I'm doing my list too. Most of your list does well here but Dianthus likes colder weather. Mexican Petunia does well also - TOO WELL! Will spread like wildfire and take over the planter, so be careful.

What's Creeping Gardenia Radicans? I LOVE Gardenias but haven't been able to keep one alive, much less bloom for me. Is this one that actually likes it here? If so, what's your secret? :)

Purchase the sterile, noninvasive form of Mexican Petunia. See link to discussion and photos of labels in Florida Gardening forum, below.

Carol

Here is a link that might be useful: Florida Friendly Label - Ruellia (Mexican Petunia)

Thanks for tell us about the sterile form of Ruellia! I hadn't heard of it, but now will look for it here in San Antonio.

I have a tall pink one that doesn't spread by runners, but does occasionally spread by seed although nothing like the old fashioned purple one.

Creeping Gardenia Radicans is a small gardenia that's wider than it is tall. I tried growing a dwarf gardenia at my last house and it died, but I'm hoping I'll have better luck at my new house with different soil. I bought Frost Proof and Heaven Scent gardenias at the end of last summer. Frost Proof looks good right now, but Heaven Scent looks terrible. I bought some fertilizer for acid-loving plants today, so I'm hoping that will help.

The Mexican Petunia I was planning to get is the one that's short...maybe 4" tall. Is that the noninvasive one?

Msrose, the dwarf ruellia is not the noninvasive one. It does spread itself around, but in my yard it makes a nice filler and it's welcome to go where it wants to. I like that it comes in purple, pink and white. However, some people might consider it invasive because it doesn't stay exactly where you put it.

It's the little purple plant in this picture.

Creeping Gardenia Radicans sounds interesting. Let us know how it does.

That looks beautiful, Roselee. Is it easy to pull them out if they creep into an area you don't want them in? I read the link again on the noninvasive variety and I'm wondering if that's the taller version only.

I find them easy to pull out, but I rarely have to and when I do I usually I stick them somewhere else. And I think your right -- the Florida Friendly version is tall.

I wonder if it's the noninvasive one that the S. A. Antique Rose Emporium has planted? I'd think they'd know enough not to plant the old fashioned one that spreads everywhere like crazy.

Here's a photo taken at ARE fairly recently.

I have the Katie ruellia and it does reseed some, but I certainly would not consider it invasive. If fact, I have managed to find homes for all I don't want, and I have been growing it for a number of years. Now the two tall ones.............a VERY different story.

I have the Katie ruellia as well and while it HAS spread by seed, it hasn't gone crazy on me. Like Carrie, I've either found homes for the new plants or they sprouted where I found I liked having them. And they seem happy in non-amended soil and little supplemental water, so I'm not going to complain!

I have a dianthus in the corner of my vegetable garden that's survived two or three summers just fine and the winters haven't bothered it. It may not bloom (well?) during the heat, but that hasn't bothered me.

I'm not sure if the white lantana will survive the winters. I planted some last year and I'm currently waiting to see if it comes back. My other lantanas (Dallas Red & Potpourri) took forever to start growing last spring, so I'm expecting the same this year. The white was very pretty last summer, though, so I'd be willing to replant it if it doesn't.

4-nerve daisy is a winner in my garden. I think my Peter Pan agapanthus didn't survive this extremely cold winter, or maybe it's just going to be late to come back. Creme Broulee coreopsis is similar to moonbeam, but blooms better in my opinion. I have geranium sanguinium sanguinium (not Rozanne) that does well - my Rozanne died in the heat. Wouldn't bother with the Hot Papaya, didn't dazzle me last year.
If you like verbena, try perennial moss verbena - it's outstanding.

debndal - Do you remember where you got your Creme Broulee? Northaven Gardens doesn't have it on the list, but of course they might still have it in the nursery. I was just wonderinf if it's something I can find locally or something I would have to order.

debndal - Same question for geranium sanguinium. Is it something I can find locally? I really like the way the foliage looks.

The Creme Broulee I got at Calloways 3 years ago. I've seen it at other nurseries, but not noticed it at the big box stores. The geranium sanguinium I got at Green Mama's which is closing or may be closed by now. Haven't seen it anywhere else, but I have noticed varieties at Plant Delight Nursery mail order. I tried several of their "named varieties" but the plain sanguinium is the only one that ever survived for me.

I forgot to mention - it just might be early for creme broulee to be offered since it doesn't start blooming well till mid summer. I think it was rather late in the season when I got mine. I bet North Haven will have it sooner or later.

Thanks! Speaking of Green Mama's, I drove by the other day to see if they were really closed. I got all excited when I saw a parking lot full of cars, but then I spotted a "for sale" sign out front. It didn't look like they had much left, so I didn't even walk through. Such a bummer.

I found Gernaium Sanguineum at Lazy S Farm online, so I can get it from there if I don't find it locally.

I was at Calloways yesterday and saw two interesting shrubs. They were Prelude Lily of the Valley and Kaleidoscope Abelia. Does anyone have either of these?

I have several (3) Abelias and Kaliedoscope is one of them. I like the Abelias and you can get them in dwarfs which are the ones I have. To the OP have you though of Agastache (Giant Hyssop) great plant and the hummers and butterflys love it. It will get about 3 feet tall and is a strong bloomer. I also get a Tecoma Stan/Yellow Bells every year they are great bloomers and the leaves are a deep rich green it is listed as a Texas All Star plant.

i also am a work in progress with my collection of daylillies, (don't know the fancy names, just the colors i have)& would be willing to trade if you have some i don't. i have very large bloom in yellow, that will rebloom if you deadhead old blooms. about 12 to 14 in. have small reds, about 12in. the fans are fine leafed, & rebloom.
have tall orange, singles & doubles. also have stella dora, in yellow.

nikonhead - I'm not familiar with either one of those, so I'll have to look them up. I was at the nursery yesterday and there was this one plant that had a butterfly on it everytime I walked by. I could kick myself for not finding out what it was. All I know was it had pink flowers. I did end up getting the Kaleidoscope Abelia and Lily of the Valley, so I hope they do good for me.

ntxdirtdigger - Thank you so much for the offer. I wish I could take you up on it, but I have nothing to trade at this point. I had a small, but nice collection of daylilies at my last house, but those were all left behind. I'm starting over at my new house and just ordered my first daylily today!

I've never grown Columbines, but they had one called White Swan (I think) at Lowes that had the biggest blooms I've ever seen, so I couldn't resist. Should I plant it in the sun or shade?

I think columbines like full sun or at least 6 hrs you might want to check on that though. I think you will like the Abelia. Be sure to look up the two plants Agastache (Giant Hyssop)and Yellow Bells (Tecoma Stan). The Agastache will come back and the Yellow Bells is only good to about 40 Degrees which is the down side to it but I will either bring it in or just buy another one. Although with the way the prices are for plants now a days if I do get another one I will be bringing it in every year. Check Calloways they are getting shipments in every three days or so now and they usaully don't last very long plus if they are in smaller planters they are cheaper. Later in the year as plants come in and they are larger they are more expensive.