Click here to read our June Newsletter on featured bloomers:
June Newsletter from Mosty Brothers Nursery
The list includes Vitex, Crape Myrtles, and Texas Betony
Mosty Brothers Nursery Blog
All the latest news, info and press from Mosty Brothers Nursery
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November News at the Nursery
I hope everyone has enjoyed the recent rain and you are enjoying our cooler weather - especially the cool temps in the mornings. Read ahead to see what’s happening at the nursery! Dwarf Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera var. pumila -- NATIVE TO TEXAS
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Fruit Trees Available Now!
We have several fruit tree varieties available now at the nursery. These trees are recommended by the AgriLife Extension office for Kerr County because they are well-adapted to our soil and climate. 15G Blenheim Apricots 30G Asian Pear 15G Lorin
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September at the Nursery
Hello and happy September to everyone! Well, it's still hot but not to worry...we have lots of plants thriving in the heat. Read ahead to find out what looks good and loves our hot temps. Also, be sure to read about the unveiling of our Texas State h
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Groundcovers - Starfire Skullcap, Prostrate Rosemary, Mountain Pea and Coral Drift Roses (TM)
Groundcovers If you are searching for a groundcover to block out weeds and provide spring and summer color, consider planting one the following plants in your beds: Starfire Skullcap: Bright red bloomer Grows to 12" tall by 12" wi
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Pineapple Guavas, Roughleaf Dogwoods, Spanish Daggers, Spike Speedwell
Happy May to everyone. What a wonderful spring thanks to all of the rain and mild temperatures. Read ahead to see what looks beautiful now here at the nursery. Pineapple Guava Feijoa sellowiana The Pinapple Guava is an evergreen shrub that c
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Spring Bloomers
Hello and happy spring to everyone! I'm going to dedicate this month's newsletter to our spring blooming plants. This is going to be short and sweet as I think the pictures say everything. Take a look below to see what is in bloom and beautiful now a
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Featured Plants in March
While winter is still clearly present in the Hill Country, we are starting to see signs of spring. Read ahead to find out about what’s looking good here at the nursery. Arizona Cypress Arizona Cypress is native to West Texas. It’s not a nati
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Flowering & Evergreen Shrubs
A few plants to consider planting for evergreen color include: Bush Germander, Powis Castle Artemesia and the Manzanillo Olive tree. To read more, click here.
Recent blog posts
June Featured Bloomers! Featured
Recommended Plants for July Featured
Read our latest newsletter to find out about St. Johns Wort Hypericum, Zexmenia, and Ajuga that we recommend this month:
Our temperatures are soaring and with the heat and dry weather, we wanted to take a minute to highlight a few plants that thrive in the Texas Hill Country summer.
Caesalpenia Species
Known for their beautiful blooms and extreme tolerance of high temperatures, Caesalpenias come in a variety of different species. We have three species available at Mosty Brothers Nursery.
Caesalpinia Pulcherrimma
Pride of Barbados
Pride of Barbados is the most common Caesalpinia and can be found throughout Central and South Texas in many natively planted landscapes. The Pride of Barbados has a very showy bloom with a vibrant mixture of bright yellow and bright orange blooms with long red stamens shooting out from the center of the bloom. This species can grow up to 5’ wide x 5’ tall in the Hill Country and it is extremely drought tolerant. It will bloom best in hot, direct sun. When the plant goes dormant in the winter, simply cut it back to just above the ground, and it will come back in spring and grow rapidly when the heat arrives. When planted in the right place, your Pride of Barbados will be covered in blooms beginning mid summer to the fall. The Pride of Barbados was added to the Texas Superstar list in 2008. To read more detail about why it made the list, click here.
Caesalpinia Gilliesii
Yellow Bird of Paradise
Our second species of Caesalpinia is the Yellow Bird of Paradise. The leaves of this plant are smaller and finer in size, and it tends to grow more upright instead of shrubby. We recommend pruning this species to encourage fuller growth. Like the Pride of Barbados, the Yellow Bird of Paradise also has an outstanding and showy bloom. The bloom is yellow with extremely long pink/red stamens shooting out from the center of the bloom. We don’t see this Caesalpinia as often, but it is an extremely interesting plant that thrives in hot sun. The Yellow Bird of Paradise is the most cold-hardy variety available. Caesalpinia Mexicana
Mexican Bird of Paradise
The Mexican Bird of Paradise is a Texas native. The bloom of this species is a spectacular solid yellow. Clusters of flowers can be seen from late summer to mid-fall. It will generally grow to 4' wide x 4' tall in the Hill Country, but can get much larger and tree-like farther south to San Antonio. The Mexican Bird of Paradise is hardy to 15 degrees Farenheit and when temperatures reach below this, the plant should be cut back to the ground and it will come back in the spring. Like the Caesalpinias listed above, it also thrives in extreme heat.
