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OUTSTANDING LANDSCAPE PLANTS FOR NORTHEAST TEXAS

     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. 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.

Prepared by 

Keith C. Hansen 

Smith County Extension Horticulturist

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

Juniper -Juniperus spp; sun; several selections including' 'Blue Pacific', 'Green Mound', 'Shore',
'Tam Juniper'

Liriope - (Lily Turf); Liriope muscari; shade; several selections including' 'Majestic', 'Big Blue',
'Variegated'

Mondograss - (Monkeygrass); Ophiopogon japonicus; partial shade to shade; cultivars include'
'Nanus' (dwarf), 'Nigrescens' (black)

Pachysandra - (Japanese Spurge); Pachysandra terminaris; shade

Purple Wintercreeper - Euonymus fortune'  Colorata'; sun to shade

Vinca  -  - (Periwinkle); Vinca major, V. minor; partial shade to shade; several selections including: V.major 'Variegata', V. minor 'Bowles'

Carolina Jessamine - Gelsemium sempervirens; sun to partial shade; semi-evergreen

Clematis - Clematis spp.; sun to partial shade; deciduous to semi-evergreen; several species and
cultivars - most common is Sweet Autumn Clematis; keep roots cool, in shade, top in sun

Coral Honeysuckle - (Trumpet Honeysuckle); Lonicerasempervirens; sun to partial 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 quinquifo/ia; 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'

Barberry (dwarf varieties) - Berberis spp.; sun; deciduous to semi-evergreen; 'Crimson Pygmy',
'Kobold', B. buxifo/ia 'Nana'

Boxwood - Buxus microphylla; sun to partial shade; evergreen; 'Wintergreen', Japanese boxwood

Dwarf Gardenia - Gardenia jasrninoides 'Radicans'; sun to part shade, evergreen; occasional winter damage, best in protected location

Holly -llex spp; sun to shade; evergreen; several excellent species and cultivars:/, vornitoria 'Nana',
'Schillings' (dwarf yaupon holly); I. cornuta 'Rotunda' (dwarf Chinese holly); I. crenata
'Helleri', 'Compacta' (dwarf Japanese holly)

Junipers - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; J. procumbens (Japanese garden juniper); 'Blue Rug'

Indian Hawthorn - Raphiolepis indica; sun to part shade; evergreen; 'Enchantress', 'Pinkie',
'Clara' and other dwarf varieties

Mini or Dwarf Crepe Myrtles - Lagerstroemia indica (dwarf varieties); sun; deciduous

Nandina - Nandina domestica (dwarf varieties); sun to partial shade; evergreen; color is best in full
sun; 'Nana', 'Harbor Dwarf', 'Gulf Stream"

Spirea - Spirea spp; sun; deciduous; 'Anthony Waterer', 'Little Princes', 'Heather'

Abelia - (Glossy Abel/a); Abelia grand/flora; sun to partial shade; semi-evergreen; 'Compacta',
'Edward Goucher'

Aucuba (Gold Dust Aucuba); Aucuba japonica; shade; evergreen; 'Variegata' (Gold Dust),
'Picturata'

Azalea - Rhododendron spp.; morning sun to shade; semi-evergreen; many to choose from

Barberry - (Japanese Barberry); Berber/s thunbergii; sun; semi-evergreen; 'Atropurpurea', 'Rose
Glow'

Camellia - (Sasanqua); Camellia sasanqua; partial shade; evergreen; hundreds of varieties, 'Shishi
Gashira' is one of several low growers - ask your nurseryman for other varieties

Dwarf Crepe Myrtle - Lagerstroemia indica semi-dwarf varieties; sun; deciduous; range of sizes,
colors

Holly -llex cornuta; sun; evergreen; 'Dwarf Burford', 'Berries Jubilee', 'Dazzler'; other varieties can
be sheared to maintain height

Indian Hawthorn - Raphio/epis indica; sun to partial shade; evergreen; several cultivars

Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; 'Compact Pfitzer', 'Sea Green', other varieties

Nandina - Nandina domestica; sun to partial shade; evergreen

Abelia - (Glossy Abelia); Abelia grandiflora; sun to partial shade; semi-evergreen

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

Cleyera - Ternstroemia gyrnnanthera; sun to partial shade; evergreen

Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia spp; sun; deciduous; many varieties, look for newer hybrid,
intermediate sizes with powdery mildew resistance

Elaeagnus - Elaeagnus spp; sun to partial shade; evergreen; Elaeagnus 'Ebbingei', 'Fruitlandii'

Holly -llex spp; sun to shade; evergreen; 'Needle Point', 'Burford', 'Nellie R. Stevens',

Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; 'Blue Vase', 'Blue Point', 'Pfitzer', others

