Plants and Wildlife
...updated 4/29/2025
Check in periodically as we update this page with plants and observed wildlife in the Pollinator Garden.
Check in periodically as we update this page with plants and observed wildlife in the Pollinator Garden.
📷 = You can find a picture in the gallery above.
Autumn Sage, Red (Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’)
Coneflower, Purple (Echinacea purpurea)
Daisy, Four-Nerve (Tetraneuris scaposa) 📷
Even after the chill of February, signs of life are stirring beneath the soil at Tietze Park. One of the toughest little plants around, Tetraneuris scaposa—also called Four-Nerve Daisy—have waited for the right moment to brighten up the landscape with its golden blooms.
This hardy Texas native thrives in dry, rocky soils, making it a perfect fit for the park’s pollinator garden. Unlike delicate flowers that struggle through cold snaps, the four-nerve daisy is built to handle tough conditions. Its narrow, silvery-green leaves stay low to the ground, conserving warmth and moisture. When the weather starts to warm up, even just a little, it wastes no time sending up slender stems topped with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers.
A true early riser, this flower is one of the first to bloom as winter turns to spring. Its sunny petals provide an essential nectar source for pollinators like bees and butterflies that start waking up on warm March afternoons. Thanks to its deep roots, it can handle both cold fronts and sudden warm spells, making it a reliable splash of color when other plants are still waiting for spring.
If you’re walking through Tietze Park on one of these crisp, sunny days, keep an eye out for this little yellow warrior! Whether braving the last breath of winter or welcoming the first days of spring, Tetraneuris scaposa is proof that even the smallest blooms can bring big beauty to the park.
Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) 📷
Garlic, Society (Tulbaghia violacea) 📷
Guara, White (Oenothera lindhemeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’)
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) 📷
Liriope, Variegated (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’)
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Yarrow, Fernleaf White (Achillea millefolium)
Autumn Sage, Fuchsia (Salvia greggii 'Fuchsia Velvet') 📷
Fuchsia Velvet Autumn Sage will put on a dazzling show of deep magenta-pink flowers. This salvia variety blooms in waves from spring through fall, but April is when it really gets going. Its tubular flowers are hummingbird magnets, and the evergreen foliage adds structure to the garden even when blooms take a break. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Daisy, Blackfoot (Melampodium leucanthum) 📷
The Blackfoot Daisy may be small, but it’s mighty. Its delicate white petals with golden centers sit atop soft, gray-green mounds of foliage. In April, it begins blooming in earnest, attracting bees and butterflies with its gentle charm. This low-growing wildflower loves the sun and doesn’t mind poor soil, making it perfect for our tough Texas climate. Despite its dainty appearance, it’s incredibly drought and heat-tolerant—a true native built for our climate.
Iris, Bearded (Iris x germanica var.)
Larkspur, Rocket - blue, pink, white, purple (Delphinium/Consolida ajacis) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny} 📷
Milkweed, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Mistflower, Gregg's (Conoclinium greggii) {donated by Chris Sutton}
Muhly Grass, Pink Regal Mist (Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist')
Phlox, Garden (Phlox paniculata 'John Fanick') {donated by Lisa Marshall}
Tradescantia, Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea') {donted by Chris Sutton}
Verbena, Sandpaper (Verbena rigida)
Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)
Fragrant Mistflower (Eupatorium havanense)
Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens)
Autumn Sage, Deep Purple (Salvia greggii 'Mirage') 📷
Turk’s Cap, Red (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)
Sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri) 📷
Milkweed, Rose (Swamp) (Asclepias incarnata)
Frog Fruit (Phyla nodiflora) {donated by Chris Sutton}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Strutter's Ball') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) 📷
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Rolling Thunder') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Ezekiel') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Red Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Rolling Thunder') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Ezekiel') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Red Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny} 📷
Texas Sage, Silverado (Leucophyllum frutescens 'Silverado')
Texas Sage, Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens 'Compacta')
Shrubby Boneset (Ageratina havanensis)
Rose (Rosa 'Gentle Hermione') {donated by Lisa Marshall}
Wooly Dutchman’s Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) {donated by Meredith Mays}
Peter's Purple Bee Balm (Monarda x 'Peter's Purple') 📷
In June, one of the season’s most energetic stars is Peter’s Purple Bee Balm (Monarda x 'Peter’s Purple'). With its spiky, lavender-purple blooms and minty-scented leaves, this Texas-tough perennial is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and especially hummingbirds. Peter’s Purple is a hybrid variety of bee balm, known for its excellent disease resistance and long-lasting blooms. By June, its tall stems—often reaching over three feet—are topped with vibrant, shaggy flower heads that resemble little fireworks. These blooms last for weeks and create a dramatic display when planted in groups. Its aromatic foliage adds a pleasant herbal scent to the garden— if you were to crush a leaf between your fingers and you’ll notice a minty fragrance. Peter’s Purple spreads gently by underground rhizomes, filling in space over time without becoming invasive. In June, it’s a key player in the pollinator garden, offering nectar at a time when many spring flowers are fading. Whether you spot a cloud of butterflies hovering above it or a hummingbird zipping in for a drink, Peter’s Purple Bee Balm brings bold color, life, and a little bit of wild joy to the park in early summer.
