RECOMMENDED LANDSCAPE PLANT MATERIALS FOR NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS

For more information see the Texas SmartScape Website.

Prepared by Dr. Steven George
Extension Horticulturist

Notes

1) Plant Spacing: All decisions on plant spacing should be based on a plant's mature height and mature width, and these are the dimensions listed in this publication. The width listed for each plant is an indication of the minimum recommended spacing between individual specimens of the plant under consideration. Example: If you are planting a line of dwarf yaupon holly, and its width is listed as 3', then you would space the plants with 3' from the center of one plant to the center of the adjacent plants (and at least half of its mature width, or 1.5' in this example, from any wall or fence). This will prevent the problem of overcrowded, distorted plants and ensure that the plant canopies almost, but not quite touch at maturity.

2) Outstanding Plants: An asterisk (*) denotes those plant materials which are particularly outstanding for this area.

EVERGREEN GROUND COVERS

Sun:

Creeping Juniper, (Juniperus horizontalis cultivars), ht. 1.5', wd. 4'

Gray Santolina or Lavender Cotton, (Santolina chamaecyparissus), ht. 1.5', wd. 2'

Sun to Shade:

*Asiatic Jasmine, (Trachelospermum asiaticum), ht. 1.5', wd. 1'

Japanese Purple Honeysuckle, (Lonicera japonica 'Purpurea'), ht. 2', wd. 2'

*Liriope or Lily Turf, (Liriope muscari cultivars), ht. 1.5', wd. 1'

*Purpleleaf Euonymus , [may require occasional shearing], (Euonymus fortunei 'Colorata') ht. 2', wd. 1'

Partial Shade to Shade:

Ajuga or Carpet Bugle, (Ajuga reptans), ht. 4", wd. 3"

*English Ivy, (Hedera helix), ht. 10", wd. 1'

*Mondo Grass or Monkey Grass, (Ophiopogon japonicus), ht. 9", wd. 1'

Periwinkle or Vinca, (Vinca major), ht. 1', wd. 1.5'

DECIDUOUS VINES

Sun:

*Madame Galen Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vine, (Campsis x tagliabuana 'Madame Galen'), ht. 25', wd. 12'

Sun to Partial Shade:

Chinese Wisteria , (Wisteria sinensis), ht. 28', wd. 15'

Sun to Shade:

Virginia Creeper [native], (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), ht. 25', wd. 3'

Partial Shade to Shade:

*Boston Ivy, (Parthenocissus tricuspidata), ht. 20', wd. 8'

SEMI-EVERGREEN VINES
Sun:

Lady Banksia Rose, (Rosa banksiae 'Lutea') ht. 12', wd. 12'

Sweet Autumn Clematis, (Clematis paniculata), ht. 15', wd. 7'

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Carolina Yellow Jessamine, (Gelsemium sempervirens), ht. 15', wd. 7'

Cross Vine, (Bignonia capreolata) ht. 15', wd. 5'

EVERGREEN VINES

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Trumpet or Coral Honeysuckle [native], Lonicera sempervirens), ht. 18', wd. 4'

Partial Shade to Shade:

*English Ivy, (Hedera helix), ht. 35', wd. 5'

DWARF SHRUBS (height: 1 - 3 feet)

Deciduous, Sun:

*Crimson Pygmy Barberry, (Berberis thunbergii 'Crimson Pygmy'), ht. 2',wd.3'

Dwarf Crape Myrtle, (Lagerstroemia indica dwarf cultivars), ht. 3', wd. 3'

Semi-Evergreen, Sun to Partial Shade:

*Dwarf Glossy Abelia, (Abelia x grandiflora dwarf cultivars), ht. 3', wd. 2'

Evergreen

Sun:

Japanese Garden Juniper, (Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens), ht. 2', wd. 5'

Shore Juniper. (Juniperus conferta), ht. 1.5', wd. 4'

Sun to Partial Shade:

Dwarf Indian Hawthorn, (Raphiolepis indica dwarf cultivars), ht. 3', wd. 3'

Sun to Shade:

*Carissa Holly, (Ilex cornuta 'Carissa'), ht. 3', wd. 4'

Dwarf Chinese Holly, (Ilex cornuta 'Rotunda'), ht. 3', wd. 3'

*Dwarf Nandina, (Nandina domestica dwarf cultivars), ht. 2', wd. 2.5'

*Dwarf Yaupon Holly, (Ilex vomitoria 'Nana'), ht. 2', wd. 3'

SMALL SHRUBS (height: 3 - 6 feet)

Deciduous
Sun:

*Semi-dwarf Crape Myrtle, (Lagerstroemia indica semi-dwarf cultivars), ht. 4.5', wd. 4.5'

Sun to Partial Shade:

Dwarf Burning Bush, (Euonymus alata 'Compacta'), ht. 4', wd. 5'

Flowering Quince, (Chaenomeles speciosa) ht. 5', wd. 6'

*Purple Leaf Japanese Barberry, (Berberis thunbergii 'Atropurpurea'), ht. 5', wd.4'

Semi-Evergreen
Sun to Partial Shade:

*Edward Goucher Abelia, (Abelia cv. 'Edward Goucher'), ht. 3.5', wd. 4'

Evergreen

Sun:

Compact Pfitzer Juniper, (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 'Compact Pfitzer'), ht. 4', wd. 6'

Sun to Shade:

Compact Nandina, (Nandina domestica 'Compacta'), ht. 4.5', wd. 4'

*Dwarf Burford Holly, (Ilex cornuta 'Burfordii Nana'), ht. 5', wd. 3'

Partial Shade to Shade:

*Japanese Aucuba , (Aucuba japonica cultivars), ht. 4', wd. 4'

