Common Name

Scientific Name

Height / Width

Light Requirement

Brief Description
Yaupon Holly

                     

Ilex vomitoria nana 4' to 5' / 4' to 5' Full to Partial sun often used as a foundation plant or hedge, Insignificant flower. Evergreen
Carrisa Holly & Rotunda Holly

                     

Ilex cornuta 'carrisa' & 'rotunda' 3' / 5' compact growth Full to Partial sun low mounding growth habit, Insignificant spring flower and winter time red berry.  Evergreen.
Inkberry Holly

                                 

Ilex glabra 8' / 8' dwarf 4' / 6' full sun to full shade foundation plant or hedge good any light exposure.  Evergreen
Nellie R. Stevens Holly

                               

Ilex 'Nellie R. Stevens 15' to 25' / 10' to 15' Full to Partial Sun Good for softening edges of house or anchoring.  red berries in winter.  Evergreen
Tea Olive  & Fortune's Tea Olive

                             

Osmanthus fragrans & Osmanthus fortunei 8' to 10' / same as height Full sun to Full Shade Fragrant white flowers turn gold in spring and fall. Hedge wall or softening edges. Evergreen.
Burkwood Viburnum

                          

Viburnum burkwoodii 8' to 10' / 6' to 8' Full to Partial Sun Spring white flowers with clove fragrance.  Deciduous.
Butterfly Bush

                     

Buddleia 6' / 6' larger with age and handles pruning well Full Sun Constant blooming throughout warm seasons, fast grower.  Deciduous.
Glossy Abelia

                           

Abelia grandiflora 3' to 6' / same as height Full to Partial Sun Foundation plant or border can add softer texture to landscape. profuse show of small white to pink flowers in summer.  Evergreen
Indian Hawthorne

                            

Raphiolepsis indica 3' to 4' / same as height Full to Partial Sun Foundation plant or border holds low mounding shape well with little pruning.  Spring white or pink flower, wintertime blue black berry.  Evergreen.
Forsythia

                     

Forsythia 6' to 10' / up to 15' Full to Partial Sun Early springtime yellow flower, good as a hedge, specimen, windbreak, or backdrop.  Deciduous
Japanese Aucuba

                                 

Aucuba japonica 6' / same as height Full to Partial Shade Great for low light areas to add a splash of color .  Evergreen.
Japanese Cleyera

                                

Ternostroemia gymnathera 8' to 10' / 5' to 6' Full sun to Full Shade Low maintenance hedge in any light exposure, foundation plant, can also be used to soften edges or anchoring.  Evergreen.
Rose of Sharon

                       

Hibiscus syriacus 5' to 8' / 4' to 8' Full to Partial Sun Accent, hedge, specimen, flowers throughout summer.  Deciduous
Southern Waxmyrtle

                                   

Myrica cerifera 15' to 20' / 12' to 15' Full to Partial Sun Hedge or Screen, sometimes limbed up and used as specimen.  Excellent for keeping deer out.   Evergreen
Thunberg Spirea and Vanhoutte Spirea

                       

  3' to 6' / 3' to 6' depending on variety Full to Light Shade border, specimen, hedge, spring time conversation starter, a profuse show of white flowers in spring, timing depending on variety.
Rosemary

                      

Rosmarinus officinalis 3' to 5' / same as height also in groundcover variety. shapes  well with pruning Full sun Great for cooking, border of perennial beds ( to keep out deer), or low hedge wall, creeping varieties are great for trailing over wall or containers.  Purple flowers. Evergreen
Pittosporum or Mock Orange

                          

Pittosporum tobira, var, and various dwarf varieties 6' to 10' / same as height for regular varieties . Most dwarf varieties are 3' / 3' Full to Partial Sun Dwarfs have been extremely popular being used as low mounding borders,  larger cultivars are mostly used as hedge wall or screen.  Fragrant orange scented flowers in spring and fall.  Evergreen.
Waxleaf Ligustrum

                                 

Ligustrum texanum 4' to 15' / same as height also available in dwarf. Full to Partial Sun Unique vase shaped growth habit, hedge, screen, or even limbed up and used as a specimen.  Evergreen
Juniper (Shrub forms)

                           

Juniperus horizonatalis 1' to 4' / 6' to 8' many varieties Full Sun Groundcover, or border.  Evergreen.
Podocarpus

                              

Podocarpus macrophyllus 8' to 10' Larger in more coastal regions/  3' to 4' Full to Partial Sun Accent or Specimen, unique tropical look.  Evergreen
Burning Bush

