Articles by Leaf
Plants – The Art of Outdoor Comfort
Plants are the living element tempering hardscapes lines. Giving softness, movement, and life. Outdoor rooms are defined as much or more by plant palettes as by hard materials, creating spaces that feel evolved yet refresh our souls. Shade defines comfort and anchor...
Burford Holly
Burford Holly - Evergreen Structure and Seasonal Red Berries for Austin Landscapes Dwarf Burford Holly is a favorite in Austin landscapes for its compact size, glossy green foliage, and clusters of bright red berries in fall and winter. Unlike many hollies, the dwarf...
Arizona Cypress
Long-Lived, Drought-Tolerant Evergreens for Austin Landscapes With its silvery-blue foliage and broad pyramidal shape, Arizona Cypress brings a soft, elegant glow to Austin yards. Despite its relaxed look, this is a rugged survivor — thriving in heat, drought, and...
Rooted in Style: Where Wild Meets Refined
Landscape design is more than curb appeal—it’s a curated extension of lifestyle, balancing Texas heritage with modern edge. For discerning homeowners, landscape isn’t a backdrop—it’s a statement. Outdoor spaces are entering a new era: where sustainability meets...
Leopard Plant
Bold Foliage and Fall Blooms for Shaded Austin Gardens Perennial, Leopard Plant stands out in Austin landscapes thanks to its large, glossy, rounded leaves that bring a bold, tropical look to shaded areas. Unlike many shade plants, Leopard Plant keeps its striking...
Asian Jasmine
Evergreen, Adaptable, and Perfect for Austin Landscapes Asian Jasmine has become one of the most widely used groundcovers in Central Texas for good reason. With its dense, glossy evergreen foliage, it creates a lush carpet that suppresses weeds, stabilizes slopes, and...
Mexican Bush Sage
Showy, Tough, Monarch-Ready, and an Official Texas Superstar®! Mexican Bush Sage is one of those plants that looks spectacular but demands little in return. Adapted to Texas, it’s a long-blooming perennial that’s become a Texas garden favorite. From late summer...
Native Texas Oak Trees
Stately Strength - Lasting Legacy: The Enduring Appeal of Oaks Oaks hold Texas woodlands together—keystone giants that give life to the land. Their generous canopies shade and shelter birds, mammals, and native butterflies, while acorns keep wildlife well-fed year...
Austin Watering Guide
Watering in Austin requires strategy for conservation and for plant health. Our climate swings from drought to downpour so choosing native and adapted plants like agaves, salvias, and lantanas helps. Knowing how and when to water is also important. Water deeply;...
Yucca Rostrata
Yucca rostrata – Nature’s Desert Crown; Perfect for Austin! Yucca rostrata, often called Beaked Yucca, really is a superstar of the desert landscape! Its striking form — a tall, sculptural trunk topped with a dense sphere of narrow, bluish leaves — makes it one of the...
Opuntia
Bold Form - Native Grit - Timeless Presence Few plants shape a space like Opuntia. Sculptural pads, vibrant seasonal blooms, and unwavering toughness, bring structure and unmistakable Texas character to Austin landscapes. Upright and architectural or low and...
Muhly Grasses
Texas Tough Meets Timeless Grace Muhly grasses are celebrated for fine texture, low water needs combined with high sun tolerances, and dramatic fall blooms. Perfectly suited to Austin’s climate, these ornamental natives and adaptive selections bring four-season...
What’s in Plant Names? More Than You’d Expect!
Wonder what plant names mean? Why is there a common name and a scientific (botanical) one? Common names like Cone Flower or Black-Eyed Susan can hold different meanings depending on the region or the person referring to it. These same names can refer to more than 1...
Evergreen Magnolia
Evergreen Grace: Southern Magnolias Shine Year-Round With glossy green leaves, fragrant white blooms, and timeless structure, Evergreen Magnolias bring classic Southern charm to Austin landscapes. These majestic trees offer four-season beauty, with deep green foliage...
Yellow Bells
Garden Glory: Beautiful Yellow Bells Stand Up to Austin Heat! Bursting with flowers in tropical colors and pollinator power to your garden; Yellow Bells are known for their trumpet-shaped blooms and fast-growing nature. Standout choices for warm climate landscapes,...
Our Power, Our Planet – Round Tres ‘Xeriscaping’
Of course, xeriscaping saves water. But we have the power to actually cool our planet using xeriscaping! Xeriscaping is a cactus or agave plant and rocks all over, right? To put it bluntly, NO. This type of landscape will burn plants and raise ambient...
Crepe Myrtle
Heat-Proof Elegance: Crepe Myrtles Light Up Austin Gardens Crepe Myrtles are the Crown Jewels of Texas summers — exploding with long-lasting blooms in shades of pink, white, red, and purple just when the heat hits hardest. Beloved for their peeling bark, sculptural...
Desert Willow
Airy Grace, Desert Place: The Allure of Desert Willows With a delicate look, orchid-like blooms and a graceful, airy form, Desert Willow brings a touch of desert elegance to the landscape. Native to West Texas and the Southwest, these waterwise trees thrive in heat...
False Yucca
False Yucca - Hesperaloe: Tough Beauty with a Hummingbird Twist! A heat- and drought-tolerant family of perennials ideal for Austin. Arching, grass-like foliage and tall flower spikes bloom from late spring through summer. Tubular flowers—typically red, coral, pink,...
Bottlebrush
Vibrant Drought-Tolerant Bottlebrush for Austin Landscapes Bottlebrush: heat-loving, evergreen shrubs or small trees known for striking red, cylindrical flower spikes resembling a bottlebrush. Blooming most heavily in spring and intermittently summer and fall; these...
Our Power, Our Planet – Round Deux ‘Rewilding’
Our planet is resilient and will overcome obstacles to restore equilibrium. Nature is capable of miraculous things! Let’s give it a boost. Best way to do this? Rewilding. Sounds great but what is it? Rewilding is any activity that promotes our biosphere’s return to a...