North Texas Winter Resistant Plants

Trumpet Vine

• Native to eastern North America as far north as Ontario, Canada, trumpet vine -- also called trumpet creeper -- is more than capable of withstanding north Texas winters. The vine is also drought-tolerant and hardy enough for warm Texas summers, and is known for its showy orange-pink flowers, which bloom in spring. Trumpet vine is deciduous, shedding its leaves in fall. The vine can climb to 35 feet up walls, tree trunks, fences and other structures. It can sometimes be a bit too aggressive, so the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends planting it in an area where you can mow over its suckers to discourage overgrowth. Plant in full sun for best blooming.

Yaupon Holly

• Yaupon holly is alternately referred to as evergreen holly or Indian blackdrink, and is a versatile member of the holly family that will grow in conditions all over Texas. Though capable of reaching a height of 45 feet, this large shrub rarely exceeds 25 feet. It has glossy evergreen leaves and blooms in spring with small, inconspicuous flowers that turn into small red berries. You must have both a male and a female plant to produce berries, but they can be produced in ample quantities that are eaten by birds. It grows best with ample sunlight and moist, well-drained soil, but will also tolerate shade, draught and periods of low drainage.

Texas Red Oak

• Texas Red Oak is a small- to medium-sized tree that may be multitrunked and usually grows 15 to 30 feet, though it can reach 50 feet or more. It is hardy enough to survive winter conditions in north Texas, and also grows in areas of central Texas west to the Pecos River. It produces acorns, and its leaves are multilobed and turn bright shades of red and orange before falling off in autumn. A Texas native as its name suggests, the tree grows well in slightly alkaline or slightly acidic gravelly or sandy soils, and is very heat- and drought-tolerant.