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(Vitex agnus-castus)
Sometimes called ‘Texas summer lilac,’ the lacy-leaved vitex is covered with pointy purple panicles from midsummer into fall, providing nectar to hosts of butterflies and bees. Can be left shrubby or pruned into a small tree (there’s a row in front of the Nasher Sculpture Center). Deadheading will stimulate more blooms, although the dried berries are interesting on the bare branches in the winter. Extract from vitex is used widely in Germany to regulate problems associated with menopause, PMS and post-partum hormonal issues. Leaves are sometimes mistaken for marijuana so look out for your neighborhood watch.

(Myrica cerifera)
Evergreen shrub or small tree with long, fragrant foliage and small bluish-grey berries formerly used for candles. Does great in wet areas and sandy soils; will tolerate poor drainage but is not particularly drought tolerant. For a denser hedge, keep leggy growth trimmed. Some people swear it keeps mosquitoes away from patios and pool areas.

(Punica granatum)
One of the few fruit trees that really loves it here, pomegranates have showy red-orange blossoms in the summer. If you have room for the standard tree (it can grow to 25 feet over time), you will get larger fruits. ‘Nana,’ the dwarf variety, has delicate lance-shaped foliage and a neater habit, but fruit is smaller. Another option is to make juice, which is full of antioxidants, tannins and vitamins B and C. Research shows pomegranate juice can slow or reverse plaque formation in the arteries and may prevent recurrence of prostrate cancer. A tough and ornamental tree even if you aren’t interested in the harvest, pomegranates should be used more often here.

(Albrizia julibrissin ‘Summer Chocolate’)
A dark burgundy leaf on this mimosa makes an interesting accent in the summer garden. Likes poor dry soil, don’t baby it with too much water or fertilizer! Flowers are fragrant and attract bees; new leaves are greenish but turn maroon as they mature.