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University-tested plants for Texas yards

Two Texas A&M AgriLife programs pick plants that hold up in Texas heat, drought and soils: the Texas Superstar® program (101 plants) and the Earth-Kind® program (21 rose cultivars plus a regional Plant Selector). This page summarizes both and links to the official sources.

Texas Superstar® plants

Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension, working with Texas Tech and the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, trials plants across the state and names the ones that perform well for Texas gardeners with little extra water or care. The current list has 101 plants: 26 annuals, 27 perennials, 9 tropicals grown as annuals, 10 shrubs, 7 trees, 22 edibles and specialty plants. See the full list by category or the official Texas Superstar® site.

Low-care roses and AgriLife's Plant Selector

Earth-Kind® is Texas A&M AgriLife Extension's research-based landscaping program for lower water, fertilizer and pesticide use. Its rose trials named 21 cultivars that grew well with minimal care. See the 21 low-care rose cultivars by size. For other plants, the official Earth-Kind® Plant Selector rates plants for your Texas region.

Time planting to your frost dates

Plant frost-tender annuals and tropicals after your ZIP's average last spring frost, and trees and shrubs in fall well before the first frost. Look up your ZIP or browse Texas by county. Other states have similar programs: plant programs by state.

Not affiliated. Texas Superstar® is a registered trademark of Texas A&M AgriLife Research. Earth-Kind® is a registered trademark of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. YardThisWeek is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Texas A&M AgriLife, Texas A&M University or any program listed here. Program names are used only to say which plants each program selected. Plant lists are names only; see each program's official site for descriptions, photos and growing details.