Tecoma Species
The next plants that love the Texas heat are our Tecomas. We offer two species here at the nursery.
Tecoma StansEsperanza, Yellow Bells
Esperanzas, or Yellow Bells, are a Texas native planted often, and familiar to everyone. However, we wanted to include this plant in our newsletter to stress the extreme tolerance to heat this plant will endure. During our hot summer months, Experanza blooms constantly and even continues to bloom into the fall. Esperanzas strive in hot sun and good drainage. Yellow Bells have also made the list of Texas Super Stars as recommended by Texas A&M Agrilife. They will reach approximately 5' tall in the Hill Country, and should be pruned back in the winter.
Tecoma Alata
Orange Jubilee
The Tecoma Alata, or Orange Jubilee, is a great landscaper choice as it grows rapidly and loves the heat. Orange Jubilee grows faster and a bit more upright than Yellow Bells. The flowers start out a brilliant, bright orange in early spring and fade to light orange/yellow through the fall. It is a long and consistent bloomer. These will grow roughly 2' taller than the Yellow Bells by the end of the summer and in milder winters, will not require much pruning.
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American Beautyberry
Callicarpa americana
The American beautyberry is a native deciduous shrub, or understory tree, that works well in the shade. Right now, the beautyberry is covered with clusters of striking deep purple berries. It is an exceptional and unique plant for any landscape. As winter approaches, the shrub will loose its green leaves and hold on to the berries until late winter. The American beautyberry can grow up to 8’ tall or you can cut it back 12” above the ground in late winter and keep the shrub more compact and dense (more like 4’ tall). This is a care-free native shrub that blooms in late spring with small white flowers. The beautyberry can also tolerate direct sun but will require more water to keep it from wilting.
Gregg’s Mist Flower
Conoclinium greggii
Gregg’s mist flower is a native Texas perennial and a butterfly magnet – especially to the Monarch butterflies during their migration. The 1G containers at the nursery will be covered with hundreds of butterflies in the summer and again in the fall when it flowers. Gregg’s mist goes dormant in the winter and comes back from the ground in early spring. It’s a fast-grower and can spread, serving well as a groundcover. Once established, Gregg’s mist is drought tolerant. This flower works well in partial shade or full sun.
Mexican Mint Marigold
Tagetes lucida
It’s hard to believe, but fall is rapidly approaching and it’s time to think about your fall bloomers. The Mexican mint marigold is an outstanding fall bloomer and also serves as a tarragon-substitute for your herb garden. This Marigold is often referred to as Spanish or Texas tarragon. This plant is another perennial that freezes to the ground at our first freeze, and comes back from the ground in the spring. It grows to approximately 2.5’ tall and can be planted in full sun or part shade.
Other great fall bloomers to consider: Fall aster, Gregg’s mist, copper canyon daisy, cenizo, Mexican bush sage, autumn sage, mealy blue sage, lantana, verbena, gaura
Fall blooming grasses to consider: Gulf muhly, Lindheimer’s muhly, miscanthus, dwarf hamlin, deer muhly
Fall Blooming Grasses Featured
With the arrival of the fall season, it’s a fantastic time of the year to catch our native and ornamental grasses in full bloom. Read ahead to find out what grasses we recommend planting for the Texas Hill Country. Also be sure to take note that each of these grasses listed below is on the recommended Plants for Texas list. Plants for Texas is a program established in 2003, which tests and recommends plants that thrive in Texas (especially because they can handle Texas heat).
