Table of Landscape Plants Suitable for the Gulf Coast by Dr. William C. Welch

Table of Landscape Plants

Return to
Cultural Practices
Return to the
Southern Garden
home page

Ground Covers

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

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 Ipomoea 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

Stonecrop Sedum acre All S 1 Other species such as S. potosinum also good

Asiatic Jasmine Trachelospermum
asiaticum L,M E 1 Low evergreen ground cover

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

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

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 attract 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 1 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

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

Yarrow Achillea millefolium All E Attractive foliage and flowers

Hinkley's Columbine Aquilegia hinkleyana All Sh Yellow spring flowers, blue-gray foliage

Southernwood Artemisia 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

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 and Wine Lilies Crinum hybrids All S Recurring bloom of pink, white, red flowers from clump of large strap leaves; excellent on coast

Montbretia Crocosmia Pottsii All S Gladiolus relative; orange-red early summer

Cigar Plant Cuphea micropetala All S Red/yellow flowers late summer & fall

Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea All S Purple flowers spring through fall

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 and wind; many colors spring & fall

Byzantine Gladiolus Gladiolus Byzantinus All S Purple or white spring flowers

Firebush Hamelia patens All S Very heat tolerant; red flowers summer & fall

Maximilian Sunflower Helianthus maximiliana All S Yellow flowers late summer & fall

Daylily Hemerocallis All S Many colors of flowers spring & summer

Spring Star Flower Iphelon uniflorum All S Blue spring flowers

Louisiana Iris Iris hybrids All S Rich soil, fall & spring moisture required; several colors of spring flowers

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 ground cover- blue flowers

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 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 in 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 Zephyranthes spp. All S Summer blooming bulbs of white and pink

Shrubs

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

SMALL SHRUBS (1 to 4 feet tall)

Century Plant Agave americana All S 1 Drought tolerant, good as specimen

Pampas Grass Cortaderia selloana All S 1 Easily grow 5 to 7 feet tall

Prickly Pear Opuntia spp. All S 1 Spineless forms most useful

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis L,M S 1 Prostrate and upright forms; can freeze

Yucca (many varieties) Yucca spp. All S 1 Extremely tough; heat, drought, and 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 Gulf 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 Hawthorn Raphiolepis indica All E 2 Spring flowering, blue berries in fall; evergreen

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

MEDIUM SHRUBS (6 to 9 feet tall)

Elaeagnus Elaeagnus pungens All S 1 Gray-leaved shrub; small, fragrant flowers

Wax Myrtle Myrica cerifera All S 1 Native to Texas coast

Dwarf Wax Myrtle Myrica pusilla All S 1 Native to Texas coast

Pittosporum Pittosporum tobira L E 1 Glossy foliage, fragrant flowers

Bamboo Bambusa All S 2 Clumping types less aggressive

Bird of Paradise Bush Caesalpinia gilliesii All S 2 Attractive summer red & 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, Ceniza 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
Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

LARGE SHRUBS (greater than 10 feet tall)

Feijoa or Pineapple Guava Feijoa sellowiana All S 2 Large shrub or small tree

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 macrophylia All E 2 Large, upright evergreen shrub

Arborvitae Thuja spp. All S 2 Symmetrical evergreen shrub

Trees

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

SMALL TREES

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 bipinnata 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 be grown on the upper & middle coast (e.g., 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

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

LARGE TREES

Australian Pine Causarina stricta L S 1 Freezes mid-20s

Tamarisk, Salt Cedar Tamarix spp. L,M S 2 Freezes upper teens

Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodar All S 2 Pyramidal form

Arizona Cypress Cupressus glabra All S 2 Evergreen, use for windbreaks

Live Oak Quercus virginiana All S 2 Evergreen, spreading tree

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus spp. L S 2 May freeze, select most hardy spp. (e.g., E. rostrata, camaldulensis, 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

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

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 and 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 & Turf

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

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

Common
Name Scientific
Name Hardi-
ness Light Zone Notes

Sea Coast Blue Stem Adropogon 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 Chasmanthium paniculata All S 1 Valuable native, soil/dune stabilizer; ornamental seed heads

Miscanthus 'Adagio' Gramineae All S 1

RETURN TO LANDSCAPE DEVELOPMENT FOR TEXAS COASTAL AREAS