The Natural Gardener: Our Nursery

We in the nursery at the Natural Gardener work hard to provide a great selection of plants, both native and exotic, to delight the eye and please the palate. Each plant is labeled with detailed information as to light and water requirements, potential size, (height X width), bloom time and color, and any other useful tidbits we can fit onto the tags. Our experienced staff is always available to provide further information on care and maintenance to ensure that you find the right plants for you and that you leave here armed with the knowledge of how to keep them happy and healthy in your home garden.

In our Annuals area we carry a wide variety of seasonal color, from the familiar pansies and snapdragons, to the more obscure Diascias and rare species of poppy and larkspur. As annuals by nature typically survive only a season or two, a constant flow of color on our tables guarantees that youÌll find plants appropriate to local soils and climates to keep your garden looking tip top the whole year round.

We divide our Perennials into Sun- and Shade-lovers not only to keep them happy, but also to make it easier for you to shop for your specific needs. Whether youÌre looking for groundcover in damp shade, or tall vertical accent in full, scorching sun, our diverse selection virtually guarantees youÌll find the perfect plant for even the toughest spot in your garden.

Yes, we have Vegetables! Our entire stock of veggies is rotated seasonally based on recommended planting times for our area. While many of our plants are grown here in the greenhouse, the remainder is provided by local growers and grown without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. We do our best to provide a selection of varieties recommended specifically for this region so thereÌs less guesswork when planning your garden each season.

Forget about lawns. Ornamental Grasses are the real showstoppers in Central Texas gardens! We carry both natives and those well-adapted to our soils and climate. From gorgeous low growing clumping varieties like Mexican Feather Grass, to breathtaking destination grasses like giant Zebra Grass, weÌve got something for everyone.

With perhaps the best selection in town, we specialize in culinary and medicinal Herbs , both common and more rare varieties. Basil, cilantro, dill, fennel, lemongrass, and parsley, all when in season, and oregano, thyme, lavender, mint and rosemary year-round... just to name a few.

Do you loathe standing at the end of a hose? Does trying to fathom an irrigation system make your head ache? Is a structured, architectural look for you? Or maybe you'd just like to add a pointy, vertical accent to your existing drought tolerant landscape. If any of these queries has crossed your mind, then you should spend some time in our xeric section. Of course, many of the plants featured in our regular shrub and perennial areas are extremely drought tolerant already, but due to a heartfelt concern for your success as a gardener and a wish to keep puncture wounds at a low, we thought it prudent to contain plants of this nature in one general area. And so, with your guard up and your potential water bill down, please proceed to the center of the nursery. Our xeric section features a wide and varied array of yuccas, agaves, cacti, and sedums as well as a few hard to find water-phobic shrubs and perennials to choose from. Noting the heights, widths, and sun requirements labeled on each pot, you're bound to find something that works for you. After you have made your selection, you may then want to peruse our stock of thick leather gloves!

Shrubs are the "bones" in your garden. Much as we love our shade-slinging tree canopies and bright perennials singing with color, shrubs are the long term, steady, heavy lifters doing the big work in the landscape. When winter strips the color away, it's shrubs that remain, staunchly hiding your neighbor's tool shed, sheltering your hot tub, shielding your garden from icy winter winds. They take up space, they soften hard corners, round out stark walls. Some of them bloom, taking the spotlight for a time, but most play a crucial supporting role. Here at the Natural Gardener, we have a shrub for nearly any situation. They come in all shapes and sizes: tall, short, round, slim; and a variety of colors, both blooms and foliage. There are some for sun and others that prefer shade. Mixed with seasonal perennials and annuals, shrubs are a vital element for a well-rounded landscape.

Roses have such a nasty reputation as troublemakers in the garden -- not true! In the last couple of decades, modern rose breeders have blundered forward on a misguided quest for blooms alone, completely disregarding the rest of the plant. It is these tall, scrawny, leafless specimens that give roses such a bad name. At the Natural Gardener, we don't pander to sissies. All of our roses are sturdy antiques grown on their own roots as whole plants. Each individual variety has its own personality, its own strengths and style. There are roses for hedges, roses for vases, roses for color, roses for nostalgia…there is bound to be a rose that's right for you. Our goal is to stock varieties that will bring you not only success, but joy. In all fairness, we should warn you…roses are addictive! Once you start planting these hardy antiques, you may have trouble stopping yourself.

For the gardener with a big, blank wall, a naked pergola, an unsightly fence, or a spot in need of screening too narrow for shrubs, vines are a simple, solid solution. We have a wide variety of twining, clinging, climbing plants at your service. Some are evergreen, some are heavy bloomers, some are fragrant, some love the sun, some prefer shade, some are fast growing, some slow and steady. You need only pick the one that's right for you. Keep in mind that vines won't keep their hands to themselves, so give them lots of room! Have a look at our arbors and trellises while you shop the vines and consider the beautiful relationship the two might develop in your garden before your very eyes.

So you've just moved into a new house and the landscape is, well…a little Spartan. The answer? Trees , of course! Even if you live in an old established neighborhood, trees are often an issue. You've lost an old tree, or one of those lousy fast-growing trash trees that went into what is now your yard in the 1980's is on its way out in a less-than-graceful fashion. Now it's time to think big. Or maybe you'd like to add a series of sophisticated under story accent trees. Either way, we have something for you: long-term commitment trees like oaks and elms, speedy canopied shade trees, small flowering ornamentals, wildlife food source options, and so forth. We always give your new trees a good start with time-tested planting instructions. You may also want to check out our care and maintenance tools as well as composts and fertilizers in the store to the keep the trees you have healthy and looking their best.