OK, I know I was recently complaining about the lack of trendy purple foliage that grows well in central Texas compared to gardens in Seattle and other more-temperate locales. I neglected to mention this little beauty: purple oxalis. While its petite size precludes it from making a grand statement, it is eye-catching tucked at the feet of other shade- or part-shade-loving plants. The eggplant-colored, triangular leaves are set off by pale pinkish lilac flowers. A green variety with white flowers is also readily available here.

The pink skullcap is in full bloom. It’s hard to get a sense of scale from this picture, but this is another low-grower—about 15″ tall.

Dos agaves: Parry’s and Whale’s Tongue. With rock penstemon, bulbine, and white skullcap also visible.

I keep trying to capture the beauty of the vitex in full bloom in the front garden, but I can’t get an overall sense of its color. However, while snapping away, I caught a bee visiting the flower spires above my head.

Once, a friend who was visiting my garden noticed the vitex (not in bloom then) and thought it was marijuana because of the shape of its leaves. There is a striking resemblance, but no. Still, there is some herbal lore associated with this plant: as an anti-aphrodisiac (hence its common name, chaste lilac) and as an alleviator of PMS symptoms. Don’t know about all that. I just like its purple flowers and tough, yet lush, beauty.

Vitex blossoms

Other flowers blooming in the garden. . .

Best of Friends daylilies

Gaura

Purple coneflower and artemesia

Wilson’s Yellow daylily, with purple oxalis, heartleaf skullcap, and columbine foliage