The gardenias, with their white blossoms and unmatched fragrance, are very popular. Meanwhile, bottlebrush begins to come into full flower. The hydrangeas, in various colors, take over in late spring. Varieties of the French Hydrangea, also known as Hydrangea macrophylla or House Hydrangea, are the most popular. The oakleaf hydrangea, a native with creamy white flower clusters, blooms at about the same time.
Summer brings the crape myrtle season to our area of the country.
Flowering begins about the first week of June and continues throughout the season. Other shrubs that provide summer color include abelia, lantana, Texas sage and oleander. During the fall, sansanqua camellias draw much attention. This early flowering species is very cold hardy, begins blooming in October and continues for several weeks. The candelabra plant, butterfly and other Cassia shrubs are equally showy.