What's Happening in the Garden
in December

by Donald Ray Burger
Attorney at Law

What's in Bloom We can have color in our gardens here in Houston even in December. How long that color lasts depends on when cold weather hits. The 1997 list of plants in bloom was taken on 12/13/97. The December low up to then was 35 degrees in the Heights.We did not have a freeze in the Hieghts in December in 1998 or 1999, either.

Abelia (2000)
Althea 'Zebrina' in bloom (2000)
Bachelor Buttons in bloom (2000, 2001, 2002, 2005)
Basil in bloom (1999, 2003)
Begonias (Whiskey) in bloom (1997)
Begonia 'Dragon Wing' in bloom (2000)
Begonia 'Scarletta' in bloom (1998, 2000, 2001, 2003)
Begonia 'Super Olympia White' in bloom (2000, 2001)
Bougainvillea 'Juanita Hatten' in bloom (2002, 2005)
Butterfly weed (1999, 2001, 2002,2003)
Cape Honeysuckle in bloom (200, 2001, 2005)
Chili Piquin in bloom (2002, 2003)
Chives in bloom (2003)
Chrysanthemum pacificum in bloom (2003)
Cigar Plant in bloom (2000, 2001)
Clasping Coneflower (2000, 2001)
Crown of Thorns (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Cyclamen (1998, 1999, )
Dahlberg daisies in bloom (2000, 2001, 2003)
Duranta repens in bloom (2003)
Dutchman's Pipe (2000, 2003)
Firecracker fern (red)in bloom (2001, 2003)
Firecracker fern (cream)in bloom (2003)
Firespike in bloom (2001, 2003)
Golden Yaupon has golden berries (1997. 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Hamelia (Hummingbird bush). (1997, 2000)
Hibiscus in bloom (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Ixora in bloom. (1997)
Key Lime in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Lantana in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Lantana 'Lone weep' (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Lantana 'White Lightning' (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Leatherwood still has tassels. (1997)
Marguerite Daisies in bloom (1997)
Mexican Bush Sage (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Mexican Heather in bloom(1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Mexican Honeysuckle (1999, 2001)
Mexican Mint Marigold (2000, 2005)
Meyer Lemon (2001)
Mussaenda in bloom (2001)
Oleander 'Turner's Petite Carnival' in bloom (2003)
Oleander 'Petite Pink' in bloom (2003)
Passionflower vine, crimson (1999)
Pentas in bloom. (1997, 1998, 1999, 2001)
Peppers in bloom (2003, 2005)
Plumbago (blue) in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Plumbago (white) in bloom (2003)
Possumhaw has red berries (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Princess flower in bloom (2001, 2002)
Purple Fountain Grass (1997, 2002)
Pyracantha has red berries (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002)
Rosemary in bloom (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Roses doing well in December include: Adam's Smile (1997), Ain't She Sweet (2001, 2003), Angel Face (1997), Archduke Charles (1997, 2001, 2002, 2003), Belinda's Dream (2001, 2002, 2003), Betty Boop (2003), Blue Bell (2003) Broadway (1997), Caldwell Pink (1997, 2000), Charisma (1997), Climbing Pinkie (2000, 2002), Chrysler Imperial (1997, 2000, 2001, 2003), Cramoisi Superieur, Climbing (2003), Crimson Bouquet (2003), Cuddles (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003), Cupcake (2003), Dee Bennett (2000, 2003), Don Juan (1997), Dortmund (2001, 2002), Double Delight (2003), Ducher (2001, 2002, 2003), Duchesse de Brabant (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), The Fairy (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003), First Prize (1997), Granada (1997) Green Ice (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), Green Rose (1997, 2003), Gruss an Aachen (1997), Highway 290 Pink Buttons (1997), Hot Tamale (2003), Iceberg (2003), Jean Kenneally (1997), Jean LaJoie (2003), Katy Road Pink (2001, 2003), Knock Out (2003), Lavaglut (2003), Louis Philippe (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), Magic Caroussel (2000, 2003), Margo Koester (1997), Marie Daly (2003), LaMarne (2001, 2003), Martha Gonzales (2000, 2002, 2003), Marie Pavie (1997), Mavrik (2001, 2003), Memphsis Queen (2003), Millie Walters (1997), Minnie Pearl (1997, 2003), Monsieur Tillier (2003), Mrs. Dudley Cross (2000, 2002, 2003), Nearly Wild (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), New Beginnings (1997), Old Blush (1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003), Penelope (2001, 2003),Playgold (2003), Popcorn (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003), Razzmatazz (1997, 2003), Rise 'N Shine (2003), Sachet (2001), Soroptimist International (2003), Starina (2000), Starry Night (2003), St. Patrick (2001, 2002, 2003), Swamp Rose (2003), Sweet Surrender (2003), Texas (1997), Uncle Joe (1997), Valentine (2003), Veteran's Honor (2003), Vincent Godsiff (2003), White Pet (2003).
Salvia, Lady-in-Red (1999, 2002)
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' in bloom. (2000, 2001, 2002)
Shrimp Plant in bloom. (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Sweet Alyssum in bloom (2003)
Sweet Olive in bloom (1999, 2001, 2002, 2005)
Texas Wild Tomatoes had fruit (1999)
Thunbergia Grandiflora in bloom. (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005)
Tomatoes in bloom (2002, 2003)
Turk's Cap in bloom(1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001)
Weeping Yaupon has berries (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Yarrow (2000)
Yaupon Holly has berries (2001, 2002, 2003)

Yucca, red, in bloom (2002)

What to Plant in December

Second half: onion sets, leeks, fennel, sage, dill, allium, agapanthus

MISC
Rustle fall leaves for winter protection. I need over 100 bags to winter-protect everything.
12/16/96: Harvested 1 Satsuma.
12/16/96: Harvested 12 kumquats.
12/10/97: Harvested l key lime.
In recent years the citrus crops have been bountiful beyond counting, including Valencia oranges, kumquats, Key limes and Meyer lemons. Citrus does well here, and is carefree except having to be protected from real cold.

[Go Back to My Garden Happenings Index Page]

[Go Back to My Garden Page]

[Go Back to My Home Page]