Wild Onion (Allium canadense) 📷
Autumn Sage, Red (Salvia greggii ‘Furman’s Red’)
Coneflower, Purple (Echinacea purpurea)
Daisy, Four-Nerve (Tetraneuris scaposa) 📷
Even after the chill of February, signs of life are stirring beneath the soil at Tietze Park. One of the toughest little plants around, Tetraneuris scaposa—also called Four-Nerve Daisy—have waited for the right moment to brighten up the landscape with its golden blooms.
This hardy Texas native thrives in dry, rocky soils, making it a perfect fit for the park’s pollinator garden. Unlike delicate flowers that struggle through cold snaps, the four-nerve daisy is built to handle tough conditions. Its narrow, silvery-green leaves stay low to the ground, conserving warmth and moisture. When the weather starts to warm up, even just a little, it wastes no time sending up slender stems topped with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers.
A true early riser, this flower is one of the first to bloom as winter turns to spring. Its sunny petals provide an essential nectar source for pollinators like bees and butterflies that start waking up on warm March afternoons. Thanks to its deep roots, it can handle both cold fronts and sudden warm spells, making it a reliable splash of color when other plants are still waiting for spring.
If you’re walking through Tietze Park on one of these crisp, sunny days, keep an eye out for this little yellow warrior! Whether braving the last breath of winter or welcoming the first days of spring, Tetraneuris scaposa is proof that even the smallest blooms can bring big beauty to the park.
Daylily (Hemerocallis sp.) 📷
Garlic, Society (Tulbaghia violacea) 📷
Guara, White (Oenothera lindhemeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’)
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) 📷
Liriope, Variegated (Liriope muscari ‘Variegata’)
Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)
Yarrow, Fernleaf White (Achillea millefolium)
Autumn Sage, Fuchsia (Salvia greggii 'Fuchsia Velvet') 📷
Fuchsia Velvet Autumn Sage will put on a dazzling show of deep magenta-pink flowers. This salvia variety blooms in waves from spring through fall, but April is when it really gets going. Its tubular flowers are hummingbird magnets, and the evergreen foliage adds structure to the garden even when blooms take a break. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Daisy, Blackfoot (Melampodium leucanthum) 📷
The Blackfoot Daisy may be small, but it’s mighty. Its delicate white petals with golden centers sit atop soft, gray-green mounds of foliage. In April, it begins blooming in earnest, attracting bees and butterflies with its gentle charm. This low-growing wildflower loves the sun and doesn’t mind poor soil, making it perfect for our tough Texas climate. Despite its dainty appearance, it’s incredibly drought and heat-tolerant—a true native built for our climate.
Iris, Bearded (Iris x germanica var.)
Larkspur, Rocket - blue, pink, white, purple (Delphinium/Consolida ajacis) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny} 📷
Milkweed, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Mistflower, Gregg's (Conoclinium greggii) {donated by Chris Sutton}
Muhly Grass, Pink Regal Mist (Muhlenbergia capillaris 'Regal Mist')
Phlox, Garden (Phlox paniculata 'John Fanick') {donated by Lisa Marshall}
Tradescantia, Purple Heart (Tradescantia pallida 'Purpurea') {donted by Chris Sutton}
Verbena, Sandpaper (Verbena rigida)
Winecup (Callirhoe involucrata)
Fragrant Mistflower (Eupatorium havanense)
Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens)
Autumn Sage, Deep Purple (Salvia greggii 'Mirage') 📷
Turk’s Cap, Red (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)
Sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri) 📷
Milkweed, Rose (Swamp) (Asclepias incarnata)
Frog Fruit (Phyla nodiflora) {donated by Chris Sutton}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Strutter's Ball') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) 📷
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Rolling Thunder') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Ezekiel') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Red Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Rolling Thunder') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Ezekiel') {donated by Joanna Tenpenny}
Red Corn Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) {donated by Joanna Tenpenny} 📷
Texas Sage, Silverado (Leucophyllum frutescens 'Silverado')
Texas Sage, Ranger (Leucophyllum frutescens 'Compacta')
Shrubby Boneset (Ageratina havanensis)
Rose (Rosa 'Gentle Hermione') {donated by Lisa Marshall}
Wooly Dutchman’s Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) {donated by Meredith Mays}
Peter's Purple Bee Balm (Monarda x 'Peter's Purple') 📷
In June, one of the season’s most energetic stars is Peter’s Purple Bee Balm (Monarda x 'Peter’s Purple'). With its spiky, lavender-purple blooms and minty-scented leaves, this Texas-tough perennial is a magnet for bees, butterflies, and especially hummingbirds. Peter’s Purple is a hybrid variety of bee balm, known for its excellent disease resistance and long-lasting blooms. By June, its tall stems—often reaching over three feet—are topped with vibrant, shaggy flower heads that resemble little fireworks. These blooms last for weeks and create a dramatic display when planted in groups. Its aromatic foliage adds a pleasant herbal scent to the garden— if you were to crush a leaf between your fingers and you’ll notice a minty fragrance. Peter’s Purple spreads gently by underground rhizomes, filling in space over time without becoming invasive. In June, it’s a key player in the pollinator garden, offering nectar at a time when many spring flowers are fading. Whether you spot a cloud of butterflies hovering above it or a hummingbird zipping in for a drink, Peter’s Purple Bee Balm brings bold color, life, and a little bit of wild joy to the park in early summer.
Wild Onion (Allium canadense) 📷