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Medium to Large Shrubs The selection and placement of these shrubs in the landscape will depend on their ultimate size and upon the plant's use in the landscape. For example, a shrub for screening should be 5 to 6 feet high and evergreen to provide a year-round screen; whereas, a medium sized shrub of 3 to 4 feet may be selected as a base planting to flank a bare wall of the home.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Size (height x width) | Culture | Features | Problems |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abelia | Abelia grandiflora | 4-5 ft. x 3-4 ft. | sun or semi-shade | -fast growing evergreen -pale pink to white, small tubular blooms May-0ctober -glossy green foliage -makes compact shrub when pruned | -straggly looking if unpruned |
| Althea, Rose of Sharon | Hibiscus syriacus | 6-8 ft. x 4-5 ft. | -sun or semi-shade -prefers alkaline soil -some moisture | -fast growing deciduous shrub -white, pink, lavender to rose, single or double bloom in late spring and summer -well-pruned hedge if maintained at 4-5 ft. | -gets scale insect |
| Indian Azalea | Azalea indica | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun or shade -loose, well-drained acid soil -mulch to preserve moisture | -medium-fast growing evergreen -pink, rosy purple, salmon, white or orange blooms in late Feb. and March -"Formosa"-most hardy; "Pride of Mobile"-more spreading | -gets flower and leaf blight and scale -slight freeze damage |
| Bamboo | Bambusa | 6-8 ft. | -sun or shade -likes moisture | -fast growing, dense evergreen | -often killed back by cold to return in spring -objectionable root system -must be controlled because of root runners |
| Barberry | Berberis Thunbergi | 4-5 ft. x 4-5 ft. | -sun -good drainage | -medium growing semi-evergreen -fine textured low, compact hedge -"Atropurpureum"-purple variety | . |
| Bottle Brush | Callistemon rigidus | 4-5 ft. x 4-5 ft. | -sun -needs little pruning | -slow growing evergreen -spikes or bright orange and red flowers in March and scattered throughout summer -"Lancelate"-tall variety | -damaged by severe cold, but comes back |
| Cherry Laurel | Prunus caroliniana | 25-30 ft. x 18-20 ft. | -easy | -fast growing evergreen -long clusters of small white flowers in early spring -makes excellent tall, narrow hedge -may be pruned severely | . |
| Cleyera | Cleyera Japonica | 5-7 ft. x 2 ft. | -sun or shade | -medium growing evergreen -small white fragrant blooms in late spring-summer -waxy, purple-cast foliage -sparse shrub good for narrow, upright plantings | . |
| Eleagnus, Russian Olive | Eleagnus augustifolia | 8-10 ft. x 8-10 ft. | -sun or shade -requires room to grow -more attractive when well pruned | -medium-slow growing evergreen -small, fragrant silver white flowers in axis of leaf in April-May -may be used on a bank or incline -graceful, hanging character | . |
| Chinese Eleagnus | Eleagnus Pungens | 15 ft. x 15 ft. | -sun or shade -easy culture -more attractive when kept well pruned | -fast growing evergreen -small, fragrant white flowers in summer -leaves edged with yellow and white | . |
| Euonymus | Euonymus japonicus | 6-8 ft. x 2 ft. | -easy culture | -fast growing evergreen -variegated varieties with yellow or white markings -good for tall, upright, narrow planting | -gets scale insects |
| Flowering Pomegranate | Punica granatum | 12-15 ft. x 12-15 ft. | -prefers sun -ample growing room | -medium-slow growing semi-evergreen -bright orange flowers with fleshy petioles -very showy in late spring and early summer -shiny green, rather sparse foliage -attractive copper new foliage in spring | . |
| Cape Jasmine Gardenia | Gardenia jasminoides | 5-7 ft. x 5-7 ft. | -sun or shade -acid soil -needs mulch | -medium-fast growing evergreen -very fragrant, white waxy flowers May-June and scattered throughout summer | -gets scale, white fly and sooty mold -some winter damage during severe cold |
| Burford Holly | Ilex cornuta "Burfordii" | 10-15 ft. x 8-10 ft. | -sun or shade -acid soil | -medium growing evergreen -large red berries fall-winter -sexes are separate-males have no berries | . |
