Sun Shrubs in Texas

Small Flowering Shrubs

• Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) and “Snowmound” or “Snow Muffin” loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense “Snowmound” or “Snow Muffin”) thrive in full sun throughout most of Texas. Autumn sage is an evergreen shrub that is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9. It grows to a height of 3 to 4 feet and blooms from late spring to fall. The flowers may be coral, pink, purple, orange, red or white, depending on the cultivar. “Snowmound” is a loropetalum or Chinese fringe-flower hybrid that grows to a height of 1 to 3 feet. It is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10 and produces white flowers in late winter and spring. Both of these shrubs are extremely drought-tolerant after they become established in the landscape.

Medium Flowering Shrubs

• Bridal wreath spirea (Spiraea prunifolia) and Knock Out roses are medium shrubs that thrive in full sun throughout all but the most extreme southern areas of Texas. Bridal wreath spirea, also known as popcorn and shoe button spirea, is a deciduous shrub that grows to 6 feet tall and wide. Its foliage changes to orange, purple or red in the fall. In the spring before the foliage emerges, its stems are covered in small white flowers. It is hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9, although it may not thrive in USDA zone 9 due to the mild winter temperatures. Knock Out roses are deciduous shrubs that grow to a height and width of 3 to 4 feet. These hybrids are resistant to many of the foliar diseases that plague roses. They are drought-tolerant shrubs that are hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 and bloom from spring to fall. In zones 8b and 9 they will continue to bloom nearly year-round. “Radrazz” (Rosa “Radrazz”) blooms in red, “Radcon” (Rosa “Radcon”) blooms in pink and “Radsunny” (Rosa “Radsunny”) blooms in yellow.

Evergreen Shrubs

• Boxwoods (Buxus spp.) and eastern or southern red cedars (Juniperus virginiana) are evergreen shrubs that thrive in full sun throughout most of Texas. Littleleaf boxwoods (Buxus microphylla) and common boxwoods (Buxus sempervirens) are broadleaf evergreens while eastern red cedars are needle-leaved evergreens. Boxwood cultivars and hybrids range in size from 1½ to 20 feet. Littleleaf boxwoods are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 9 while common boxwoods are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 8. Eastern red cedar shrubs grow to a height of 30 to 65 feet but there are smaller cultivars and hybrids. “Grey Owl” (Juniperus virginiana “Grey Owl”) grows to only 2 to 3 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide, and is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 9.

Flowering Shrubs for Southern Texas

• Butterfly bushes (Buddleja davidii) and banana shrubs (Michelia figo syn. Magnolia figo and Michelia fuscata) thrive in sunny gardens in southern Texas. Butterfly bushes grow to a height of 6 to 12 feet and width of 4 to 15 feet, although there are smaller cultivars available. They are hardy in USDA zones 5 to 10 and bloom from spring to first frost. The small pink, purple, red or white flowers are produced in long clusters ranging from 6 to 24 inches long, depending on the cultivar. They are deciduous to semi-evergreen. Banana shrubs are broadleaf evergreens that grow to a height and width of 6 to 15 feet. They bloom from spring through summer producing light yellow flowers that smell like bananas. They are hardy in USDA zones 7 to 10 but may be damaged by USDA zone 7 winters.