Landscape Plants for the Texas Coast

Common name	Scientific name	Hardiness	Light	Zone	Notes
Landscape Plants for the Texas Coast Keith Hansen Texas Cooperative Extension Revised 19 January 2006 Key to Abbreviations Plant Hardiness: U=Upper Coast, M=Middle Coast, L=Lower Coast, All=All areas Light: S=Sun, Sh=Shade, E=Either Salt Exposure Zone: 1=Areas directly affected by wind & salt spray; 2=Areas with some protection
Groundcovers
Asparagus, Sprengeri fern	Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'	L,M	S	1	Root hardy
Algerian Ivy	Hedera canariensis	All	Sh	1	Needs shade & some wind protection
Goats-foot Morning Glory	Ipomea pes-caprae	All	S	1	Native, excellent dune stabilizer
Trailing Lantana	Lantana montevidensis	All	S	1	Attractive purple flowers, root hardy
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	All	E	1	Clings to walls, fall color, winter berries
Stone Crop	Sedum acre	All	S	1	Other species such as S. potosinum also good
Asiatic Jasmine	Trachelospermum asiaticum	L,M	E	1	Low evergreen groundcover
Confederate Jasmine	Trachelospermum jasminoides	L,M	E	1	Fragrant, white spring flowers, evergreen
Wedelia	Wedelia trilobata	L,M	S	1	Perennial with yellow flowers, mowable
Shore, Blue Pacific Juniper	Juniperus conferta	All	S	2	Needs good drainage
Lily Turf, Liriope	Liriope spicata, L. muscari	All	Sh	2	Needs shade and some wind protection
Japanese , Purpleleaf Honeysuckle	Lonicera japonica	All	S	2	Easily grown but can be aggressive
Mondo or Monkey Grass	Ophiopogon japonicus	All	Sh	2	Needs some shade
Vines
Virginia Creeper	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	All	E	1	Clings to walls, fall color, winter berries
Cape Honeysuckle	Tecomaria capensis	L,M	S	1	Bright orange flowers attracts hummingbirds
Bougainvillea	Bougainvillea spectabilis	L,M	S	2	Top may freeze, many colors
Trumpet Vine	Campsis radicans	All	E	2	Spring & summer orange blooms, rampant growth
English Ivy	Hedera helix	All	Sh	2	Needs shade
Coral Vine	Antigonon leptopus	All	S	2	Pink summer bloom, root hardy
Fig Ivy, Creeping Fig	Ficus pumila	All	E	2	Clings to walls
Carolina Jessamine	Gelsemium sempervirens	All	E	2	Yellow spring flowers
Perennials
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	All	E		Attractive foliage and flowers
Burn Aloe	Aloe vera	L	S	1	Ointment for burns
Shell Ginger	Alpinia nutans	All	S	2
Hinkley's Columbine	Aquilegia hinkleyana	All	Sh		Yellow spring flowers, blue-gray foliage
Southernwood	Artemesia abrotanum	All	S		Green, feathery foliage
Butterfly Weed	Asclepias tuberosa	All	S		Summer yellow/red flowers
Autumn Aster	Aster oblongifolius	All	S		Lavender fall flowers
Canna	Canna X generalis	All	S		Herbaceous,leafy perennial; red, pink and yellow summer bloom
Pride of Barbados	Caesalpinia pulcherrima	All	S	2	Exotic flowering effect
Shasta Daisy	Chrysanthemum maximum	All	S		White spring flowers
Garden Mum	Chrysanthemum morifolium	All	S		Several colors of fall flowers
Baby Sun Coreopsis	Coreopsis grandiflora	All	S		Yellow/orange summer flowers
Milk & Wine Lilies	Crinum hybrids	All	S		Recurring bloom of pink, white, red flowers from clump of large strap leaves; excellent on coast
Montbretia	Crocosmia Potsii	All	S		Gladiolus relative; orange-red early summer
Mexican Heather	Cuphea hyssopifolia	All	S	2	Fine textured, blue flowering mound
