If you’re looking for some hardy shrubs that thrive in the North Texas climate, try some native sages and yews. Native sages bloom late in the spring through the summer and are best suited to a dry, sunny location. Nandina, also native to North Texas, is a rough-looking plant that can grow from a short 18″ to a 6′ display. Nandina has a red fall color, making it a perfect plant for an area that receives little rain. Yews, which are generally considered boring, come in upright and spreading forms and keep their vibrant green color all four seasons.
Bridal wreath spireas
The Bridal Wreath Spirea is an evergreen perennial with dense foliage that is densely covered in clusters of white flowers in early spring. Its dark green leaves are pointed with serrated edges and turn purple in the fall. This plant is a multistemmed, open shrub with a relatively fine texture and is suitable for gardens and containers. For best results, plant it at least 10 feet from other plants.
Despite their beautiful flowers and hardy nature, the spireas are highly prone to pests and disease. You can prune them to keep them looking fresh throughout the season. While you may be tempted to cut them down every year, a yearly pruning will ensure that they keep their shape for many years. And if you do not like their flowers, you can always grow them again with seasonal blooms for an extra display of beauty.
A spirea is a genus of over eighty woody shrubs that belong to the rose family. The genus is named after the Greek word speira, meaning “wreath.” This refers to the wreath-like appearance of the small, solitary flowers on the stem. Spireas have five petals and numerous stamens. They resemble miniature apple blossoms and have toothed margins.
Mahonia spp.
Mahonia spp. are hardy shrubs with a wide range of color and texture. Mahonia japonica ‘Bealei’ has elongated stems and flat, pointed leaves. Its spring blooms are a fragrant yellow with a light blue tinge, and the foliage turns burgundy in the fall. It is also a popular shrub in a fern-like texture.
Eve’s Necklace, also known as Texas Sophora, is a native shrub to the Texas Panhandle. It grows rapidly, reaching 15 to 25 feet tall and 20 feet wide at maturity. Its foliage has numerous leaflets, each of which is approximately an inch long. The leaves are deep green on top and paler below. The Mahonia spp. are hardy shrubs for north Texas that grow in well-drained soil.
One variety, ‘Soft Caress,’ is a low-growing evergreen with large yellow flowers. It’s perfect for small urban landscapes, and is 3 to 4 feet tall. Another variety, ‘Lenten Rose,’ is a low-growing perennial that likes cold climates. It produces berries that are edible. And all of these shrubs are suitable for north Texas gardens.
Nandina domestica
This versatile plant grows best in a larger container, such as a terracotta pot. The container should be at least 6 inches wider than the root ball and deep enough to accommodate the plant’s rootball. Planting Nandina in containers can be tricky, as it’s sensitive to overwatering. Aside from the container, it’s best to choose a terracotta pot with a drainage hole that matches the surrounding environment.
In general, Nandina should be planted in well-drained soil. Its root ball should be two to three inches above the level of the ground. Planting it in a poorly-drained soil can be tricky, so backfilling the hole with the soil mixture below will be necessary to keep the plant at the proper height. In addition, Nandina is more drought-tolerant than many other plants and will last for years with minimal care.
This native plant is a native of eastern Asia. The nandina shrub grows to between six and ten feet tall and three to five feet wide. Its dense, bushy growth features numerous, overlapping cane-like branches with alternate leaves. The leaves are bi-pinnately compound with pointed oval leaflets and are pinkish when young. The berries remain on the plant throughout the winter. The plant’s foliage emerges purple in spring and then changes to a soft green color. In fall, it produces terminal clusters of small white to pink flowers that bloom on the plant all winter long.
Gardenia spp.
In general, gardenias thrive in warm, humid climates. They require about 1 inch of water per week. However, they can suffer in dryness if they are exposed to too much sun. Heat and dryness are the main threats to Dallas gardenias. If you want to grow gardenias in North Texas, you should prepare the soil for the species.
Dwarf gardenias can be grown in containers or as a standalone plant. In these cases, they need a space about two feet in diameter. In order to prevent disease, the dwarf variety should be spaced two and a half feet apart. Standard gardenias need at least four to eight feet of above-ground space. In containers, they can spread just as much.
Mahonia spp. are small, evergreen shrubs with compact, glossy leaves. Despite their compact growth, they need a protected site from extreme cold. But they’re also attractive and useful for groundcovers. And for a full-blown tree, you can try Podocarpus macrophyllus. It grows slowly, but it will reach a height of about 20 feet and spread out six to eight feet wide after pruning.
Crape myrtle
For those new to gardening in north Texas, a few tips can make the planting process easier. Begin by reading the USDA plant hardiness zone map. This information will help you choose a shrub suited to your climate and soil. Once established, you can focus on the specifics of the particular plant. For example, if you live in the northern part of Texas, you might consider planting a Crape Myrtle.
The native sage, which grows best in sunny, dry areas, thrives in North Texas. It has vibrant flowers that bloom from late spring until frost. Nandina, which can grow to six feet, is also a hardy shrub and can offer red fall colors. Yews, which are often thought of as boring but are a great choice in our climate, can either grow in an upright or spread out. They retain a bright green color throughout the four seasons.
If you have shade, you might want to consider an evergreen. However, if you live in a dry area where winters are particularly harsh, you might want to consider a shrub that has no leaves. The moderate climate of north Texas is perfect for many shrub species. You can find a large variety of species here and enjoy planting in your yard. If you’re looking for privacy, consider planting crape myrtle or a crabapple tree. If you don’t want to use the shade of a tree, you can prune it to a point where you can still mow underneath it. The latter, however, isn’t the best option.
New Gold Lantana
The New Gold Lantana is a popular variety that blooms from early summer to late fall. The small berries are edible when they mature and the stems are incredibly thin and tough. This plant produces numerous berries that can be used for crafts or wickerwork. This shrub also tolerates drought and heat well. Its name, Lantana, is derived from the genus Viburnum, which is native to the Americas.
New Gold Lantana is an attractive shrub that can be grown from cuttings. For this, remove all of the lower leaves from the plant and coat the cut with rooting growth hormone. Next, plant the cuttings in a pot or in your favorite seed starting soil. Keep the soil moist and weed-free until the roots form and then transplant them outside. They will grow well in a sunny spot.
New Gold Lantana is a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover shrub. Its golden flowers attract bees and butterflies, and it makes a beautiful garden edging. It prefers full to partial sun and well-drained soil. The plants do not tolerate cold well, so they’re a great choice for any north Texas garden.
Arizona cypress
Native to the southwestern United States, the Arizona cypress is a beautiful, evergreen tree that will add a rustic touch to any landscape. Its small, scale-like leaves are 0.1 inches long and have a reddish brown bark. The woody cones grow in two-year cycles, and are spherical in shape. The Arizone cypress produces a pleasing fragrance, and it grows to a moderate size, reaching 40-50 feet in diameter.
There are approximately 30 cultivars of Arizona cypress, which are grouped under the specific species name Cupressus arizonica. Carolina Sapphire is the most commercially important variety, and was registered as an ornamental tree by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1987. Other popular cultivars include ‘New Zealand’ and ‘Christmas tree’ varieties, which have different hardiness ratings.
Although the Arizona cypress is a drought-tolerant tree, it requires at least 10 inches of water each year. It’s best planted in full sunlight and irrigated frequently during dry periods until natural rainfall occurs. To avoid damage from cypress bark beetles, be sure to inspect your trees every few months. If you notice any signs of damage or pests, use pruning shears to remove them.