Oregon Grape , (Mahonia aquifolium) ht. 4', wd. 4'

MEDIUM SHRUBS (height: 6 - 9 feet)
Deciduous
Sun:

Forsythia, (Forsythia x intermedia), ht. 6', wd. 5'

Pampas Grass, (Cortaderia selloana), ht. 7', wd. 8'

*Rose-of-Sharon, (Hibiscus syriacus cultivars), ht. 8', wd. 5'

Vanhoutte Spiraea, (Spiraea x vanhouttei), ht. 6', wd. 5'

Semi-Evergreen
Sun to Partial Shade:

*Glossy Abelia, (Abelia x grandiflora), ht. 6', wd. 5'

Evergreen
Sun:

Agarita [native], (Mahonia trifoliolata), ht. 6', wd. 4'

Pfitzer Juniper, (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 'Pfitzerana'), ht. 6', wd. 9'

*Texas Sage, (Leucophyllum frutescens cultivars), ht. 6', wd. 5'

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Cleyera, (Ternstroemia gymnanthera), ht. 6', wd. 5'

*Nandina, (Nandina domestica), ht. 6', wd. 4'

LARGE SHRUBS (height: 9 feet and above)

Deciduous

Sun:

Crape Myrtle, (Lagerstroemia indica cultivars), ht. 12', wd. 8'

Evergreen

Sun:

*Blue Point Juniper, (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 'Blue Point'), ht. 15', wd. 6'

Canaert Eastern Red Cedar, (Juniperus virginiana 'Canaertii'), ht. 25', wd.15'

*Hollywood Juniper, (Juniperus chinensis var. chinensis 'Torulosa'), ht. 10', wd. 5'

Mary Nell Holly, (Ilex cv. 'Mary Nell'), ht. 15', wd. 10'

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Ebbinges' Silverberry, (Elaeagnus x ebbingei), ht. 9', wd. 7'

Foster's Holly, (Ilex x attenuata 'Fosteri'), ht. 9', wd. 6'

*Fraser's Photinia, (Photinia x fraseri), ht. 12', wd. 8'

Sun to Shade:

*Nellie R. Stevens Holly, (Ilex cv. 'Nellie R. Stevens'), ht. 10', wd. 10'

Yaupon Holly, (Ilex vomitoria), ht. 10', wd. 6'

SMALL TREES (height: up to 20 feet)

Deciduous

Sun:

*Crape Myrtle, (Lagerstroemia indica cultivars), ht. 20', wd. 15'

Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis), ht. 15', wd. 20'

Flowering Crabapple, (Malus spp.), ht. 20', wd. 25'

*Oklahoma Redbud [native], (Cercis canadensis var. texensis 'Oklahoma'), ht. 20', wd. 15'

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Deciduous Holly [native], (Ilex decidua), ht. 12', wd. 8'

Mexican Plum [native], (Prunus mexicana), ht. 20', wd. 20'

Partial Shade:

Forest Pansy Redbud [protect from afternoon sun], (Cercis canadensis var. canadensis 'Forest Pansy'), ht. 20', wd. 15'

Partial Shade to Shade:

*Japanese Maple [protect from afternoon sun], (Acer palmatum cultivars) ht. 12', wd. 10'

Evergreen
Sun:

Little Gem Magnolia, (Magnolia grandiflora 'Little Gem'), ht. 10', wd. 8'

Sun to Shade:

*Yaupon Holly, (Ilex vomitoria), ht. 15', wd. 10'

MEDIUM TREES (height: 20 - 50 feet)

Deciduous

Sun:

*Bigtooth Maple, (Acer grandidentatum), ht. 45', wd. 30'

*Chinese Pistache, (Pistacia chinensis), ht. 40', wd. 30'

*Ornamental Pear, (Pyrus calleryana 'Aristocrat', 'Bradford'), ht. 35', wd. 25'

Osage Orange [native], (Maclura pomifera - fruitless, thornless cultivars only), ht. 50', wd. 40'

*Panicled Goldenrain Tree, (Koelreuteria paniculata), ht. 25', wd. 25'

*Texas Red Oak [native], (Quercus buckleyi [formerly Quercus texana]), ht. 30', wd. 30'

Western Soapberry [native], (Sapindus drummondii), ht. 35', wd. 25'

Sun to Partial Shade:

Lacebark Elm [avoid areas with cotton root rot], (Ulmus parvifolia) ht. 50', wd. 35'

Evergreen
Sun:

Afghan Pine, (Pinus eldarica), ht. 50', wd. 30'

Japanese Black Pine, (Pinus thunbergiana), ht. 20', wd. 15'

LARGE TREES (height: 50 feet and above)

Deciduous

Sun:

*Bald Cypress , [utilize seed source from central or west Texas], (Taxodium distichum var. distichum), ht. 65',wd.30'

Bur Oak [native], (Quercus macrocarpa), ht. 60', wd. 40'

Chinquapin Oak [native], (Quercus muehlenbergii), ht. 60', wd. 40'

Pecan [native], (Carya illinoensis), ht. 80', wd. 40'

*Shumard Oak [native], (Quercus shumardii), ht. 80', wd. 50'

Sun to Partial Shade:

*Caddo Maple, (Acer barbatum 'Caddo'), ht. 60', wd. 50'

*Cedar Elm [native], (Ulmus crassifolia), ht. 50', wd. 40'

Evergreen
Sun:

Deodar Cedar, (Cedrus deodara), ht. 50', wd. 30'

*Southern Live Oak [utilize north Texas seed source], (Quercus virginiana), ht. 50', wd. 75'

Sun to Partial Shade:

Southern Magnolia, (Magnolia grandiflora), ht. 50', wd. 30'