| Japanese Quince | Chaenomeles lagenaria | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun or shade (best in sun) | -fast growing deciduous shrub -red, white, pink, orange blooms in early spring (Feb.) -blooms appear before foliage -careful and select pruning needed | . |
| Japanese Yew | Podocarpus macrophylla maki | 10-12 ft. x 2-3 ft. | -sun or shade -prunes to a neat dense shrub | -slow growing evergreen -purple-gray fruit in late summer and fall -good for narrow upright plantings -"nagi"-erect and formal; "elongata"-flopping, weeping foliage and character | . |
| Pfitzer's Juniper | Juniperus chinensis pfitzeriana | 4-5 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -prefers sun -good drainage | -medium-fast growing evergreen -horizontal growth | -gets red spider and bagworm insects |
| Common Juniper | Juniperus communis | 3 ft. x 6 ft. | -sun -good drainage | -medium-slow growing evergreen -use for low hedge | -gets red spider and bagworm |
| Sylvesia Juniper | Juniperus sylvestris | 15-20 ft. x 5 ft. | -needs sun -good drainage | -medium-slow growing evergreen -good for tall dense hedge | -gets bagworm, red spider and rust disease |
| Blue Vase Juniper | Juniperus chinensis "Blue Vase | 12-15 ft. x 8-10 ft. | -sun -good drainage | -fast growing evergeen -good tall dense hedge | -gets red spider and bagworms |
| Primrose Jasmine | Jasminum primulinum | 6-8 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -prefers sun | -fast growing evergreen -fragrant, yellow flowers in late spring and through summer -makes a large rounded mound -good for ditch banks | . |
| Ligustrum | Ligustrum japonicum | 15 ft. x 15 ft. | -sun or shade | -fast growing evergreen -fragrant, creamy white flower clusters in April-May | -takes severe and continual pruning due to fast growth -gets white fly insects and scale |
| Mock Orange | Philadelphus coronarius | 8-10 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -prefers sun | -medium-fast growing deciduous shrub -white, 4 petal flowers with yellow center on long stems in April-May -prunes readily | -pruning destroys natural form and causes more vigorous growth |
| Nandina | Nandina domestica | 4-5 ft. | -sun or shade -easy culture | -medium-slow growing evergreen -white flower clusters in mid-late spring -red berries in fall and winter -good plant for a low hedge for a narrow planting space | . |
| Oleander | Nerium oleander | 10-15 ft. x 10-15 ft. | -sun or shade -will take salt conditions | -very fast growing evergreen -white, lavender, pink, yellow, salmon and red flower clusters in April-May and scattered in summer and fall | -poisonous -severe winter will kill to ground to return in spring |
| Redleaf Photinia | Photinia glabra | 12-15 ft. x 9 ft. | -must have sun | -medium-fast growing evergreen -white flower clusters in March-April -bright red-wine new growth when pruned | -susceptible to fireblight |
| Photinia | Photinia serrulata | 10-12 ft. x 10-12 ft. | -best in sun | -medium-slow growing evergreen -white flower clusters in spring -red berries in fall-winter -dense, large leafed hedge | -susceptible to fireblight |
| Pittosporum | Pittosporum tobira | 10-12 ft. x 15-18 ft. | -easy culture -readily pruned | -fast growing evergreen -fragrant, cream white flowers in late spring -variegated green/white variety -may be pruned to form a medium sized shrub | -must have ample room for growth |
| Pineapple Guava, Feijoa | Feijoa sellowiana | 10-12 ft. x 10-12 ft. | -sun to partial shade -will grow in dry conditions -must have good drainage -easily pruned to form compact planting | -medium-fast growing evergreen -white with purple and red flower cluster in summer -attractive gray-green foliage | . |
| Pyracantha, Firethorn | Pyracantha unnamemisis | 10-12 ft. x 15+ ft. | -sun or shade -must have ample growing room -readily pruned | -fast growing evergreen -white flower clusters in April -red or orange berries in fall and winter | -thorny branches make pruning difficult -fleshy root system makes transplanting difficult |
| Sasanqua | Camellia sasanqua | 10-15 ft. x 3-5 ft. | -sun or shade -readily pruned -well-drained soil | -medium-fast growing evergreen -white, pink, dark rose flowers in Oct., Nov. or Dec. depending on variety -very attractive -good dense, tall upright hedge | -gets various scale and white fly insects and die-back disease |
