- Texas Persimmon (Diospyros texana) - This is truly an underrated miracle tree of life! This large shrub/small tree not only produces copious crops of deliciously sweet berries, but is also a highly heat/drought-resistant xeriscape native that can still withstand low temperatures down to 5ð-10ð F. Moreover, it is an attractive ornamental complete with creamy bell flowers, multicolored trunks and rugged hardwood that can be used for woodworking. Note that is is dioecious though, so you need at least a male & female of each to bear fruit... But what other trees possess such a rare combination of form, function & low maintenance??? None that I can think of! Other overlooked candidates might include: - Oriental Raisin Tree (Hovenia dulcis) - This is a nice, large, fast-growing tree that bears sweet, edible peduncles tasting similar to a combination of raisin, clove, cinnamon and sugar. http://examine.com/supplements/Hovenia+dulcis/ (But do note that while it is not invasive in the US, it could be in some much hotter, tropical climates.) - Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) - This large shrub/small tree has both edible flowers and fruits and is fairly low-maintenance. It is both quite pest and heat-resistant, needing only some sufficient watering during peak summer heat months. http://www.ediblelandscapingmadeeasy.com/2011/12/21/pineapple-guava-a-great-shrub-for-your-edible-landscape/#1 http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treedetail.lasso?rid=599 - All-In-One Almond Tree - Almond trees bear both beautiful flowers and edible almonds. - Mission Olive Tree - Olive trees not only bear healthy fruit & oil, but its leaves also serve as a great antimicrobial. It is drought-tolerant once established and can grow extremely old. - Moringa Oleifera (PKM1) Tree (Horseradish Tree) - This is another miraculous tree with multiple medicinal and health benefits. The leaves are edible and the crushed seeds even help purify water. It is also a very fast-growing and resilient softwood. http://miracletrees.org/ - Western Soapberry (Sapindus drummondii) - Soapberry does well in poor, dry or nutrient-deficient soils. The foliage is handsome, the flowers are fragrant and attract bees, and its soap nuts contain saponin, an antimicrobial, natural detergent. http://www.floridata.com/ref/s/sapi_sap.cfm - Medjool Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) - If you got space for a palm tree, why not an edible date palm? http://science.howstuffworks.com/life/botany/date-palm-info.htm Here is a link that might be useful: Texas Persimmon This post was edited by blakrab on Mon, Jan 6, 14 at 21:19

A few years ago I was given a gift certificate to a nursery for Mothers Day. ( I'd just moved houses.) One of the things I picked was a helenium with brown blossoms. It's drought-tolerant, and I guess I thought it it would look restful next to a more vibrant-colored bloom. From a distance, it just looks like a dead spot. It is inoffensive and in theory deserves a chance to live. Plus I have that issue of it being a gift. I'm probably too much of a softy to have a really nice garden. I think I'll move it to the other side of the garage, where my eyes won't fall on it so often. -Judy

I've cut plants way back down by the street and they recover very fast so those will probably be fine. I especially like those annual gaillardia along with Desert Marigold, Blackfoot Daisy, Flame Flower, Helianthus annum because these plants are in for the long haul and bloom from spring, through summer heat and into fall without stopping. Its the into summer heat part that makes them especially good. If someone wanted to plant a meadow or prairie garden in the city without creating a mess like people talk about with prairie gardens, I can't see how they would with these growing along with the classic prairie grasses. These are all low growing and well behaved. That little Kansas Four O'clock blooms all summer into fall too. Did your seeds take hold? I've got them coming up here and there all over my property (exploding pods). Its OK since they are only about 3" tall. Plains Penstemon blooms all summer too. I've got two that volunteered last year but they are still small. Lobeleaf copper mallow is another long bloomer, spring to fall. Its tall but I can't imagine anyone calling it thuggish or overwhelming and its no flopper. Lots of stiff stems covered in blue foliage & orange blooms currently. For some reason some stems break at the base especially in spring. Maybe the wind that snaps them? I have 3 seedlings and am hoping to get another red blooming one. The only thing is, the plant takes up a big space which I am always short of but I did plant one down on the H. Strip. I let one Mentzelia decapetata come up last year. Same exact spot as last time. Its growing a tall center stem now and should be blooming in a month or so. Did yours make it? I finally figured out I've got a Pink Yucca that is a different kind than H. 'parviflora'. I I.D.ed as H. campanulata the other night. Its larger in every respect, has a bloom stalk that's practically as tall as me with flowers that are more yellow but not like the yellow blooming Hesperaloe. I got the seeds from a huge cluster growing at Will Rogers Park some years back. I think I sent you some but can't remember. The night blooming type hasn't bloomed for me yet but it did defy the zone limit. I think its hardier than they say. *CORRECTION: That H. campanulata bloom stalk is 8 feet tall, I just measured it. The leaves are almost double the height of H. parviflora. I saw the first hummingbird of the season on it yesterday.

Mamachile: I'm glad you're enjoying your fabric stash--can't ever have too much :-D Todd: arrggh! Missed including your bands & tree pots--thank you! I'm intrigued with those big square 2qts (?) How space-efficient they are--thank you! I love the one quart bands--I can fit 30 of them on a Lowe's "mud tray" & keep all of the babies bottom-watered.