Perennials live more than one year. Perennials are woody or herbaceous, soft stemmed, which die back to the ground each year. The roots will send up new stem in the spring. Perennials flower at different time in the growing season, spring, summer, fall or a combination of seasons and some flower through all seasons.

Selecting plants is a very personal thing. Google 'perennial for zone 8' and begin your search. Have fun!!

Forgot, determine the amount of care you are willing to give your garden. Like, watering, pruning, dead heading, disease/insect care, etc. This will help you focus your search. I grow roses but I'm willing to do the extra care needed as compared to growing petunias, minimum care.

Find out what's native to your area. Native plants look better,live longer and don't need babying. They were here long before we came along! PJ

Thanks!

i'm still a rank beginner but have had great luck with
lantana, starts to look a bit raggdy come august, but
mine has always come back lovley. should be fine in
your zone. i have mine in full sun, but it does get a few
hours of dapple shade around 3ish

i love my gaura "whirling butterflies"

butterfly weed, one of my favorites, i have mine in
part sun, had it for years, its lovley and as the name
implies, the butterflies flock to it

lets see, what else

salvia coral nymph, grows wonderful easy care, i have
the light pink, in partial sun, maby 5 hours or a bit more

not a huge fan of traditional marigolds, but i love my
mexican mint marigold (not a true marigold, anyway), and
the butterflies like that too, blooms in the fall for me
in part sun

all the above mentioned plants are available in your better
nursuries, not knocking the box stores, i just like to shop
in nursuries, they tend to have so much more, and staff that really knows their stuff

hows that for a start for some easy ones??

tesa

These are plants I love casue I never have to water them once established.

gaura "whirling butterflies

Esperanza,Yellow bells, dies back in Dallas but your's would grow year round maybe.

Any type of Red Salvia greggii's these are evergreen even way up here, great humming bird magnet. Trim twice a year

Coneflowers, colors, yellow, purple and a pink one, dead head during growing season but in the fall leave heads on for birds to eat from.

Pride of Barbados

Find a bird bath to place in it, that will help with a garden feel.

No matter what garden you do you will have to maintain it. Spring and fall add compost, weed.

Yellow bells

Pride of Barbados

Coneflower

starry eyed nurembergia will give you months of color and come back atleast the next year. spanish lavendar combined with a dark pink , rasberry or coral Salvia Gregii will be a great combination. During the first year, one can use annuals in-between the perennials to help with the space between the perenials.

This site is a must look at for newbies
There are even annuals that can live year round down there
If you drive around in older established areas, you can see what has thrived and what you are attracted to.
Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: TAMU

i'd love to try yellow bells, its on my wish list

tesa