Landscape Plants for Houston, Texas

Shumard Oak

• The deciduous Shumard oak (Quercis shumardii) has an even pyramidal shape when young that opens up to a broad spreading crown as it matures. Growth rate is fast for an oak tree, and the leaves turn brilliant red in the fall. It reaches up to 100 feet tall and spreads 40 feet wide under ideal conditions. The Shumard oak is widely planted in urban landscapes because the root system grows down rather than out, so it does not affect pavement and sidewalks.

Yaupon Holly

• The yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) is an evergreen shrub growing to 15 feet and spreading to 10 feet when mature. It is a widely planted shrub because of the many different ways it is used in Houston landscapes. It can be drastically pruned to create a dense hedge, planted in groups to form a border, trained into a small tree or allowed to grow into its natural form. It thrives in the Houston, Texas, soil and climate. The female yaupon holly produces red berries in late summer and fall.

Chaste Tree

• The chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is a large deciduous shrub often trained into a tree shape with a single trunk. It is used as a specimen plant or planted as a border. Growing to 15 feet and spreading to 10 feet when mature, the chaste tree needs plenty of room. However, it can be pruned back several times a year after each bloom period to retain a desired shape and encourage more blooms. The purple flowers are borne on 6- to 8-inch spikes in spring. Blooms are produced on new wood that grows during the spring and summer.

Mexican Plum

• Mexican plum (Prunus mexicana) is a small deciduous tree growing to 15 feet tall and 5 feet wide. It produces fragrant white blossoms in the spring followed by small plums that are attractive to wildlife. The Mexican plum is a low-maintenance plant that survives the heat and high humidity levels of a Houston summer. It is widely used in commercial landscapes and highway medians because of its dependability and attractive shape.

Asiatic Jasmine

• Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is a widely planted evergreen ground cover in Houston, Texas. It is low maintenance and is tolerant of sun or shade. The 1/2-inch leaves are rounded and dark green, russet and burgundy and form a thick mat that crowds out weeds. It is one of the few ground covers that will live under the dense shade of the evergreen live oak tree.

Pineapple Guava

• The evergreen pineapple guava (Feijoa sellowiana) is a multi-branched shrub that grows to 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It has silvery-green leaves and is not bothered by insects and disease in the Houston area. The pineapple guava can be trained into a small tree or pruned to a hedge, but looks best when allowed to grow into an attractive specimen plant. During the spring and early summer, the pineapple guava produces unusual white and red flowers followed by a green egg-shaped fruit.