| Popcorn, Bridal Wreath Spirea | Spirea prunifolia plena | 3-5 ft. x 3-5 ft. | -sun or shade -does not like severe pruning | -medium-fast growing deciduous shrub -many white rose-like flowers in late spring | -needs cold weather to bloom well |
| Reeve's Spirea | Spirea Reevesiana | 5-7 ft. x 3-5 ft. | -best in sun -must have select pruning, not severe | -fast growing deciduous shrub -showy, white flower clusters in March -rounded weeping character often called Bridal Wreath | . |
| Baby's Breath | Spirea thunbergi | 3-5 ft. x 3-5 ft. | -likes sun -does not require severe pruning | -fast growing deciduous shrub -small, dainty white flowers in March-April -fine textured | . |
| Texas Sage, Cenizo | Leucophyllum frutescens | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun -good drainage | -medium growing evergreen -red-wine blooms after rain during spring-fall -graceful, fine textured plant -will form a low, dense hedge or border -attractive blue-gray foliage | . |
| Viburnum | Viburnum odoratissimum | 12-15 ft. x 12-15 ft. | -sun or shade -good drainage | -medium-fast evergreen -white flower clusters in March | -requires ample growing room |
| Viburnum | Viburnum suspensum | 6-8 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -sun or shade -good drainage | -medium-fast growing evergreen -small white flowers in spring -lowest growing of the viburnums | . |
| Viburnum | Viburnum tinus | 8-10 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun or shade -good drainage | -medium growing evergreen -pale white or pinkish flowers in spring -good for narrow upright hedge | . |
| Wax Myrtle | Myrica cerifera | 12-15 ft. x 12-15 ft. | -sun or shade -moist loose soil -requires careful pruning so it will not be leggy for screening purposes | -fast growing evergreen -native to East Texas | -must have ample growing room -tends to become leggy at base or trunk |
| Texas Mountain Laurel, Mescalbean | Sophora secundiflora | 8-12 ft. | -sun or semi-shade -alkaline soil | -slow-fast growing evergreen -fragrant lilac-purple blooms in late spring-early summer -attractive foliage -rugged | -poisonous seed pod in late summer-fall |
| Pampus Grass | Cortaderia selloana | 5-6 ft. x 5-6 ft. | -sun | -fast growing semi-evergreen -tall plumes of silver in early summer-winter | -becomes messy with age, not neat looking |
| Banana | Musa | 6-10 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -sun or shade | -fast growing tropical evergreen -pale pink blooms hidden among coarse foliage -attractive foliage | -not winter hardy but returns in southern areas -needs protection from wind and cold |
| French Mulberry | Callicarpa americana | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun or shade -easy culture | -fast growing deciduous shrub -bright purple clusters of berries in fall -attracts birds -native to North and East Texas | . |
| Hydrangea | Hydrangea macrophylla | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -best in shade in northern exposure -moisture and well-drained soil | -medium-fast growing deciduous shrub -large blue or pink flower clusters in summer -prune when flowers fade -acid soil-blue blooms; alkaline soil-pink blooms | . |
| Chinese Holly | Ilex cornuta | 6-8 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -sun | -medium growing evergreen -red orange berries on female plants on old wood in fall and winter -continual pruning will reduce berries -dense plant | -more spiny foliage than Burford Holly |
| Forsythia | Forsythia intermedia | 4-6 ft. x 4-6 ft. | -sun or semi-shade | -fast growing deciduous shrub -yellow trumpet blooms in early spring on bare stems -long, arching, graceful branches | . |
| Yucca, Spanish Dagger | Yucca aloifolia and others | 6-8 ft. x 6-8 ft. | -sun or shade -easy culture | -fast growing evergreen -large terminal stalks of creamy white waxy blooms from early summer-fall -good accent plant or tub planting | -has needle like foliage which stick -may need support -severe cold may freeze back |
| Chinese Rice Paper Plant | Tetrapanax papyriferus | 6-12 ft. | -sun or shade in protected areas -moisture | -very fast growing tropical evergreen -large panicles of creamy white blooms in late summer -very attractive -large foliage -gives lush, tropical effect | -susceptible to cold but returns in spring in mild areas -may be difficult to control due to underground runners |