Prepared by
Keith C. Hansen
Smith County Extension Horticulturist
This compilation of landscape plants for northeast Texas is intended
to be used as a guide for selecting plants which are proven performers.
Input for the list came from leading horticulturists, growers and nurserymen
from throughout the region. The following plants are hardy, reliable, lack
major problems and are readily available in our area. There are many other
good plants which also merit attention; not everyone's favorite will be
on the list. However, you can be sure these will thrive in your landscape
given reasonable care.
Plants are listed alphabetically by common name within categories, followed
by: (other common names), botanical name, light preference, evergreen or
deciduous, along with comments regarding cultivars, special needs or attributes,
and average landscape width.
Within some categories, some plant groups may have several outstanding members,
such as hollies and oaks. A few species or varieties are listed to highlight
some of the best in that group.
Ajuga - (Carpet Bugle); Ajuga reptans; partial shade to shade
Asiatic Jasmine - Trachelospermum asiaticum; sun to
shade
English Ivy - Hedera helix; shade; also is an excellent clinging
vine
Ferns - several species including: holly fern, wood fern, autumn
fern; shade; 2' wide
Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; several selections including: 'Blue
Pacific', 'Bar Harbor, 'Blue Chip', 'Shore', 'Green Mound'; J. procumbens
(Japanese garden juniper); 'Blue Rug'; 5' wide
Liriope - (Lily Turf); Liriope muscari; shade; several selections
including: 'Majestic', 'Big Blue', 'Variegated'; 1' wide
Mondograss - (Monkeygrass); Ophiopogon japonicus; partial shade to
shade; cultivars include: 'Nanus' (dwarf), 'Nigrescens' (black)
Purple Wintercreeper - Euonymus fortunei 'Colorata'; sun to shade
Vinca - (Periwinkle); Vinca major, V. minor; partial shade to shade;
several selections including: V. major 'Variegata', V. minor 'Bowles'
Boston Ivy - Parthenocissus tricuspidata; sun to partial shade;
deciduous, cultivars include 'Veitchi' and 'Lowii'
Carolina Jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens; sun to partial
shade; semi-evergreen
Clematis - Clematis spp.; sun to partial shade; deciduous
to semi-evergreen; the best adaped is Sweet Autumn Clematis (C. Terniflora);
keep roots cool, in shade, top in sun
Coral Honeysuckle - (Trumpet Honeysuckle); Lonicera sempervirens;
sun to partial shade; evergreen
Gold Flame Honeysuckle (Lonicera heckrottii); sun to prt shade;
evergreen
Crossvine - Bignonia capreolata; sun to partial shade;
semi-evergreen
Fig Ivy - (Climbing Fig); Ficus pumila; sun to partial shade;
evergreen
Roses (Lady Banksia) - Rosa banksiae 'Lutea'; sun; semi-evergreen
Trumpet Vine - (Trumpet Creeper); Campsis radicans, C. x tagliabuana
'Madam Galen'; sun; deciduous; can be rampant, 'Madam Galen' less invasive
Virginia Creeper - Parthenocissus quinquifolia; sun to shade;
deciduous
Wisteria - Wisteria sinensis; sun; deciduous
Azaleas - Rhododendron spp; morning sun to shade; semi-evergreen; small
azalea types include Gumpo varieties, some Satsuki varieties, 'Coral Bells';
3' - 4' wide
Barberry (dwarf varieties) - Berberis spp.; sun; deciduous to semi-evergreen;
'Crimson Pygmy', 'Kobold', B. buxifolia 'Nana'; 3' 4' wide
Boxwood - Buxus microphylla; sun to partial shade; evergreen; 'Wintergreen',
Japanese boxwood; 1' - 4' wide
Dwarf Gardenia - Gardenia jasminoides 'Radicans'; sun to part shade;
evergreen; occasional winter damage, best in protected location; 2' - 3'
wide
Holly - Ilex spp; sun to shade; evergreen; several excellent species
and cultivars: I. vomitoria 'Nana', 'Schillings' (dwarf yaupon holly); I.