                          

eunonymous alatus 5' to 8' / 6' to 10' dwarf variety available Full to Partial Sun hedge or specimen, popular for its brilliant red fall foliage.  Deciduous.
Boxwood

                       

buxus  many cultivars wide range of varieties and sizes 1' to 8' / equal widths Full to Partial sun Hedge or border. hold any shape pruned into with little pruning.
Mahonia

                           

Mahonia bealei & fortunei 4' to 5'  / 4' Partial to Full Shade Great for adding color or accenting a shady area.  yellow flowers and later produce blue grape looking fruit
Nandina

                       

Nandina Domestica Up to 8' slow growing dwarf varieties available Full sun to Full Shade Border or Accent.  great fall color and wintertime red berry.  Evergreen.
Common Name Scientific Name Height / Width Light Requirement Brief Description
Monkey Grass

                          

Liriope muscari 2' / spreads indefinitely

Full sun to Full shade

  
Pachysandra

                        

commonly know by scientific name 1' / spreads indefinitely

Partial to Full shade

  
Periwinkle

                    

vinca minor inches of the ground, vine like habit growing several feet

Partial to Full shade

  
Ivy

                         

hedera helix has the ability to climb and spreads indefinitely

Partial to Full shade can take more sun if acclimated

  
Mondo Grass

                     

ophiopogon japonica & nana 6" / will slowly spread indefinitely Partial to Full shade  

Groundcovers

SHRUBS

Drought Resistant Plants

Here is a list of plants that when established can survive extended time periods of dry and hot weather. 

Common Name

Scientific Name

Height / Width

Light Requirements

 Brief Description  
       
Chinese Pistachio

       

Pistachia Chinensis 35' / 35' larger with age Full sun No significant flowers. globe shaped tree at maturity with brilliant orange to red fall color
Magnolia (Evergreen & Deciduous) Magnolia (grandiflora, soulangiana, stellata 25' to 60' / 15' to 70' depending on variety Sun to partial shade Huge fragrant flowers color depending on variety. deciduous cultivars have yellow fall color.
Redbud

                         

Cercis canadensis 25' / 30' slightly larger with age Sun to partial shade Reddish purple buds; rosy pink pea-like flowers in clusters early spring before leaves emerge.  yellow green fall color.
American & Chinese Fringe Chionanthus (virginicus and retusus 15' to 20' / 15' to 20' depending on variety Sun to partial shade Panicles of creamy white fragrant flowers.  Yellow fall color.
Virginia Pine

                                       

Pinus virginiana 30' / 25' to 30' larger with age full sun Evergreen
Yoshino Cherry

    

Prunus yedoensis 35' / 25' larger with age Sun to very light shade Cluster of double, pale pink or white flowers in March April; slightly fragrant.  Yellow to gold fall color.
Gingko

                     

Gingko biloba 60' to 80' / 30' to 40' but slow growing full sun to partial sun No significant flower.  Brilliant Yellow fall color.
Shumard Oak

                                    

Quercus shumardii 80' / 50' to 60'  fast grower Full sun No significant flower.  vivid display of brilliant red to red-orange fall and winter foliage.

Sawtooth Oak

                           

Quercus acutissima

35' to 60' / same width

Full sun

 No significant flower.  Bright yellow fall color.  
Pin Oak

                         

Quercus palustris 60' to 70' / 25' to 40' Full sun No significant flower.  Dazzling Red fall color.
Overcup Oak

                           

Quercus lyrata 60' / 40' to 50' medium to slow growth. Full sun No significant flower.  tannin brown fall color.
Trident Maple

                                

Acer buergeranium 20' to 35' / same width. fast in youth. Full sun tiny flower with low aesthetic value.  yellow, orange, red fall color; colors later than most maples. 
Crape Myrtle

                                    

Lagerstroemia indica 15' to 30' / 15' to 20' depending on variety. fast grower. full sun to part shade Large flower panicle for extended time period throughout summer.  Yellow, orange, or red fall color depending on bloom color.
Red Maples

                               

Acer rubrum 50' to 60' / less than or equal to height.  medium to fast grower Sun to shade Insignificant flowers.  Red to orange fall color.
Japanese Zelkova

                         

Zelkova serrata 50' to 70' / less than height.  fast at youth full sun Insignificant flowers.  A mix or yellow, russet, bronze, dark red and purple.
Windmill Palm

                                  

Trachycarpus fortunei 10' to 20' / 6' to 10' slow grower partial sun or partial shade, shade tolerant evergreen
Service Berry

           

Amelanchier arborea 20' to 25' / same width. medium growth rate Sun to partial shade white flowers in spring and red berries fall through winter.  yellow-orange to red fall color.
TREES