Ligustrum - (Waxleaf Ligustrum); Ligustrum japonicum; sun to partial shade; evergreen; overused
but reliable shrub for screens; don't confuse with Glossy Privet which grows into small tree

Photinia, Red Tip - (Fraser's Photinia); Photinia x fraseri; sun; evergreen; can be kept under 1 0 feet with pruning; susceptible to leaf spot disease which, if severe, can defoliate and weaken plant

Texas Sage -{Caniza); Leucophyllum frutescens; sun; evergreen; several cultivars

Cherry Laurel - Prunus caroliniana; sun to partial shade; evergreen; can grow into small tree

Crape Myrtle - Lagerstroemia spp; sun; deciduous; look for hybrid varieties with disease resistance

Holly -llex spp; sun; evergreen; 'Nellie R. Stevens', 'Foster's', 'Savannah', Yaupon,

Japanese Yew - Podocarpus macrophylla; sun to shade; evergreen

Juniper - Juniperus spp; sun; evergreen; many cultivars including 'Skyrocket', 'Blue Point',
'Hollywood'

Leyland Cypress - Cupressocyparis leylandii; sun; evergreen; can grow to medium-sized tree

Ligustrum - (Glossy Privet, Japanese Ligustrum); Ligustrurnlucidum; sun; evergreen; so not confuse with L. japonicurn (Waxleaf Ligustrum); can grow into small tree

Photinia, Chinese - Photinia serrulata; sun; evergreen; can grow into small tree

Photinia, Red Tip - (Fraser's Photinia); Photinia x fraseri; sun; evergreen; see note under medium
shrubs

Southern Wax Myrtle - Myrica cerifera; sun to partial shade; evergreen

Dogwood - Comus florida; partial sun to shade; white and pink varieties; acid soil; give protection
from full sun

Fringe Tree - (Grancy Greybeard); Chionanthus viginicus; partial shade; deciduous; acid soil; give protection from full sun

Holly -llex spp; sun to shade; Yaupon Holly, /. vomitoria (evergreen); Possum Haw or Deciduous
Holly, l. decidua (deciduous); only female plants bear fruit

Japanese Black Pine - Pinus thunbergiana; sun; evergreen

Japanese Maple - Acer palmatum; partial sun to shade; deciduous; many excellent cultivar
including 'Bloodgood', 'Crimson Queen'

Magnolia (deciduous types); Magnolia spp; sun to part shade; deciduous; Saucer or Tulip Magnolia  M. soulangiana; Star Magnolia, M. stellata; and M. hybrids.

Ornamental Pear - (Bradford Pear); Pyrus calleryana; sun; deciduous; improved varieties include
'Aristocrat', 'Capitol', 'Whitehouse' 

Redbud - Cercis canadensis; sun; deciduous; varieties include: 'Oklahoma'

Vitex - (Lavender Tree); Vitex agnus-castus; sun; deciduous

American Holly -llex opaca; sun to shade; evergreen; slow to moderate growth; only female plants
bear fruit

Chinese Pistache - Pistacha chinensis; sun; deciduous; reliable fall color

Crabapple - Malus spp; sun; deciduous; 20 to 25 feet; select disease resistant cultivars

Lacebark Elm - Ulmus parvifolia; sun to partial shade; deciduous; attractive bark

Golden Raintree - Koelreuteria paniculata; sun; deciduous; avoid Southern Golden Raintree (K.
bipinnata) which has more attractive seedpods but is less hardy

Leyland Cypress - Cupressocyparis leylandii; sun; evergreen; can grow to medium-sized tree

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

Maple, Red -Acer rubrum; sun; deciduous; beautiful fall color; 'Drummondii', 'Sunset',

Maple, other species - Acer barbatum (Texas Sugar Maple), A. grandidentatum (Bigtooth Maple), A. leucoderme (Chalk Maple); sun; deciduous

Ornamental Pear - (Bradford Pear:; Pyrus calleryan; sun; deciduous; improved varieties include:  "Aristocrat", "Capitol", "Whitehouse'>

Bald Cypress - Taxodium distichum; sun; deciduous

Blackgum - Nyssa sylvatica; sun; deciduous; fall color

Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba; sun; deciduous; slow growing, brilliant yellow fall color

Maple-Acer rubrum.; sun; deciduous; Red Maple most common, Trident Red Maple and Drummond; Red Maple frequently grown; A. barbatum - Southern Sugar Maple

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)

Pecan- Carya illinoensis; sun; deciduous

River Birch - Betula nigra; sun; deciduous

Southern Magnolia - Magnolia grandiflora; sun to partial shade; evergreen

Sweetgum - Liquidamber styraciflua; sun; deciduous; 'Rotundiloba' is a fruitless variety

Tulip Poplar- (Yellow Poplar); Liriodendron tuplipifera; sun; deciduous