cornuta 'Rotunda' (dwarf Chinese holly); I. crenata 'Helleri', 'Compacta'
(dwarf Japanese holly); 2 _' - 3 _ wide
Junipers - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; 'Tam Juniper'; 4' wide
Indian Hawthorn - Raphiolepis indica; sun to part shade; evergreen;
'Enchantress', 'Pinkie', 'Clara' and other dwarf varieties; 3' - 4' wide
Mini or Dwarf Crepe Myrtles - Lagerstroemia indica (dwarf varieties);
sun; deciduous; 3' wide
Nandina - Nandina domestica (dwarf varieties); sun to partial shade;
evergreen; color is best in full sun; 'Nana', 'Harbor Dwarf', 'Gulf Stream";
2 _' wide
Spirea - Spirea spp; sun; deciduous; 'Anthony Waterer', 'Little Princes',
'Heather'; 2' - 3' wide
Abelia - (Glossy Abelia); Abelia grandiflora; sun to partial shade; semi-evergreen;
'Compacta', 'Edward Goucher'; 4' wide
Aucuba - (Gold Dust Aucuba); Aucuba japonica; shade; evergreen; 'Variegata'
(Gold Dust), 'Picturata'; 3' wide
Azalea - Rhododendron spp.; morning sun to shade; semi-evergreen;
many to choose from; 3' - 8' wide
Barberry - (Japanese Barberry); Berberis thunbergii; sun; semi-evergreen;
'Atropurpurea', 'Rose Glow'; 4' - 5' wide
Camellia - (Sasanqua); Camellia sasanqua; partial shade; evergreen;
hundreds of varieties, 'Shishi Gashira' is one of several low growers -
ask your nurseryman for other varieties; 3' - 5' wide
Dwarf Crepe Myrtle - Lagerstroemia indica semi-dwarf varieties; sun;
deciduous; range of sizes, colors; 4' - 5' wide
Holly - Ilex cornuta; sun; evergreen; 'Dwarf Burford', 'Berries Jubilee',
'Dazzler'; other varieties can be sheared to maintain height; 3' - 5' wide
Indian Hawthorn - Raphiolepis indica; sun to partial shade; evergreen;
several cultivars; 4' - 6' wide
Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; 'Compact Pfitzer', 'Sea
Green', other varieties; 4' - 6' wide
Nandina - Nandina domestica; sun to partial shade; evergreen; 3'
- 4' wide
Abelia - (Glossy Abelia); Abelia grandiflora; sun to partial shade; semi-evergreen;
5' wide Cherry Laurel - Prunus caroliniana; compact variety available; sun to
partial shade; evergreen; can grow into small tree; 14' - 16' wide Crape Myrtle -Lagerstroemia spp; sun; deciduous; comes in many
sizes and forms; hybrids, many with Indian names have powdery mildew resistance,
attractive bark, besides showy blooms; 15' wide American Holly - Ilex opaca; sun to shade; evergreen; slow to
moderate growth; only female plants bear fruit; 15' - 20' wide Bald Cypress - Taxodium distichum; sun; deciduous; tolerates wet
soils; 30' - 40' wide Columbine - Aquilegia spp.; partial sun to shade; A. hinkleyana
- Texas Gold Columbine is the best for Texas
Camellia - Camellia japonica, C. sasanqua; partial sun; evergreen;
hundreds of varieties; Sasanqua varieties bloom early winter, often escaping
freeze, while Japanese camellias bloom mid to late winter and often suffer
bloom damage unless in a protected location; 4' - 5' wide
Cleyera - Ternstroemia gymnanthera; sun to partial shade; evergreen;
5' wide
Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia spp; sun; deciduous; many varieties,
look for newer hybrid, intermediate sizes with powdery mildew resistance;
6' - 8' wide
Elaeagnus - Elaeagnus spp;sun to partial shade; evergreen; Elaeagnus
'Ebbingei', 'Fruitlandii'; 4' - 7' wide
Holly - Ilex spp; sun to shade; evergreen; 'Needle Point', 'Burford',
'Nellie R. Stevens'; 4' - 6' wide
Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; 'Blue Vase', 'Blue Point',
'Pfitzer', others; 6' - 9' wide
Ligustrum - (Waxleaf Ligustrum); Ligustrum japonicum;
Photinia, Red Tip - (Fraser's Photinia); Photinia x fraseri; sun;
evergreen; can be kept under 10 feet with pruning; susceptible to leaf spot
disease which, if severe, can defoliate and weaken plant; 6' - 8' wide
Texas Sage - (Ceniza); Leucophyllum frutescens; sun; evergreen; several
cultivars; 4' wide
Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia spp; sun; deciduous; hybrid varieties
with mildew resistance; 8' - 10' wide
Holly - Ilex spp; sun; evergreen; 'Nellie R. Stevens', 'Foster's',
'Savannah', Yaupon; 6' - 10' wide
Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; many cultivars including
'Skyrocket', 'Blue Point', 'Hollywood'; 6' - 8' wide
Leyland Cypress - Cupressocyparis leylandii; sun; evergreen; can
grow to medium-sized tree; 10' - 12' wide
Ligustrum (Glossy Privet, Japanese Ligustrum); Ligustrum lucidum;
sun; evergreen; so not confuse with L. japonicum (Waxleaf Ligustrum); can
grow into small tree; 10' - 15' wide
Photinia, Chinese - Photinia serrulata; sun; evergreen; can grow
into small tree; 10' - 15' wide
Photinia, Red Tip - (Fraser's Photinia); Photinia x fraseri; sun;
evergreen; see note under medium shrubs; 8' - 10' wide
Southern Wax Myrtle - Myrica cerifera; sun to partial shade; evergreen;
8' - 12' wide
Dogwood - Cornus florida; partial sun to shade; white and
pink varieties; acid soil; give protection from full sun; 15' - 20' wide
Fringe Tree - (Grancy Greybeard); Chionanthus virginicus;
partial shade; deciduous; acid soil; give protection from full sun; 15'
wide. Chionanthus retusus (Chinese Fringe Tree) is showier, easier to grow
than C. virginicus and tolerates full sun.
