Soft-Leaf Yucca

Yucca recurvifolia

Plant Type: Succulent (E)

Mature Size: 3-5 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide

Toxicity: Non-toxic

Maintenance: Low – Prune lightly to maintain shape but otherwise grows well with little care.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – May require pruning in spring to remove frost damage.

Interest: Soft, flexible leaves, white flowers

Spartan Juniper

Juniperus chinensis 'Spartan'

Plant Type:  Tree (E)

Mature Size: 15-20 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide

Toxicity: Toxic

Maintenance:  Low – Requires little care beyond occasional watering and pruning. Trim as needed to maintain shape and health.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – No special care needed; thrives even in freezing temperatures.

Interest: Upright evergreen, wind-resistant. Great substitute for Italian Cypress.

Texas Mountain Laurel

Dermatophyllum secundiflorum

Plant Type:  Small Tree (E)

Mature Size: 10-20 ft tall, 10-15 ft wide

Toxicity: Toxic

Maintenance: Low – Occasional shaping after flowering improves overall appearance.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – Little to no protection required.

Interest: Grape-scented purple flowers. Slower growing, and established specimens have yet to survive a transplant (for me).


Texas Sage

Leucophyllum frutescens

Plant Type: Shrub (E)

Mature Size: 3-6 ft tall, 3-5 ft wide

Toxicity: Non-toxic

Maintenance: Low – Thrives with very little maintenance. Best grown in full sun/partial shade. Prune anytime to remove dead or damage pieces, trim to desired shape in late winter. Plant can get ‘leggy’ in partial shade and as it ages.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – Mulch around the base to help retain warmth in winter. Give a good soak right before hard freeze.

Interest: This shrub is most known for its beautiful blooms prior to and during rain and/or high humidity.

Toothless Sotol

Dasylirion longissimum

Plant Type: Succulent (E)

Mature Size: 4-6 ft tall, 4-6 ft wide

Toxicity: Non-toxic

Maintenance:  Low – Requires occasional pruning to prevent overcrowding but thrives with minimal care.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – Some winter dieback may occur but recovers quickly.

Interest: Smooth leaf margins, drought-resistant

Variegated Ginger

Alpinia zerumbet 'Variegata'

Plant Type:  Perennial (D)

Mature Size: 3-5 ft tall, 3-4 ft wide

Toxicity: Non-toxic

Maintenance: Medium. Best grown in part sun/partial shade. Prune anytime to remove dead or damage pieces. Fertilize with acid rich compost 1-2 times per year, or when mulching. May need occasional shaping for best appearance.

Freeze Tolerance: Cold hardy – Best to trim old growth in early spring. Give the roots a good soak prior to a freeze event. This plant can be cut down to 6” after the last frost to help it recover from the winter.

Interest: Green and yellow striped foliage. Extremely large and tropical looking.

Woolly Stemodia

Stemodia lanata

Plant Type: Groundcover

Mature Size:  1 ft tall, spreading

Toxicity:  Non-toxic

Maintenance:  Low – Requires excellent drainage. Occasional trimming to maintain shape.

Freeze Tolerance:  Hardy to 15°F – Low-growing evergreen. Trim damaged stems.

Interest:  Soft, silvery foliage. Low-growing groundcover. Drought tolerant.

Zexmenia

Wedelia acapulcensis var. hispida

Plant Type: Perennial

Mature Size:  1-3 ft tall, 2-3 ft wide

Toxicity:  Non-toxic

Maintenance:  Low – Cut back in winter. Drought-tolerant and spreads by seed. Requires minimal care.

Freeze Tolerance:  Hardy to 10°F – Deciduous. Returns strongly in spring.

Interest:  Yellow daisy-like flowers. Long blooming season. Tough and resilient.