Winter Garden Plants for Texas

Since Texas is in the Southern United States, its warm climate allows it to support a wider variety of winter garden plants than many other areas of the country. Vegetables can grow in winter Texas gardens as well as a variety of flowering plants. Since Texas is such a large state with varying climates, some plants grow in some but not all areas of the state during winter.

Pansies are colorful flowers that bloom in Texas during winter. Texas A & M University recommends planting them in October through March in northern, central and southern Texas. They come in a wide variety of colors, including violet, yellow, white, pink, red and multicolored. For best results, Texas A & M University suggests planting pansies when soil temperatures are between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Juniper trees bloom during February in Texas and also survive well throughout the rest of the year. The University of Texas at Austin Wildflower Center suggests planting Juniper in dry soils with good drainage. Juniper is an evergreen tree that produces cones with berries. The trees make a great source of hardwood and the berries attract animals.

Onions grow well in vegetable gardens during Texas winters, according to Texas A & M University. Many gardeners think of planting vegetables during the warmest seasons, but onions can tolerate some mildly cool Texas temperatures.

In many areas of the country, asparagus is one of the earliest springtime vegetable crops. In Texas, asparagus can even start out during winter, according to Texas A & M University. Texas A & M University suggests planting asparagus in equal measures of sand, soil and sphagnum moss in areas with naturally poor soil.

Kale prefers somewhat cool temperatures and grows well during winter in Texas. It is a green leafy vegetable that has attractive green and purple colors. The Dallas Morning News even suggests making a winter pesto out of kale and growing a winter variety of kale, called cavalo nero, lacinato or dino kale.