How to tell when native plants are still alive (Spring: gated, fence)

[loves2read]

supposedly if you scratch the limb of a plant that appears dead and there is green showing right under the skin/bark the plant is stil alive--tired that with some of ours here in DFW area about our big freeze and don't think we have lost any plants...

there are times when a plant could have root system still alive but the above ground foliage is done--
you can cut it back and the plant should come back out with new growth...

[rd2007]

put the esperanza in full sun. All of these plants need full sun, especially the Pride of Barbados Mexican Bird of Paradise. That's the one thing that likes sun more than my chihuahua.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by TXtrkgrl

I am changing up my landscaping this year. Will deer eat these three natives?

Any other "deer proof" plants are much appreciated.

Some friends who live in Hollywood Park, which has probably the largest urban concentration of deer in Bexar County, say that no plant is deer proof if the deer are hungry enough. Hopefully, they'll be less hungry in a year without a drought.

[Camper1]

Anyone have any luck starting Esperanza from seeds? The POD are easy, just scrape the seeds first but they are slow growing. I just cant seem to get the Esperanza to grow.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by TXtrkgrl

I am changing up my landscaping this year. Will deer eat these three natives?

Any other "deer proof" plants are much appreciated.

TIA

These City of Austin plant guides are primarily native or well adapted plants to central TX and they say which plants are deer resistant.

City of Austin - City of Austin - Grow Green

[sapphire]

Took a good look out in my yard today.....to recap:

Daisies, in the flower bed--been there since last spring and they're blooming and spreading. I heart the daisies, and more will be going in this spring.

Rosemary--doing really well, very fragrant and green. In the ground.

Dianthus--sold as an annual, but I have 2 pots of them outside......both blooming! Lived through the freeze--they were brought in for the first freezes, and I think the last one caught me off guard so they stayed outside.

Ice plant--like on the beaches in CA--doing well. In pots, same neglect as the dianthus for the last freeze.

Salvia--in the ground, green and doing well but not blooming yet. Was covered during the freezes, but again, not that last one.

Vinca--in pot--green but many of the leaves are "weak" and I'm not so sure it's going to bounce back.

Begonias--in pot--blooming (has bloomed all winter) and doing well. It's nearly 3 feet tall and gorgeous.

Ficus trees--in pots on back patio--doing great and were also left out for that last freeze.

Unsure at this point--Esperanza, Plumbago, Lantana--they all look dead and awful.

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Rosemary--doing really well, very fragrant and green. In the ground.

Our rosemary did very well in pots we left out all winter and they grew and are now blooming. They can tolerate much!

All of our lantana are toast. I dug down to the roots and was quite surprised to see root death. Those usually fare well...

[Lee W.]

Esperanza is native to Texas. I don't know if mine is alive or not. The other two are not natives, unless you have some kind of different species than what is sold in any local nurseries. I've never had trouble with Esperanza returning before, but then again, it never got below 13° like it did here this winter. I'm waiting to see for sure whether my Barbados Cherry is alive. It looks dead and the stems are all cracked...I really think it's gone. No sign of my Ox-Eye Daisy either...I think the drought and heat killed it last summer. Dang! But my Big Tooth Maple Tree is alive and it looks like there are buds toward the top of the tree! And my Texas Ash Tree is getting ready to bloom!

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Camper1

Not sure how to word this one. How do the Esperanza, Plumbago and Pride of Barbados come back and when is what I want to know. I just planted these last year so this will be my first time having them come back. Do they regrow from old stems or come up from the ground and when?

Why ? Just wait a week or two... and see what happens

[mcl]

Originally Posted by Bowie

Some friends who live in Hollywood Park, which has probably the largest urban concentration of deer in Bexar County, say that no plant is deer proof if the deer are hungry enough. Hopefully, they'll be less hungry in a year without a drought.

I have found, particulairy during a drought, the deer seem to think my front yard is their salad bar, no matter what I plant.