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Tropical punch in Houston garden

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Punch houston garden — a quick note to anchor this piece for readers.

Punch houston garden: Quick notes

November 23, 2025

In Houston last month at my sister’s house, I admired the bodacious foliage of her pool garden. Alocasia’s gigantic, elephant-ear leaves flank a handsome, silvery agave in a tall steel pot.

punch houston garden

Swagged on a trellis behind the fire pit patio, Rangoon creeper was in full, sweet-scented bloom.

punch houston garden

Its pink and red flowers look ready-made for Valentine’s Day, but it’s not a spring bloomer in Houston. The vine dies to the ground in a freeze, but it comes right back and is glorious in summer and fall.

punch houston garden

One more (imaginary) sniff

punch houston garden

Cute little succulent pots adorn a table too.

punch houston garden

Later, on a walk around the block, resurrection fern (Polypodium polypodioides) cloaking live oak limbs caught my eye.

punch houston garden

Resurrection fern gets its name from its habit of going dormant — shriveling and looking dead — during drought. When it rains again, it’s reborn, springing back to life within 24 hours. It’s not parasitic and doesn’t harm the tree. As an air plant, it just makes its home along tree branches, especially oaks, and thrives in the hot and humid southeastern U.S.

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punch houston garden

Digging Deeper

My new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State, is here! Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. It’ll make a great holiday gift for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. More info here.

Come see me on tour! I’ll be speaking and hosting book events across Texas this fall and into next spring to celebrate the release of Gardens of Texas. Join me to learn, get inspired, and say hello!

Learn about garden design and ecology at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. Subscribe to Garden Spark by clicking here to email — subject line: SUBSCRIBE.

All material © 2025 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Punch houston garden comes up here to connect ideas for clarity.

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(@gentle-flame)
6 days ago

Quick thought — I appreciate the detail — very helpful indeed.

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