Cigar Plant	Cuphea micropetala	All	S		Red/yellow flowers late summer & fall
Sky Flower	Duranta erecta	All	S	2
Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	All	S		Purple flowers spring through fall
Coral Tree	Erythrina crista-galli	All	S	2
Perennial Ageratum	Eupatorium coelestinum	All	S		Lavender-blue flowers summer - fall
Indian Blanket	Gaillardia spp.	All	S		Red-yellow blend spring-fall
Gerbera	Gerbera spp.	All	E		Needs good soil preparation, protection from afternoon sun & wind; many colors spring -fall
Baby Gladiolus	Gladiolus Byzintinus	All	S		Purple or white spring flowers
Firebush	Hamelia patens	All	S		Very heat tolerant; red flowers summer - fall
Barbados Cherry	Malpighia glabra	All	S	2
Maximilian Sunflower	Helianthus maximiliana	All	S		Yellow flowers late summer - fall
Daylily	Hemerocallis	All	S		Many colors of flowers spring - summer
Spring Star Flower	Ipheion uniflorum	All	S		Blue spring flowers
Louisiana Iris	Iris hybrids	All	S		Rich soil, fall - spring moisture required; several colors of spring flowers
Night blooming Jasmine	Jasminum nocturnum	All	S	2
Shrimp Plant	Justicia brandegeana	All	E		Yellow or reddish - brown flowers summer - fall
Trailing Lantana	Lantana montevidensis	All	S		Purple flowers spring - fall
Lantana	Lantana spp.	All	S		Heat and drought tolerant; many colors of flowers spring - fall, attracts butterflies
Red Spider Lily	Lycoris radiata	All	S		Red, white or yellow flowers in fall
Turk's Cap	Malvaviscus arboreus, M. a. var. Drummondii	All	E		Red flowers summer - fall attracts hummingbirds;
Peppermint	Mentha piperita	All	Sh		Rich soil and plenty of moisture required
Narcissus	Narcissus spp.	All	S		Small flowered varieties naturalize the best
Oxalis	Oxalis crassipes	All	S		Pink spring - summer flowers
Rock Rose	Pavonia lasiopetala	All	S		Drought resistant; pink spring - fall flowers
Perennial Phlox	Phlox paniculata	All	S		Lavender, pink or white summer flowers
Obedient Plant	Physostegia virginiana	All	S		Lavender or white summer & fall flowers
Blue Plumbago	Plumbago auriculata	All	E		Blue flowers summer - fall
Oxblood Lily	Rhodophiala bifida	All	S		Dark red flowers in early fall
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	L,M	S		Aromatic foliage, blue flowers summer - fall
Mexican Petunia	Ruellia Brittoniana	All	S		Very drought tolerant; blue-purple flowers spring - fall; invasive
Blue Shade	Ruellia sp.	All	E		Drought tolerant groundcover with blue flowers
Firecracker plant	Russelia equisetiformis	All	S	2
Mealy Cup Sage	Salvia farinacea	All	S		Drought tolerant; blue or white flowers spring-fall; 'Victoria' dwarf form
Autumn or Cherry Sage	Salvia Greggii	All	S		Drought tolerant; white, red or pink flowers spring - fall
Santolina, Lavender Cotton	Santolina sp.	All	S		Drought tolerant; needs good drainage
Purple Heart	Setcreasea pallida	All	S		Drought & heat tolerant source of purple foliage
Mexican Marigold Mint, Yerba Anise	Tagetes lucida	All	S		Yellow flowers fall, aromatic foliage
Common Thyme	Thyme vulgaris	All	S		Evergreen, spreading aromatic herb
Verbena, Sand Verbena	Verbena spp.	All	S		Heat tolerant, spreading plant with range of colors spring - fall
Rain Lily	Zephranthes spp.	All	S		Summer blooming bulbs of white and pink.