Gulf Muhly
Muhlenbergia capillaris
- spectacular deep pink to purple blooms
- grows to 3' tall by 3' wide
- drought tolerant
- Texas native
- plant in full sun to part shade
- recommended Plants for Texas: click here to read more
Maiden Grass
Miscanthus
- beautiful cream-colored blooms
- grows 4-5' tall by 4-5' wide
- plant in full sun to part shade
- recommended Plants for Texas: click here to read more
Dwarf Maiden Grass
Miscanthus sinesis 'Adagio'
- smaller version of the Miscanthus with a bronze bloom
- grows to 3' tall by 3' wide
- drought tolerant
- plant in full sun to part shade
- recommended Plants for Texas: click here to read more
Big Muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri
- tan colored blooms with blue/green leaves
- grows to 5-6' tall by 5-6' wide
- extremely drought-tolerant
- Texas native
- plant in full sun to part shade
- recommended Plants for Texas: click here to read more
Featured Trees to Plant this Winter Featured
Happy Holidays to everyone! Winter is here and this is the best time to plant new trees. Read ahead for featured and recommended native trees to install now.
Possumhaw Holly
Ilex decidua
Possumhaw Holly is a Texas native large shrub or small tree. The Possumhaws are beginning to drop their leaves now, which allow the brilliant red berries to stand out and reminds us that winter has arrived. The Possumhaw can be planted in full sun or part shade and will grow to approximately 15' tall.
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Thanks to the native Guadalupe Bald Cypress, we can enjoy vibrant red, orange and yellow foliage up and down the Guadalupe river right now. And as the leaves of this conifer begin to drop, the tree continues to provide a point of interest with its magnificent large trunk, knobby roots, and layered branches. While the Bald Cypress is well-adapted along the river banks and wet conditions, they are also suprisingly drought tolerant. The Bald Cypress is considered a fast growing shade tree when watered frequently.
Texas Mountain Laurel
Sophora secundiflora
The majority of our trees in the Hill Country are deciduous. However, the native Mountain Laurel provides us with evergreen coverage all year long.
The Mountain Laurel is a slow growing, multi-trunk tree that can reach up to 25' tall. Plant in full sun to enjoy the dense lavender blooms in the spring. The Mountain Laurel thrives in the wild in rocky conditions and therefore requires good drainage when planted in landscaped areas.
Welcome To Our New Website! Featured
Spring is here and we have a new website – welcome to our new site! We have updated the site to include new photos, more history on the nursery, and a section dedicated to specimen trees. Take a look around and call us or email us if we can help supply plants for your Spring planting.
What Plants Won't Deer Eat? Featured
One the biggest challenges when planting in the Hill Country today is finding out what the deer won’t eat. I get this question daily. And honestly, it’s hard to say what they will and won’t eat, as it seems to change year-to-year depending on the weather conditions.
However, we like to use the website below as a reference to a good guideline of what the deer usually don’t bother:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/archives/parsons/publications/deerbest.html
Another good resource can be found here too: http://www.wildflower.org/collections/collection.php?collection=deer
When planting trees we recommend building a protective fence around the trunk – up to 3’ tall. This will prevent the deer from rubbing the bark off with their antlers. We offer easy to install tree guards at the nursery too so be sure to ask us about these when you come in for a tree.
May Newsletter Featured Plants Featured
Click here to view our latest newsletter:
Now is the time to get your trees installed. We have a variety of field grown Texas Natives such as Bur Oak, Cedar Elm, Spanish Oak, Texas Redbud, Mexican Redbud and more. Call us today to get more info on availabilty!
We will also be digging Vitex, Crape Myrtles (white and red), Chinese Pistache, Easter Red Cedars and Montezuma Cypress.
It's hot and dry out there so let's focus on those plants that can take the heat! Read ahead to see what we have available.
Yucca RostratasThe Yucca Rostrata, also called a Beaked Yucca or Big Bend Yucca, grows up to 15' tall. It has silver/blue foliage. The tip of the plant is sharp but the leaves are flexible and not dangerous if you walk past this plant or happen to run in to it. It's extermely cold-hardy and does great in our area with very well drained soil.
Mealy Blue SageLoving the heat and in full bloom right now is our Mealy Blue Sage. It's an oustanding bloomer, native, and grows to approx 2.5' x 2.5'. It attracts a lot of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It will bloom from late spring to early winter.
Soft Leaf YuccasSoft Leaf Yuccas have a wide bending leaf with a sharp tip. They can grow up to 6' tall. They are extremely drought tolerant and put on a tall, beautiful white bloom once a year.
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