ShrubsShrubsVincent Mannino,Vincent Mannino,

County Extension DirectorCounty Extension DirectorFort Bend CountyFort Bend County

Selecting Shrubs – Things to ConsiderSelecting Shrubs – Things to Consider

ExposureExposure - How much sun, how much shade? - How much sun, how much shade? SoilSoil – texture, drainage, pH and nutrient level – texture, drainage, pH and nutrient level CompetitionCompetition – from other landscape plants and from – from other landscape plants and from

weedsweeds Speed of growthSpeed of growth – fast growing shrubs require more – fast growing shrubs require more

pruning, more fertility, more water…..pruning, more fertility, more water….. Size of plantSize of plant – dwarf versus standard – dwarf versus standard Flower and fruit production Flower and fruit production – for beauty &/or food – for beauty &/or food

AbeliaAbelia

Dwarf and standard Dwarf and standard forms availableforms available

Very drought tolerantVery drought tolerant White to pink flowersWhite to pink flowers Full sun for compact Full sun for compact

growth, partial shade growth, partial shade for open growthfor open growth

No major pest No major pest problemsproblems

Creech’s Dwarf, Prostrate Edward Goucher, Sherwoodii,

Francis Mason (variegated)

AzaleaAzalea

REQUIRES acid soilsREQUIRES acid soils Dwarf and standard Dwarf and standard

forms availableforms available Many colorsMany colors Partial sun to shadePartial sun to shade Susceptible to lace bug Susceptible to lace bug

and stem blightsand stem blights Keep mulchedKeep mulched

‘Coral Bells’

Types:

Indica

Kurume

Satsuki

AucubaAucuba

Excellent accent for Excellent accent for shady situationsshady situations

Broad-leaved evergreen Broad-leaved evergreen Bold upright stemsBold upright stems Partial to full shadePartial to full shade Slow-growing to 4 to 6 Slow-growing to 4 to 6

feet high and widefeet high and wide Moist soil NOT wetMoist soil NOT wet Some bacterial leafspot Some bacterial leafspot

‘Goldstrike’

‘Serratfolia’

BarberryBarberry

Excellent in full sun Excellent in full sun for full colorfor full color

Sharp needles – keeps Sharp needles – keeps cats out!cats out!

Can be prunedCan be pruned Moderate growth rateModerate growth rate Few pestsFew pests Very drought tolerantVery drought tolerant

‘Crimson Pygmy,’

‘Rose Glow,’

‘Kobald,’

‘Aurea’

BoxwoodBoxwood

Sun or shadeSun or shade EvergreenEvergreen Good drainageGood drainage Sandy soilSandy soil Drought tolerantDrought tolerant Easily prunedEasily pruned Nematode Nematode

susceptible susceptible

Japanese Boxwood English Boxwood

Texas Sage or CenizaTexas Sage or Ceniza

Full sunFull sun Evergreen, Evergreen, Dwarf (4’), standard (15’)Dwarf (4’), standard (15’) Green and white leaf Green and white leaf

forms availableforms available Flowers colors - Pink and Flowers colors - Pink and

whitewhite Requires good drainageRequires good drainage

“The Barometer Plant”

Dwarfs: ‘Silver Cloud’ & ‘Rain cloud,’ Standard: ‘Green Cloud’

CleyeraCleyera

Sun to partial shadeSun to partial shade Standard or dwarfStandard or dwarf Replaces red-tip Replaces red-tip

photinia photinia Will freeze back Will freeze back

below 22 degreesbelow 22 degrees Small white flowersSmall white flowers Needs good drainageNeeds good drainage

Variegated forms are now becoming available!

CotoneasterCotoneaster

4 inches to 10 feet4 inches to 10 feet Full sunFull sun Good drainageGood drainage Very drought tolerantVery drought tolerant Aphids and scales Aphids and scales

may be a problemmay be a problem

Coral Beauty Bearberry

‘Chinese Rockspray’‘Franchets’ Cotoneaster grows to 20 feet

Dwarf forms are as short as 4-6 inches

Gray Leaf Cotoneaster

Crape MyrtleCrape Myrtle

Easy cultureEasy culture Many forms & colors Many forms & colors

availableavailable Pruned as a specimen tree or Pruned as a specimen tree or

shrubshrub Yellow, red or orange fall Yellow, red or orange fall

colorcolor Moderate to fast growth rateModerate to fast growth rate Adapted to a wide variety of Adapted to a wide variety of

soilssoils

Some standard forms have beautiful bark

Crape “Murder”

Remove seed heads below last flower branch.

