My adventure as a Grayson County Master Gardener began in January 2018. I quickly learned that the Master Gardener loves native plants. The concept of native plants was new to me. From my early days as a master gardener, I came to love these native plants that are hardy enough to withstand the harsh Texas climate. Native plants survive the unrelenting heat of August without affecting your water bill..
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, “native plants” are “plants that naturally inhabit or grow in a particular area without direct or indirect human intervention.” (1) What a concept! This is a plant that doesn’t care about my lack of care. . These plants do not require special soil preparation and do not require fertilizer or frequent watering. Even pesky insects don’t seem to destroy them – my kind of plants.
I encountered my first native plants at Eisenhower’s birthplace in Denison, Texas: Gregg’s Mistflower, Eupatorium, and Conocrinium Greggii. This plant is named after Josiah Gregg, an American merchant, explorer, naturalist, and author. This plant displays clusters of fluffy purple flowers.
This flower attracts queen butterflies and monarch butterflies that migrate through North Texas in the fall. Greg Mistflower is a perennial that blooms from March to November..
Greg’s Mist Flower prefers partial shade or full sun, but will also grow in direct sunlight. This plant requires minimal water and is highly adapted to the long, dry summers of North Texas. Greg’s Mistflower makes a gorgeous groundcover and grows well in pots..
Propagating Greg Mistflower is easy. Seeds can be collected in the fall and planted in the spring. It can be propagated by rooting cuttings. The plant spreads, so extra growth can be dug up and transplanted elsewhere.
Greg’s Mist Flowers will be available at the 2025 Grayson County Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale.
