed down through families for 100+ years. They like well-lit areas, but not direct sunlight. Let dry between waterings, then mist the leaves as well as water the soil when its time to water. They like to stay on the dry side!

Living Holiday Trees…Junipers, Norfolk Pines, Loblolly Pines, Magnolias, Yaupon Holly, and Ficus trees all make great Christmas trees that can be planted outside after the holidays. If you bring these in for decorating, be sure they have good bright natural light. Keep watered but not too much, and as soon as the holidays are done…take them outdoors for a breath of fresh air and get them in the ground.

3. Think Gifts for Gardeners!

If you have gardeners on your list this year, we’ve got you covered! Nature-themed holiday ornaments, quality tools and gloves, special edition holiday cards, crystals, cute houseplant grow lights, herb and cutting re-growers, and lots more unique garden gifts. And of course, plants!! If they’re picky, you can’t go wrong with a Gill’s gift card!

4. Plant and Feed Winter Flowers

Winter flowers are AMAZING right now! They really shine in cooler weather. Violas and Pansies are breathtaking and Geraniums are full of buds and blooms. All that blooming makes them hungry, so take a moment and fertilize your beauties whether they’re in the ground or in containers. We love using granular Plant Tone once a month, then following up with liquid Hasta Gro every 2 weeks. Both are organic and give you wow results.

5. Adjust Your Houseplant Care for Winter

Most houseplants will not experience a complete dormancy period during winter, but they will slow down growth and react to climatic changes like drier conditions inside the house. Give your houseplants more light and less water as temperatures and the amount of daylight hours drop. Dust/shine leaves regularly to ward off insects. Cooler temps = drier conditions and less of the humidity that houseplants love. Try grouping them together to create more humidity, or use a humidifier. When bringing patio plants inside for cold snaps, be sure to treat with All Seasons Horticultural Oil spray to prevent any pests (like scale insects) from hitching a ride indoors.

6. Start Thinking About Frost Prep!

We typically don’t get a frost until January or February, but there’s always a chance! Be sure you’ve got your frost blankets or frost cloth ready to protect any tender outdoor tropicals and new plantings. Mulch beds at 2-3″ deep to help seal in warmth. And don’t prune yet! Remember that pruning signals to a plant that it’s time to put on new growth. Instead, plant leaves need to harden off and go dormant for the winter. Foliage that you leave on the plant will help insulate it against cold weather.

7. Winter is the Perfect Time for Hardscaping

While you can certainly still plant in December, many folks gravitate toward completing hardscape projects this month, like flagstone patios, paver driveways, stone pathways, stone firepits, and more. These elements add structure and functionality to your garden spaces – plus they don’t need water or TLC. If you’re considering DIY, we can advise you on proper construction steps and things to consider, plus supply you with the materials you’ll need. If hardscaping sounds like too much hard work, our Landscape Designers and crews can handle everything for you. Give us a call or contact us here to get your project started.