Holly - Ilex spp; sun to shade; Yaupon Holly, I. vomitoria
(evergreen); Possum Haw or Deciduous Holly, I. decidua (deciduous);
only female plants bear fruit; 10' wide
Japanese Black Pine - Pinus thunbergiana; sun; evergreen;
15' wide
Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum, A. japonicum; partial sun
to shade; deciduous; many excellent cultivars including 'Bloodgood', 'Crimson
Queen'; 10' - 15' wide
Magnolia (deciduous types); Magnolia spp; sun to part
shade; deciduous; Saucer or Tulip Magnolia, M. soulangiana; Star
Magnolia, M. stellata; and M. hybrids; 15' wide
Ornamental Pear - (Bradford Pear); Pyrus calleryana; sun;
deciduous; improved varieties include: 'Aristocrat', 'Capitol', 'Whitehouse';
15' - 25' wide
Redbud - Cercis canadensis; sun ; deciduous; varieties include:
'Oklahoma'; 15' - 25' wide Cercis canadensis mexicana; sun; deciduous
Cercis canadensis texensis; sun; deciduous; varieties include: ëTexasí:15'
- 25' wide
Vitex - (Lavender Tree); Vitex agnus-castus; sun; deciduous;
15' wide
Chinese Pistache - Pistacia chinensis; sun; deciduous; reliable
fall color; 30' - 40' wide
Crabapple - Malus spp; sun; deciduous; 20 to 25 feet; select
disease resistant cultivars; 25' wide
Lacebark Elm - Ulmus parvifolia; sun to partial shade; deciduous;
attractive bark; 35' - 50' wide
Golden Raintree - Koelreuteria paniculata; sun; deciduous;
avoid Southern Golden Raintree (K. bipinnata) which has more attractive
seedpods but is less hardy; 25' - 30' wide
Leyland Cypress - Cupressocyparis leylandii; sun; evergreen; can
grow to medium-sized tree;
12' - 15' wide
Magnolia - Magnolia spp; sun to partial shade; some M. grandiflora
(Southern Magnolia) cultivars stay small; M. soulangiana (Saucer or Tulip
Magnolia) can grow to 25 feet tall; 15' - 40' wide
Maple, Red - Acer rubrum; sun; deciduous; beautiful fall color; 'Drummondii',
'Sunset'; 25' - 30' wide
Maple, other species - Acer barbatum (Texas Sugar Maple), A. grandidentatum
(Bigtooth Maple), A. leucoderme (Chalk Maple); sun; deciduous; 25' - 30'
wide
Ornamental Pear - (Bradford Pear); Pyrus calleryana; sun;
deciduous; improved varieties include: 'Aristocrat', 'Capitol', 'Whitehouse';
20' - 25' wide
Blackgum - Nyssa sylvatica; sun; deciduous; fall color; tolerates
wet soils; 30' wide
Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba; sun; deciduous; slow growing, brilliant
yellow fall color; 40' wide
Maple - Acer rubrum.; sun; deciduous; Red Maple most common,
Trident Red Maple and Drummond Red Maple frequently grown; A. barbatum
- Southern Sugar Maple; 25' - 30' wide
Oaks - Quercus spp.; sun; many species - among highest rated
are: Shumard Red Oak, Q. shumardii (deciduous); Live Oak, Q. virginiana
(evergreen); Willow Oak, Q. phellos (deciduous); White Oak, Q.
alba (deciduous); 40' - 70' wide
Pecan - Carya illinoensis; sun; deciduous; 40' - 60' wide
River Birch - Betula nigra; sun; deciduous; attractive peeling
bark; 30' wide
Southern Magnolia - Magnolia grandiflora; sun to partial shade;
evergreen; 30' - 40' wide
Sweetgum - Liquidamber styraciflua; sun; deciduous; 'Rotundiloba'
is a fruitless variety; 30' wide
Tulip Poplar - (Yellow Poplar); Liriodendron tuplipifera;
sun; deciduous; 30' - 40' wide
Coreopsis - Coreopsis spp; sun; C. grandiflora cultivars
such as 'Early Sunrise', 'Baby Sun', 'Sun Ray'; C. verticillata cultivars
include 'Moonbeam', 'Zagreb'
Daffodils - Narcissus spp; sun to partial shade; many types
readily naturalize including N. jonquilla (jonquils), N. campernelle,
N. tazetta (paperwhites)
Daylily - Hemerocallis spp.; sun to partial shade; hundreds
of cultivars available
Iris - Iris spp.; sun to partial shade; several types well-adapted
including Bearded Iris, Louisiana Iris, Siberian Iris
Phlox - Phlox spp; sun to part shade; P. subulata (thrift)
excellent groundcover; P. paniculata (summer phlox)
Salvias - Salvia spp; sun; several species, some semi-hardy;
S. farinacea (Mealy Cup or Blue Sage); S. leucantha (Mexican Bush
Sage); S. greggii (Autumn Sage)
Sedums - (Stonecrop); Sedum spp; sun; several types and cultivars
including 'Autumn Joy', 'Meteor'. 'Brilliant'; stonecrops as groundcovers
Yarrow - (Sunfern); Achillea spp; sun to partial shade; white, pink
and yellow forms most common