Meet the Unsung Hero of Hill Country Gardens: Woolly Stemodia (Stemodia lanata)
If you’ve been gardening in Austin, Dripping Springs, or Lakeway for more than a single season, you know the struggle. You need plants that can handle the blistering Texas heat, survive our unpredictable watering restrictions, and—most importantly—survive the deer.
Finding a plant that checks all those boxes and looks beautiful can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Enter Woolly Stemodia (Stemodia lanata). This native Texas groundcover is the silver lining (quite literally) your garden has been waiting for.
Why We Love It
Woolly Stemodia is a low-growing perennial native to the sandy soils of coastal and southern Texas. This groundcover has proven itself to be an absolute superstar here in the Hill Country.
The foliage is its main attraction. Soft, fuzzy, silver-gray leaves that feel like velvet to the touch. During the warmer months, you will see tiny, delicate lavender flowers. But, let’s be honest: you’re buying this for that stunning silver carpet that stays lush when everything else is turning brown.
Is Woolly Stemodia Deer Resistant?
We get this question daily: “Will the deer eat this?”
Here is the honest truth about gardening in Lakeway and Bee Cave: No plant is 100% deer proof. If a deer is hungry enough during a Texas drought, they will taste-test almost anything.
However, Woolly Stemodia is one of the most effective deer resistant plants available for the Hill Country. Gardeners in Lakeway often choose this plant because of its texture an scent.
• Texture: Deer generally dislike the fuzzy, velvet-like texture of the leaves.
• Scent: The aromatic oils that make it smell distinct to us make it unappealing to them.
While we can’t guarantee a deer won’t ever take a nibble, this plant is an excellent choice for lowering the “tasty factor” of your garden.
Design Tip: The Perfect High-Contrast Companion
One of the best ways to use Woolly Stemodia is as a high-contrast underplanting.
Because of its low, spilling habit (it rarely gets taller than 6 inches). Planting at the base of architectural plants makes for a perfect high-contrast look. The photo is from a local landscape. The silver foliage creates a stunning visual pop against the structural blues of Agaves and greens of perennials. In this photo in particular, the Whale’s Tongue Agave, Texas Sage, Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye and Salvia greggii. Woolly Stemodia also pairs well with Yucca Rostrata and Agave Queen Victoria.
It softens the sharp edges of succulents and rock work, making your garden look established and professionally designed.
Quick Care Guide
• Sun: Thrives in full sun to part sun. Full sun is ideal, as this plant loves the heat.
• Water: Extremely drought-tolerant once established. Drought tolerant by nature, it prefers to dry out between waterings.
• Soil: Good drainage is non-negotiable. It loves sandy or rocky soils (perfect for our limestone-heavy area) but hates “wet feet.”
• Winter: It is generally root-hardy in our zone (Zone 8). In a hard freeze, it may die back to the ground, but it typically bounces back with vigor in the spring.
Get the Look at Vivero Growers
Whether you are looking to fill a border in Dripping Springs, cover a rocky slope in Austin, or just add some deer-resistant texture to your garden in Bee Cave. Woolly Stemodia is the workhorse you need.
Come visit us at Vivero Growers on Hwy 290 W. We have a fresh stock of Stemodia and the Agaves to pair with them!
