What are some good, low maintenance flowers for a flower garden in Texas?

Lenard Ginyard: Do you want something that you have to plant every year or something that comes back each year? Or you can do a combination.Do you like neat and tidy and well organized or do you prefer a more unstructured look? Measure out your areas and draw a map out on a piece of paper. Take note of soil conditions especially since you have some plants that are usually pretty hardy and didn't make it. Make note of about how much light the area gets each day.Then take all your information with you to a local garden center. They will help you plan what plants to place where and what plant requires what care. Given you are in TX, plants that can withstand a lot of heat and dry conditions would be key. Do you have a sprinkler or drip irrigation set up in that area for watering? Even plants that don't normally take a lot of water will need some care until they get their root structures established, usually the first couple months. You certainly can do a lot of ever! greens and low growing bushes and then add pops of color with pots of annuals. The nice thing about using just a few pots is that you are keeping your maintenance down but even those will have to be watered. Sometimes daily when the weather is really hot and dry. See what your local garden center suggests for your area and go from there. They know the weather and soil conditions in your area; we don't. What works in PA won't work in TX....Show more

Mikel Bethay: The problem with trying to plant flowers directly under a tree, especially if it's a big, old tree, is that the root system of that tree will suck the nutrients and water up before the flowers can. Is there a gardening store in your county? Usually the owners or employees have enough experience that they can help you out. They would need to know what kind of tree it is, how much sun the area gets; if it rains a lot in your area, then standing water would also come into play. They would then be able to giv! e you a list and show you the flowers that would work best in ! your situation. Im pretty sure bulb flowers are as low maintenance as they get, though, daffodils especially. Begonias also work very well in the shade, and don't need too much maintenance. They might be your best bet....Show more

Elvin Mannheimer: If your flower garden gets sun, marigolds or petunias would work. They are very easy to grow.If you flower garden is shady, impatiens or hosta are a good choice and also easy.