Nature Spaces

06/02/2026

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) or Silk Tree is blooming along roadsides, forest margins, and streams. Their fragrant, pompom-like flowers make them easy to spot in late May and June. Mimosa is native to China and has been widely planted as an ornamental. Unfortunately, it readily escapes yards and invades natural habitats far away from where they were planted. For instance, I photographed this Mimosa at a land conservation park in my area.

Mimosa is listed as an invasive tree in several southeastern states (SC, GA, KY, VA, and TN are a few examples). Much of its spread is into sunny disturbed areas, woodland edges, streambanks, and rights-of-way. Once established, Mimosa re-sprouts from its roots, making it difficult to eradicate. The fruits and seeds are dispersed by the wind and also float on water, sending seeds from neighborhoods into street gutters and down storm drains where Mimosa then spreads downstream. Unfortunately, Mimosa has become a common, and sometimes dominant, tree in many woodland edges and streambanks across the Piedmont. Because most native insect are specialists of native plants, the more Mimosa spreads, the less habitat there is for our native insects. You will occasionally find caterpillars feeding on Mimosa, but they’re often mimosa webworms (Homadaula anisocentra), which are also introduced from China.

While the Mimosa flowers do provide nectar for a short time for some pollinating insects and ruby-throated hummingbirds, there are many native plants that fulfill this role without causing degradation to our southeastern woodlands (our native wildlife survived here long before mimosas were introduced). As with other introduced plants from China and elsewhere, Mimosa has little benefit to our natural food webs as few caterpillars consume the leaves. This means that natural areas invaded by Mimosa have less food available for songbirds and other wildlife native adapted to the southeastern United States. Mimosas simply contribute to a “food desert” for our native wildlife.

06/02/2026

This is the variety that surrounds Made in the Shade that people have been buying.
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One of the most beautiful flowers is Passiflora ‘Incense’ which is actually a hybrid of two species, P. Incarnata and P. cincinnata. Root hardy, drought tolerant and reliably returns every year in our climate. Dies to ground on first freeze but returns each spring. Edible fruit and easy to grow. SFA Gardens Nacogdoches TX

05/25/2026

Rudbeckia maxima (Giant/Swamp Coneflower) is in full bloom. This striking perennial wildflower is only native to East Texas and a bit of each adjoining state. My patch out front came from seed collected from a patch behind my parents which came from a patch in their previous perennial border which came from a patch in an older perennial border which came from a single plant a friend of my Grandmother Emanis' shared with her years ago which grew behind this very house. It's a great garden perennial but more popular in Europe and the Northeast than where it's native.

05/19/2026

Spicebush brings a lot more to the table than many people expect. It has a soft, natural beauty that helps a fence line feel fuller and more inviting, but it is not just about looks. This shrub can also support local wildlife, add seasonal interest, and create a more layered, lived-in landscape. Instead of a plain backdrop, your Texas fence starts to feel like part of the garden itself.

05/19/2026

05/17/2026

Periwinkle Blight (Greg Grant, 5-17-26)
Periwinkles have long been one of our most dependable summer bedding plants, brightening East Texas landscapes with months of cheerful color. For generations, gardeners counted on them the way we counted on bachelor buttons and zinnias. Because they evolved in a hot, dry climate, they thrived in heat, tolerated drought, and bloomed without complaint from spring until frost. That reputation took a hard hit when a disease known as aerial phytophthora, or periwinkle blight, arrived on the scene. Since then, many gardeners have learned the hard way that many of today’s periwinkles are not the carefree plants they once were.
Aerial phytophthora is a water-mold disease that attacks the stems and foliage of Madagascar periwinkle, also called vinca. Unlike root rots that stay below ground, this one splashes upward. It often begins with a single wilted branch that looks thirsty even when the soil is moist. Soon the entire plant collapses, turning brown almost overnight. Gardeners often assume they underwatered or overwatered, but the real culprit is a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, wet conditions.
Plant pathologists often explain disease using the disease triangle. For any plant disease to occur, three things must be present: a susceptible host, a pathogen, and the right environmental conditions. Remove any one side of the triangle and the disease cannot take hold. Unfortunately, with periwinkle blight, all three sides tend to line up perfectly in our East Texas summers.
The host is certainly present. Many periwinkle varieties are beautiful but highly susceptible to aerial phytophthora. The pathogen is also present. Once introduced into a landscape, it can linger in soil, mulch, and plant debris. The final side of the triangle is the environment, and this is where gardeners have the most influence. Aerial phytophthora needs moisture on the leaves and stems to infect the plant. Every time water splashes from soil to foliage, the disease gains an opportunity to spread.
That is why irrigation practices play such a large role in whether periwinkles survive. Overhead sprinklers, especially those that run in the evening, create ideal conditions for infection. Water sits on the leaves overnight, giving the pathogen plenty of time to invade. Frequent light watering keeps the soil surface damp, which encourages spores to move upward. Even heavy rains can trigger outbreaks when plants are crowded or mulched too deeply.
Gardeners who still want to grow periwinkles can tilt the disease triangle in their favor by managing moisture. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses keep water off the foliage. Morning watering allows leaves to dry quickly. Proper spacing improves air flow and reduces humidity around the plants. Planting in raised beds helps water drain away rather than linger. To be honest, I water periwinkles when I plant them and almost never again. Removing and disposing of infected plants promptly (sanitation) keeps the pathogen from spreading to healthy ones.
There is some good news, however. The Cora Series was bred for improved resistance to aerial phytophthora. Even better, the newer Cora XDR line offers an additional level of resistance, making it the best option currently available for gardeners determined to keep periwinkles in their summer beds. The challenge is availability. If you spot them for sale, grab them.
Periwinkles remain beautiful plants, but they now require thoughtful care and careful watering. By understanding the disease triangle and how moisture encourages aerial phytophthora, gardeners can make informed choices and give their periwinkles the best chance to shine through our typically hot, dry summer.
Greg Grant, Ph.D., is the Smith County horticulturist and Master Gardener coordinator for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Tyler. He is the author of Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Texas Home Landscaping, Heirloom Gardening in the South, and The Rose Rustlers. You can read his “Greg’s Ramblings” blog at arborgate.com, find his “In Greg’s Garden” column in each issue of Texas Gardener magazine (texasgardener.com), or follow him on Facebook at “Greg Grant Gardens” or “Pines, Pawpaws, and Pocket Prairies.” More science-based lawn and gardening information from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service can be found at aggieturf.tamu.edu and aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu, or by contacting the Smith County Master Gardener Help Desk at 903-590-2994 or [email protected].
Image caption: Periwinkle blight is a deadly fungal disease encouraged by frequent watering.