BTW, sorry they are so big! my firs pic posting on GW.

The second picture is Mexican Petunias (Ruellia brittoniana). It's pretty, reliable, and drought resistant. It is also invasive, spreading by runners and by seeds. I still get a few sprigs every year, after trying to get rid of it for four years. If I had a small contained bed to help keep it in control, I would keep it.
Jim

I think that the first 2 pictures show Loropetalum chinensi (Chinese fringe plant). I like it. It's pretty well behaved but blooms better in full sun.

Here is a link that might be useful: Loropetalum chinensi

Thanks ya'll!! I kinda thought the 2nd pic might be rueilla, but was not sure. Didn't have a clue on the fringe flower!! Cool! I was already planning on moving the ff, but first I needed to know light requirements. I've got the perfect spot for those in a much better suited location. Now I just need to get all of the evil asian jasmine pulled out. I do like asian jasmine, but it is way out of control and there is so much of it here!

Ruella can be a spreader. Keep your eye on it or take it out. IT can be a real pain in the tuckus if it gets out of control. It throws its seed far and wide.I was in loosing battle with it at my old house. Had to move.

I've seen it around the neighborhood in contained sights..I will probably keep it for another year at least. Won't have time to focus there yet this year. Good to be reminded though.

The Mexican Petunia is deer resistant and tolerates low water conditions well. It does throw seed, but seems to pull up easily. Mine have pink flowers and bloom in both sun and shade.

The photo is kind of fuzzy, ladybugfruit, but do you think the pink-flowering plant behind the ruellia could be Rock Rose - Pavonia lasiopetala? (another tough native type!)

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Here is a link that might be useful: Pavonia lasiopetala from Wildflower Center

I thought the plant behind the ruellia is some type of Crape Myrtle.

My Ruellias work fine in my really poor caliche soil. It comes in red, pink, purple and white but the most invasive is the pink one. However, it's relatively easy to control in my type of soil.

Omar

Oh, yeah, that picture is kinda fuzzy, but it's the only one I had of the ruellia...Omar is right, it's a crepe myrtle behind it. I did have some rock rose at my last place but it didn't survive the move. Thanks for reminding me about it! Need to see about working that into the designs somewhere.

I haven't had a bad problem with the ruellia spreading, but I have the dwarf version. In good rain/growing years, I get a few babies, in bad years, I don't get any. They typically die back to the roots in the winter, and they're near the house. Don't know what they'd do away from it. They're planted in unamended soil and not babied, so that may have something to do with the lack of spreading, too.