Small Shrubs (1 to 5 feet tall)
Natal Plum	Carissa grandiflora	All	S	1
Century Plant	Agave americana	All	S	1	Drought tolerant, good as specimen
Pampass Grass	Cortaderia selloana	All	S	1	Easily grown 5' - 7' tall
Prickly Pear	Opuntia spp.	All	S	1	Spineless forms most useful
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	L,M	S	1	Prostrate & upright forms, can freeze
Yucca (many varieties)	Yucca spp.	All	S	1	Extremely tough, heat, drought & salt tolerant
Abelia	Abelia grandiflora	All	E	2	Bronze evergreen foliage, white flowers
Agarito	Berberis trifoliolata	All	E	2	Spiny leaves, yellow flowers, red fruit
American Beautyberry	Callicarpa americana	All	E	2	Clusters of purple fruit, attracts birds, best in shade
Sago Palm	Cycas revoluta	L,M	E	2	Slow growing, good as specimen
Coralbean	Erythrina herbacea	L,M	E	2	Attractive spikes of red flowers; perennial upper coast
Fatsia	Fatsia japonica	All	Sh	2	Needs shade, wind protection
Red Yucca	Hesperaloe parvifolia	All	E	2	Red flowers on tall spikes
St. John's Wort, Hypericum	Hypericum spp.	All	E	2	Needs some shade, wind protection
Dwarf Yaupon Holly	Ilex vomitoria 'Nana', 'Stokes Dwarf'	All	E	2	Glossy evergreen foliage
Juniper, many varieties	Juniperus chinensis cvs.	All	S	2	Several forms of tough evergreen shrubs
Oleander	Nerium oleander	L,M	S	2	Drought tolerant summer bloomer, can be used in Zone 1
Indian Hawthorne	Raphiolepis indica	All	E	2	Spring flowering, blue berries in fall, evergreen
Medium Shrubs (6 to 9 feet tall)
Bottlebrush	Callistemon citrinus	All	S	2	Interesting brush-like flowers
Elaeagnus	Elaeagnus pungens	All	S	1	Grey-leaved shrub; small, fragrant flowers
Texas Sage	Leucophyllum frutescens	All	S	2
Wax Myrtle	Myrica cerifera	All	S	1	Native to Texas coast
Pittosporum	Pittosporum tobira	L	E	1	Glossy foliage, fragrant flowers
Bamboo		All	S	2	Clumping types less aggressive
Bird of Paradise Bush	Caesalpinia gilliesii	All	S	2	Attractive summer red and yellow flowers
Hollywood Twisted Juniper	Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa', 'Hollywood'	All	S	2	Large, upright evergreen shrub with unsymmetrical growth
Ligustrum, Glossy Privet	Ligustrum lucidum	All	E	2	Large evergreen shrub or small tree
Waxleaf Ligustrum	Ligustrum japonicum	All	E	2	Large evergreen shrub
Oleander	Nerium oleander	L,M	S	2	Drought tolerant summer bloomer, can be used in Zone 1
Texas Sage, Cenico	Leucophyllum spp.	All	S	2	Needs good drainage
Arborvitae	Thuja spp.	All	S	2	Symmetrical evergreen shrub
Common Myrtle	Myrtus communis	All	S	2	Small leaves, evergreen
Sandankwa Viburnum	Viburnum suspensum	All	E	2
Large Shrubs (greater than 10 feet)
Feijoa or Pineapple Guava	Feijoa sellowiana	All	S	2	Large shrub or small tree
Common Fig	Ficus carica	All	S	2	Edible fruit
Yaupon Holly	Ilex vomitoria	All	E	2	Large shrub or small tree, glossy evergreen foliage, fall red berries
Oleander	Nerium oleander	L,M	S	2	Drought tolerant summer bloomer, can be used in Zone 1
Japanese Yew	Podocarpus macrophylla	All	E	2	Large, upright evergreen shrub
Arborvitae	Thuja spp.	All	S	2	Symmetrical evergreen shrub
Sweet Viburnum	Viburnum odoratissimum	All	E	2

