Big Tex – Texas State Fair

Few landscapes in Texas carry the cultural weight of the grounds surrounding Big Tex. The 55-foot icon has welcomed fairgoers to Fair Park since 1952, and for the past several years, Southern Botanical has had the privilege of designing and maintaining the landscape that frames him. The planting scheme is built on a dependable backbone of more than 100 Elaeagnus and 400 Dwarf Yaupon Hollies, with 400 Mystic Salvia plants adding color and structure throughout the space. Layered on top of that permanent palette are over 3,700 annual flowers, swapped out three times a year to keep the display fresh across seasons. The star and iconic “DALLAS TEXAS FAIR PARK” lettering are planted with exacting precision — symmetry and scale at that size require meticulous measurement and careful execution. We partnered with Ruibal’s Plants of Texas to source the freshest, most striking plant material available, ensuring the installation lives up to one of the most-photographed spots in the state.