KLRU: Central Texas Gardener > Question/Plant of the Week

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Q. About Thomson seedless grapes, do I need a second one for cross-pollination?

A. Actually, you don’t even need one at all! This is not a variety recommended for our area. Many of the fruit varieties we enjoy from the supermarket do not grow here, or are susceptible to disease.

Champanel is a good variety for juice and jellies. For a list of grapes to grow for wine or the table, get in touch with your local extension agent.

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Thryallis (Galphimia glauca)

Thryallis is a great heat tolerant plant for xeriscape gardens. It is tolerant of a wide variety of soils as long as they are well drained. A semi-tender shrub, thryallis often dies back in winter, returning in spring to reach a height of 4-6 feet. It blooms late summer to fall, with yellow flower spikes that attract butterflies. It has no significant pest and disease problems. It blooms best in full sun, but will tolerate a little shade. Plants make nice individual specimens or may be massed and sheared into a low hedge or planted in a large container.

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Head out for the Inside Austin Gardens Tour, presented by the Travis County Master Gardeners.

You’ll have a chance to visit several outstanding gardens, and find out how the owners did it. At each garden, we’ll present workshops, including plant propagation, pest identification, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and greenhouse construction.

Date: May 21 from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Admission is only $10! For more information on tickets, check out www.tcmastergardener.org or call (512) 854-9600. Many Austin-area nurseries will also carry tickets. See you there!

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