Greensleeves Nursery featuring native plants opens in Pflugerville

Greensleeves Nursery wears its love of native Texas plants on its sleeve. The new Pflugerville nursery brings native plants to North Austin.… Read More

The post Greensleeves Nursery featuring native plants opens in Pflugerville appeared first on Digging.

Two weeks ago a new nursery specializing in native Texas plants opened in Pflugerville, just north of Austin. It’s called Greensleeves (cue the old English ballad), appropriate for a place wearing its love of native plants on its sleeve, so to speak. The owner, Willy Glenn, is a former co-owner of Barton Springs Nursery, and he brings a trove of horticultural knowledge and skill to his brand-new nursery.

Fittingly, Greensleeves has opened on the site of family-run nursery Green ‘n Growing, which shuttered last fall, ending a remarkable 49-year run. North Austin plant shoppers will recognize its turquoise house, which now sports a fresh coat of paint inside and out.

The plant yards are spruced and ready for spring too. Colorful annuals and flowering perennials draw those hungry for spring color to the plant tables in front of the shop.

But gardeners in the know will head to the back of the nursery for Willy-grown native plants, many in affordable 4-inch pots. Smaller plants at lower prices allow you to experiment with native Texas plants like rosy palafox…

…western ironweed…

…and a variety of sedges and grasses. (Check out my post about growing a sedge lawn.)

This sign made me smile: “We grew these for you! Willy G.” As you can see, there are plenty of 1-gallon native plants for sale too…

…like elbowbush…

…red prickly poppy…

–what a beauty, right?–

…Texas yellowstar…

…Texas ebony…

…and roughleaf dogwood. What a bonanza of natives to try!

Haters, look away. Willy is even growing baby Ashe juniper, the oft-despised Texas cedar. Yes, cedar trees are native to Central Texas. They green up our hills and provide habitat for the rare golden-cheeked warbler — in addition to spewing clouds of irritating pollen in late winter (but only the male trees). Want to learn more? Read my post about this much-maligned native tree.

I swooned over this cow’s tongue prickly pear. Look at those crazy pads!

Autumn sage with purple flowers (I’ve never seen it in this color) looked great next to purple-spotted mangaves.

A wider shot

More dry-loving plants are found along the driveway, including hesperaloe, nolina, agave, yucca, and cactus.

In the greenhouse, houseplants and hanging baskets offer a taste of the tropics.

Congr