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GardenLine with Skip Richter

Ranking Native Plants with Zach Buchanan

·57 min·5 clips
Zach Buchanan reveals why Turk's cap is his unbeatable number one native plant for Houston gardens.
Skip Richter introduces the episode by welcoming Zach Buchanan from Buchanan's Native Plants on 11th Street in the Heights. Zach discusses increased interest in native plants over the last three years, driven by freezes and hurricanes, with a focus on low-maintenance options. He starts his top list with Turk's cap, praising its adaptability and hummingbird attraction. Next, he recommends Gulf Coast muhly for its pink fall blooms and soil stabilization. Nuttall oak is highlighted as a tree suited for Houston's clay soil, promoting diversity over live oaks. Yopon holly is suggested as a versatile shrub with wildlife-attracting berries. After a break, Zach covers fall aster for fall blooms and pollinator support, followed by Gulf Coast penstemon for cut flowers. Inland sea oats is noted for shade tolerance and ornamental seed heads. A caller, Daniel, asks about nuttall oak root systems, and Zach advises they are less elevated than live oaks. Another caller, Jim, seeks low hedge plants, with Zach recommending frog fruit and Mexican heather. Zach continues with rattlesnake master for unique texture and pollinator benefits, then shares a customer's story about dwarf Barbados cherry's resilience. Tropical sage is recommended for deer resistance and hummingbird attraction, and Greg's mistflower is praised for butterfly appeal. Skip adds purple coneflower for shady areas, and they briefly mention red buckeye before concluding. The episode includes sponsor ads for Ace Hardware and Affordable Tree, with call-in segments for listener questions.

As heard by us

A native-plant hour that connects garden fit with insects, birds, and practical use.

Garden Line turns into a native-plant hour, with Skip Richter talking with Zach Buchanan of Buchanan's Native Plants. The segment makes its case plainly: native plants are useful for native bees, for the insects birds rely on, and for keeping a yard aligned with its local…

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Why you'd press play

You want native-plant picks that actually do something in a Houston yard.

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