FOR MORE HORTICULTURAL
INFORMATION 
Here are some quality sites on horticultural topics that have a high degree of educational and informational value to ornamental gardeners and plant enthusiasts living in the southeast Texas region in climate zones 8-9. These sites contain information on topics not covered on other subject links in our Home Page. Our subject matter pages will contain additional links as appropriate (e.g. other sites on Gingers can be found on our "Gingers" page). We will continue to supplement these links as we discover other sites that provide quality information on specific horticultural topics and plants that can be grown in the southeast Texas region. These sites are listed by general topic classifications: These categories include PLANT SPECIFIC SITES, GENERAL HORTICULTURAL REFERENCE SITES, REGIONAL PLANT SITES, BOTANICAL INSTITUTIONAL SITE, and HORTICULTURAL FORUMS. If you encounter a "dead" link or know of a quality site you think should be on this list please let us know.
PLANT SPECIFIC SITES
The Tropical Hibiscus
This is a
great place to go if you're interested in tropical hibiscus along with excellent
links to other sites relating to tropicals grown in Florida. Be prepared for
slow surfing - lots of pictures to pull up.
EveryRose.com
Another excellent source
that you must visit for excellent information on roses
Orchid Photo Page
This site has 100+ excellent orchid photos by genera and species.
I love this Canadian site in terms of
providing comprehensive and detailed information about orchids all in one
location.
Texas Gulf Coast Fern
Society
Although we don't cover ferns on our site, this is an excellent local source for getting information about these jussasic era plants that fascinate so many of us.
This page sponsored by Glasshouse
Works, is an example of a commercial catalog page that contains a valuable
visual reference on Coleus varieties available in the trade. One look at
this page and you will see why Coleus is used so widely as a color accent to a
summer garden.
Wildflowers.
Thought about a wildflower garden? Check this site out for valuable
information and photos of wildflowers including Texas's own.
This site has excellent information and recommended selections for antique roses. It is sponsored by the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, TX.
An on-line encyclopedia with information about palms from around the world
This site has excellent information and photos for identification of tropical Crotons and Cordelynes.
It is virtually everything you need to know about Crotons for your use in your garden.
The American Begonia Society has excellent pictorial and descriptive information on Begonias.
This link takes you to their "virtual greenhouse" describing the types and showing great images
This page provides an excellent reference chart on the..genus Bambusa, the clumping bamboos.
One of the best reference sites for identification and information about cycads from around the world
These variegated plant collectors from central Florida have an incredible site with photos of plants in their collection..
GENERAL HORTICULTURAL REFERENCE SITES
Texas A&M
Horticultural Home Page
Lots of educational information, links, and
horticultural topic search capability. Aggie Horticulture is a great
reference site for Texans especially.
A great Greenhouse and House Plant Database containing over 1,300 plants
Landscape Water Conservation...Xeriscape
This Texas A&M site provides good coverage of Xeriscaping to conserve water. The tables of recommended plants is by state region, not by climate zone, so could be misleading to Houstonians, but all the other information provided on this topic is excellent.
This site is a good reference source about plants suitable for the Gulf Coast area.
This is a new and developing site that focuses on the the everyday American ornamental garden.
It shows representative gardens from around the country in photos and descriptions to stimulate your mind. Anyone can contribute their garden story for posting on this site.
A very extensive collection of vascular plant photos. When you need to identify a plant
from a photo only, this may be the place to find it. Sorted by families/genera.
Identification of Major Fruit Types
A great reference sight for information on fruit types.
A very interesting site with a list of flowers that are edible - some may surprise you.
REGIONAL PLANT SITES (FOR ZONES 8-9)
Welcome to Higher Ground
The
author created this site to promote perennial and mixed border gardening in the
deep South and to showcase rewarding and unusual plants.
Wildflowers in
Texas
This site was created by a seventh grade class! The images,
information on Texas wildflowers is excellent.
A list of plants tested by Texas A&M and declared to be superstar performers for Texas
A must see reference site for Central Texas gardeners - encourages water conservation and environmentally beneficial gardening
BOTANICAL INSTITUTIONAL SITES
The Botanical Garden of Houston
Watch this new world class Botanical Garden develop in the coming years. It is under development for Houstonians to enjoy in the years to come.
Mercer Arboretum and Botanical Garden
Only one of 5 County operated Botanical Gardens in the U. S.
Peckerwood Gardens Foundation,
Located in Hempstead, Texas, 40 miles west of Houston
Zilker Botanical Garden - Austin
Located in the heart of Austin, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin
Check out their native plant database - a wealth of information on native plants for Central Texas can be found here.
This botanical garden should be visited if in San Antonio - excellent displays.
HORTICULTURAL FORUMS
This is a well established forum for all southern gardeners which includes a myriad of forum topics.
This is a place where you can talk about gardening and advertise and find plant swaps in the Southeast Texas or other regional area..
Some commercial sites are very educational and
may be included on our list above. However, we do not imply recommendation
or endorsement of any products that might be presented at any of these
sites.
Let us know of any other
site references that would benefit visitors to this home page. Please contact
us.
Please return to SOUTHEAST TEXAS GARDENING
for more horticultural information.