• Brighten up the Texas landscape with long-lasting perennials.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
  
  Perennials are considered the heart of a garden because they grow from the same root part every year, without being reseeded. Unlike annuals plants that add vibrant bursts of color to the landscape for one season before dying, these plants provide ever-changing garden views when they emerge from the ground during the growing season. Grow long-lasting perennials in Texas gardens that bloom continuously for several months.
  
  

Fall Mums

• Fall mums, hardy mums or chrysanthemums cheer up the late summer or fall landscape in Texas. The easy-to-grow perennials grows 24 to 36 inches tall, depending on the variety, and produce medium green foliage and thick flowers. Individual flowers measure 1 to 3 inches wide and appear in shades of rust, white, yellow, bronze and purple. Grow dependable chrysanthemums in well-draining, humus-rich container or bedding soil, so the flowers paint the landscape with bursts of rich color.
  
  

Yarrow

• Yarrow (Achillea spp.) is a sun- and heat-tolerant perennial that thrives in arid Texas summers. The plant grows 2 to 3 feet tall, and features fernlike, lacy foliage and large, wide clusters of tiny flowers in shades of yellow, white, red and pink. Grow yarrow in beds, containers, along borders or use in floral arrangements as the drought-tolerant flowers last a long time when cut.
  
  

Butterfly Weed

• Native to North America, the butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberose) is a hardy perennial that blooms during the summer months in Texas. Propagated from seed, the flowering plant grows 1 to 2 feet tall and features arching branches with clusters of orange flowers on top. The butterfly weed is frequented by bees and butterflies that feed on its nectar. The easy-to-grow perennial thrives in well-draining soil exposed to full sun. Use the plant to edge flower beds, in rock gardens or as mass planting for a sea of bright orange blooms from June till September.
  
  

Oxblood Lily

• Oxblood lily (Rhodophiala bifida) is a traditional Texas flower that packs a punch in the fall landscape, particularly after a late summer rain. The resilient plant produces striking red blooms stop 12-inch tall stems. Oxblood lily prefers well-draining soil exposed to full sunlight or part shade.
  
  

Summer Phlox

• Native to the Southeast, summer phlox (Phlox paniculata L.) is a dependable perennial that blooms for 14 to 18 weeks during the summer. The hardy plant grows 24 to 36 inches tall and up to 24 inches wide. Each five-petal blooms measure 1 inch wide and appear in a variety of pastel and bold shades. The drought-tolerant perennials prefer well-draining soils exposed to full sunlight.