Small Trees
Chinaberry, Texas Umbrella	Melia azedarach	All	S	1	Brittle wood yet grows well on barrier islands
Huisache	Acacia farnesiana	All	S	2	Yellow spring bloom, thorny
Texas Persimmon	Diospyros texana	All	S	2	Handsome trunks, black fruit on female -good wildlife food
Southern Golden Raintree	Koelreuteria bipennata	L,M	S	2	Fast growth, handsome fall seed pods
Mulberry	Morus alba	All	S	2	Fast growth, invasive roots
Mesquite	Prosopis glandulosa	All	S	2	Light green, lacy look; takes wind well
Lavender Chaste Tree, Vitex	Vitex agnus-castus	All	S	2	Small tree, lavender bloom in spring
Camphor Tree	Cinnamonum camphora	L,M	S	2	Evergreen
Citrus	Citrus spp.	L	S	2	Cold hardiness varies among types; some types may grown on the upper and middle coast (eg. mandarins, tangelos & kumquats)
Loquat	Eriobotrya japonica	All	S	2	Large leaves, edible fruit
Retama	Parkinsonia aculeata	All	S	2	Makes light shade; yellow flowers
Japanese Black Pine	Pinus thunbergia	All	S	2	Evergreen, interesting form
Large Trees
Australian Pine	Causarina stricta	L	S	1	Freezes mid - 20's
Tamarisk, Salt Cedar	Tamarix spp.	L,M	S	1	Freezes upper teens
Deodar Cedar	Cedrus deodar	All	S	2	Pyramidal form
Arizona Cypress	Cupressus glabra	All	S	2	Evergreen, useful for windbreaks
Live Oak	Quercus virginiana	All	S	2	Evergreen, spreading tree
Eucalyptus	Eucalyptus spp.	L	S	2	May freeze, select most hardy spp., eg. E. rostrata, calmaludensis, microtheca
Cottonwood	Populus deltoides	All	S	2	Fast but weak growth; takes wind
Bald Cypress, Montezuma Cypress	Taxodium distichum, T. mucronatum	All	S	2	Deciduous conifer (T. mucronatum tends to stay evergreen L,M); long-lived
Palms
Palmetto Palm	Sabal minor	All	E	1	Very short, hardy fan palm
Texas Palmetto	Sabal texana	All	S	1	Hardy, very cold tolerant fan palm; slow growing
Cabbage or Florida Palmetto	Sabal palmetto	All	S	1	Hardy, very cold tolerant; slow growing, long-lived fan palm
Washington Fan Palm	Washingtonia filifera & hybrids	L,M	S	1	Fan palm, may freeze; hardier than W. robusta
Pindo Palm	Butia capitata	All	S	2	Slow growing, hardy feather palm
European Fan Palm	Chamaerops humilis	L,M	S	2	Hardy, low, clustering fan palm
Phoenix or Canary Island Date Palm	Phoenix canariensis	L,M	S	2	Large, slow growing feather palm; may freeze in M
Grasses for Lawn and Turf
Buffalograss	Buchloe dactyloides	L,M	S		Does best on clay or loamy soil in areas with low rainfall, most drought tolerant
Bermuda grass	Cynodon dactylon	All	S		Common on coast
St. Augustine grass	Stenotaphrum secundatum	All	E		Requires most water to maintain
Zoysia grass	Zoysia japonica	All	E		Slow spreading
Seashore Paspalum, Adalayd	Paspalum vaginatum	All	S		High tolerance to salt
Native and Ornamental Grasses for Rough Areas
Sea Coast Blue Stem	Andropogon scoparius	All	S	1
Salt Grass	Distichlis spicata	All	S	1
Lindheimer's Muhly Grass	Muhlenbergia Lindheimeri	All	S	2
Sand Knotgrass	Paspalum distichum	All	S	1
Fountain Grass	Pennisetum setaceum	All	S	2	Several cultivars including Purple Fountain Grass
Giant Seaoats	Uniola paniculata	All	S	1	Valuable native, soil/dune stabilizer; ornamental seed heads