When planning your Houston landscaping project, you must consider the unique conditions of the area. Houston is a hot spot for diversity and natural beauty, but temperatures can get cold during the winter months. Clay-based soil can be difficult to drain, so plants with high-temperature tolerance are essential. If you live in Houston, be sure to educate yourself about the local biomes to help you choose the best plants for the climate. Learn about the unique conditions and challenges of your area to make your garden the envy of your neighborhood.
Succulents
Succulents are an excellent choice for Houston landscaping. These plants grow well in our mild winters and common drought conditions. You can easily grow a variety of succulents from cuttings. Listed below are some of the most popular varieties. Learn more about these plants below! You can choose from dozens of varieties. Succulents have unique textures, shapes, and colors. Some look like plants for elves or from Dr. Seuss books.
Succulents are perfect for southwestern landscaping, especially in Houston. There are varieties that can live outdoors but you’ll want to find a location that doesn’t overheat the soil. A succulent with medicinal value is Aloe Vera, which is both easy to grow and low-maintenance. The leaves have antibacterial and antioxidant properties. They are also good plants for clay soil.
Succulents are light feeders and require little maintenance. Feed them a half-strength liquid fertilizer about once a week. If you have a watering problem, wait a week or two and then water thoroughly. Watering the succulents every few days will keep it from developing leaf spots or fungal disease. In addition, you can increase your succulent collection by propagating them! You can use an artificial propagation method, wherein you cut off the leaf of a succulent and plant it in a rooting chamber. After a week or two, the new succulents will form roots and grow up.
To grow succulents, remember to mix the soil in pots with gravel, sand, and perlite to create a well-drained mix. You can also plant them individually. For a more uniform planting pattern, plant the dominant succulent among smaller ground cover and draping plants. Strawberry pots are perfect containers for succulents. Remember to turn the pots frequently to ensure even growth. You can mix succulents in a terrarium, dish garden, or miniature garden.
The Aspidistra elatior, also known as the “cast-iron plant,” grows in shade and adds texture with its broad green leaves. If you prune the plant in late winter, it will sprout new growth in the spring. This plant produces long tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds to its garden. In addition to providing color and texture, this plant also has a drought-tolerant habit.
Native plants
Choosing native plants for your Houston landscape is a smart idea for a variety of reasons. Native plants have a diverse range of local climates and can be perfect additions to any landscape. They require less water and pesticides than non-native plants and benefit the local ecosystem. Among the most popular native plants for landscaping in Texas is the bald cypress, which has spreading branches and a tapered trunk. The leaves of the bald cypress are bright orange during the fall season.
Flame acacia is another plant you might consider adding to your Houston landscaping. This deciduous plant has tiny violet berries during the summer and is pest-free once established. Although it doesn’t flower, it can produce attractive berries during the winter. It needs full sun, but can tolerate partial shade, provided you water it frequently. It also requires a male plant nearby to bear fruit. In addition to being a beautiful native tree, this plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Choosing native plants for your Houston landscaping should be a top priority if you want a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing garden that attracts pollinators. Not only will native plants enhance the look of your Houston landscaping, but they also require less water than non-native ones. In addition to the beauty and natural beauty of your landscaping, choosing native plants can be beneficial for the ecosystem and environment, and will also save you money in the long run.
If you want to learn more about native plants for your Houston landscape, visit the NPSOT Houston Chapter and sign up for its Native Landscaping Certification Program. This program consists of a manual with information on nine native plants and 45 native plants. The book also has growing tips for 45 more. It’s an excellent reference book if you’re interested in planting native plants in your yard. You’ll be glad you did!
Firebush is another native plant for Houston landscaping. Its flowers are the favorite of hummingbirds, which means your Houston landscaping project will be a success! Plant firebush in full sun so that it can get plenty of sunlight. It can reach up to 6-8 feet in height, but regular pruning can keep it modest. Regardless of size, be sure to plant it in a location that provides good drainage.
Evergreens
There are many different types of evergreens that you can choose for your Houston landscaping project. Evergreens have an evergreen character and are bulletproof. They are also popular and prolific, but they are very boring to look at. You can plant new trees and shrubs in winter, when many plants are dormant. Even if you don’t have time to plant new plants during the cold winter months, you can add some interest to your landscaping with hardscaping.
The Carolina Cherry is a popular choice for many homeowners because of its low maintenance, natural upright conical shape, and a wide variety of characteristics. It can withstand drought and heat and is suitable for Houston landscaping. It can be sheared into a tall screen or sound barrier for privacy, and has glossy leaves. Depending on how tall you’d like your tree to grow, you can even choose different varieties. Some varieties even reach 60 feet!
Japanese boxwood is an evergreen shrub that makes a perfect hedge or border. You can plant them in pairs to balance the entryway of your home. They grow well in heavy clay soil and have a fragrant white flower that resembles a gardenia flower. Japanese boxwood can be pruned into large containers for landscaping. In addition to making great hedges, it grows well in pots. There are a wide variety of evergreen plants to choose from in Houston.
For shade, try river birches. These are tolerant of drought and stand up to standing water, and they reach 40 feet or more in height. River birches can be used in Houston landscaping because they don’t take up as much space as most shade trees. They can also be pruned and will still grow into a beautiful shade tree. If you have a limited space, try planting cherry laurel trees. Since they don’t have deep roots, they are great for small landscapes.
Perennials
If you are planning to install a garden or a perennial bed, consider the climate and soil in Houston, Texas. The city receives an average of 3.2 inches of rain per month, except for the coldest months. Houston is not particularly wet, so most plants will thrive well. In addition, the soil is clay, which makes drainage difficult. This climate will require some careful planning and consideration when choosing the right perennials for your landscaping needs.
To add height and depth to your front yard, consider planting shrubs that grow between two and three feet. Texas annual sage is easy to grow, doesn’t attract deer, and grows between two and three feet tall. Perennials like this are drought-tolerant and do well throughout the year. Their deep roots also help protect the soil from erosion. Using a mixture of perennials in your landscaping plan is an excellent way to make it look appealing and unique.
For a shady, sunny area, you can choose drought-tolerant plants. Evergreens, such as cherry laurel, English ivy, and Japanese Honeysuckle, require little water and thrive in indirect bright light. In addition to these, some perennials have low maintenance requirements and are suited for windowsills. Alternatively, you could choose a flowering plant that blooms all year round.
Another plant that will attract butterflies is the lantana. This drought-tolerant plant can thrive in a shaded area and attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard. In Houston, it can grow up to three feet tall and is suitable for partial shade as well as full sun. This perennial is highly effective for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds to the yard. If you choose a lantana, make sure you choose the variety that will be most effective for your landscaping needs.
If you are looking for easy-care perennials, look no further than the Shasta Daisies. These blooms last throughout summer and will reseed in the fall. They are deer-resistant, and don’t require much care. A perennial geranium is a great choice for a border. It blooms for months in late summer, and is also good in containers. Besides being deer-resistant, it attracts butterflies.
