Storm Shelter Landscaping Ideas

Trees

• Wind-resistant trees usually have wide-spreading, flexible branches and low centers of gravity, as well as a deep taproot. With their needlelike foliage, taproots and flexible limbs and trunks, several conifers are appropriate choices for storm shelters. Choices include the bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), pond cypress (T. ascendens) and pines (Pinus spp.). Other evergreens include the dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), inkberry (Ilex glabra), southern magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), sweetbay magnolia (M. virginiana) and yaupon holly (I. glabra). Wind-resistant deciduous trees include the American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana), hickories (Carya spp.), Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and river birch (Betula nigra).

Shrubs

• Wind-resistant shrubs generally have small, waxy or thick foliage or needlelike foliage that do not catch wind, according to the Colorado State University Extension. Evergreen species for windy landscapes include cypress shrubs (Chamaecyparis obtusa, pisifera and thyoides), escallonia (Escallonia rubra), French hybrid ceanothus (Ceanothus x delilianus), pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira) and pyracanthas (Pyracantha coccinea and koidzumii). Wind-resistant deciduous shrubs include crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia indica), New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus), redbud (Cercis chinensis) and sparkleberry (Vaccinium arboretum).

Vines

• Grow wind-resistant vines on shelter structures to hide unattractive walls or fencing. Species include cape honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis), Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens), golden pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum), Madagascar rubber vine (Cryptostegia madagascariensis), railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-capre subsp. Brasiliensis), star and yellow star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides and asiaticum), trumpet vine (Campsis radicans)

Ground Covers

• Ground covers grow low to the ground, helping to prevent erosion from wind. These tough plants form a dense mat of foliage and can grow right over the top of a completely buried shelter. Wind-resistant species include the aloe (Aloe spp.), asparagus fern (Asparagus setaceus), beach spurge (Chamaesyce degeneri), beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia), bearberry (Arcrostaphy los uva-uisi), cotoneasters (Cotoneaster adpressus, apiculatus, conspicuus, dammeri, horizontalis and salicifolius "Repens"), dwarf natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa), fig marigold (Glottiphyllum depressum), lippia (Phyla nodiflora), nehe (Lipochaeta integrifolia), pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum), purslane (Portulaca spp.), sea lavender (Argusia gnaphalodes), Sprenger asparagus fern (Asparagus densiflorus "Sprengeri"), wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata) and yellow portulaca (Portulaca lutea).