Hello Gardener,
Welcome to Emerald Gardens Newsletter  Korean Zoysia
 Zoysia Tenefolia
Dense Undulating mounds of fine textured turf.
Korean Zoysia is a tough, mounding turf or ornamental grass used for small areas like courtyards and cobbled paths. It has an asian look and is commonly used as a ground cover for islands in Japanese gardens and tea gardens.This Zoysia is very fine-textured and should be trimmed with clippers or a reel mower if a flat turf is wanted. Natural growth is undulating and looks like ocean waves; combined with aged boulders, they give the effect of islands in water.
Tropical Waterlilies
Most tropical waterlilies are hardy in Austin and have no trouble with our winters. This year, even with extreme cold, tropical lilies are coming back.
The exceptionally cool spring nights have really slowed the growth and timing of most aquatic plants, and tropicals like it hot. Last year at this time, we had tropical lilies blooming in several varieties; this year we have just one variety ready for sale, and those are still very small with no blooms.
Just a little night-time warmth and the water will warm up and the plants will explode with leaves and blooms.
Even with their late start, tropical lilies will out-bloom hardy lilies with hundreds of flowers produced each season. Many colors and varieties are available, with many varied leaf forms and colors. Most grow medium to large and will span about 4 feet or more by the end of the season (Nov.-Dec.).
Most people will want both hardy lilies for early coverage and blooms and tropicals for summer coverage and blooms. Some select tropical varieties are Lindsey Wood (purple), Blue Beauty (large blue), Queen of Siam (fuschia), Madam Ganna Walska (pink), Albert Greenberg (sunset shades /extra large).
Native Spring Flowers
Alongside the Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush are a number of very tough native perennial wildflowers that make great year-round landscape plants.
One of the first to bloom in mass is Four Nerve Daisy (Hymenoxys). Small, yellow daisy-like flowers begin on small returning plants that quickly explode in size and produce dozens of flowers that last days apiece. This low-growing perennial makes a mound about a foot high by 1'-2' wide and blooms most of the year. The next noticable bloomers are natives Moss Verbena and Blackfoot daisy.
Moss Verbena grows a fast-expanding matt of ferny foliage that expands to 3 feet wide with the upturned ends bearing purple flower clusters. Moss Verbena is a heavy spring bloomer, but reblooms all summer and will respond to trimming the old blooms and fertilizer. Blackfoot Daisy is a great perennial with almost constant blooms through the summer months. It grows in a mound about a foot tall by 2 feet wide with white flowers bearing a dark center. All these plants are for mostly sun but can handle some light shade. Once established, they should be kept dry.
Plant Lavender Now!
All varieties of lavender like warm nights, good sun, and good drainage.
Late spring, before it gets hot, is the best time to establish your lavender plants.
There are many varieties available, and some work better than others for specific uses. Spanish Lavender is the most heat and drought tolerant, making it the preferred choice for xeriscape landscapes. It grows to about 2'x3' in a tight mound.Spanish lavender has purple burr-like flowers that persist for a long period through the summer. Goodwin Creek is less winter hardy, but by far has the showiest flowers and is grown for its floral display. Good drainage is still important, but Goodwin Creek will need a little more water in the landscape. Provence lavender is by far the most foliage fragrant and grows tight and dense. Provence has the highest oil content and is used for potpurri and cooking. Good drainage is also important, and a little protection from August and September Heat.
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