Nandina	Possumhaw Holly
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January is the coldest month in South Texas. Paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) and some daffodils (Treviathan and Campernelle), however, love it and provide fragrant white or yellow flowers on dark-green luxuriant stalks. Plant the bulbs in autumn in the sun or under deciduous trees and the paperwhites will naturalize to bloom every year. Deer pass up narcissus in most neighborhoods.

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Winter-If you appreciate color from other sources than blooms, there are several all-star xeriscape plants that have red berries that make a great show through the winter until the birds eat them in early spring. Nandina, Possumhaw, and Burford holly are berry producers. The nandinas and hollies are evergreen shrubs that can prosper in full sun or shade. The more shade the fewer berries are produced, but the nandina and Burford holly still make good 5 to 7 feet foundation plants. As an added dividend, nandina has fine, red-purple, winter foliage if it is grown in the sun or partial shade. Possumhaw is a deciduous holly. Its small red berries are spectacular on the horizontal branches in the winter landscape.