Duranta (Golden Dewdrops)Duranta (Golden Dewdrops)

Verbena family Verbena family w/30 speciesw/30 species

Easy to growEasy to grow Propagate by seed, Propagate by seed,

semi-ripe cuttings semi-ripe cuttings and layeringand layering

Few pestsFew pests Freezes/comes back Freezes/comes back

with protectionwith protection

‘Gold Edge Sky’ Duranta

‘Cloudy Sky’ Duranta’

‘Purple Sky Flower’

Esparanza ‘Golden Bells’Esparanza ‘Golden Bells’

Full sunFull sun Deep yellow flowers Deep yellow flowers

to 3”to 3” Fresh smellFresh smell Up to 8’ by 6’Up to 8’ by 6’ No known pestsNo known pests Propagates by seed Propagates by seed

or cuttingsor cuttings Blooms all season Blooms all season

11 ft.

2-year versus 4-year growth

Euonymus Euonymus

Evergreen Evergreen 4 inches as a vine to 4 inches as a vine to

20 feet as a tree20 feet as a tree Partial shade to full Partial shade to full

sunsun Moist soilMoist soil pH 3-7 -7.0pH 3-7 -7.0 Scale and whitefly a Scale and whitefly a

problemproblem

“Burning Bush” Euonymus

ElaeagnusElaeagnus

Dwarf and standard Dwarf and standard forms are availableforms are available

Fruit are edibleFruit are edible Easily pruned for Easily pruned for

hedges or specimen hedges or specimen plantsplants

Leaves w/ silvery Leaves w/ silvery undersidesundersides

No major pest problemsNo major pest problems

Yummy!

Variegated forms:

‘Maculata Aurea’

‘Gilt Edge’

E. multiflora

“Gumi Berry”

Forsythia (Golden Bells)Forsythia (Golden Bells)

Fast-growingFast-growing Deciduous, hardyDeciduous, hardy Well-drained - moderate Well-drained - moderate

soil moisturesoil moisture Grows readily from root Grows readily from root

shootsshoots Dwarf at 1ft. to Dwarf at 1ft. to

standard at 10standard at 10 Blooms earlyBlooms early

After the tulips are done, the forsythia blooms in mid March!

Varieties:

‘Lynwood Gold’ - yellow-gold ‘Beatrix Farrand’ – gold-yellow ‘Spring Glory’ – primrose-yellow

GardeniaGardenia

Many forms are Many forms are now availablenow available

White and yellowWhite and yellow Prefers slightly Prefers slightly

acid soilacid soil Afternoon shade Afternoon shade

is a plusis a plus Whiteflies are a Whiteflies are a

problem problem

Gardenia varieties:

‘August Beauty’ ‘Candle Light’ ‘Variegated Mystry’ ‘Radicans’ ‘Radicans Variegata’ ‘First Love’ ‘Ammee’

Cape Jasmine Types

‘Mystery’

‘Autumn Beauty’

Altheas & Hardy HibiscusAltheas & Hardy Hibiscus Up to 14 feet in height Up to 14 feet in height

and 5 feet in widthand 5 feet in width DeciduousDeciduous Moderate to fast growthModerate to fast growth Many colors availableMany colors available Single or double bloomsSingle or double blooms Sun or semi-shade Sun or semi-shade Althea have smaller Althea have smaller

flowersflowers Whitefly a problemWhitefly a problem

CEMAP’S ‘Flare’ Hibiscus

‘Moy Grande’

The Altheas

Evergreen HolliesEvergreen Hollies

Includes: Yaupon, Chinese Includes: Yaupon, Chinese Horned Holly, Burford, Horned Holly, Burford, Cassine, Needlepoint Holly Cassine, Needlepoint Holly and others.and others.

Dwarf or standard formsDwarf or standard forms Good evergreen specimensGood evergreen specimens Slow to moderate growthSlow to moderate growth Long livedLong lived Female has red berriesFemale has red berries

Chinese Horned Holly

Nellie R. Stephens

‘Burford’

Dwarf form of ‘Burford’

‘Dazzler Holly’

Ilex cornuta ‘Needlepoint’

‘Foster Holly’

‘Carrisa Holly’

‘Carrisa Holly’

Dwarf Yaupon Holly

Possumhaw Holly (Deciduous Holly)Possumhaw Holly (Deciduous Holly)

To 16 feet in heightTo 16 feet in height Attractive red or orange Attractive red or orange

berriesberries Easy cultureEasy culture NativeNative Very adaptable to our Very adaptable to our

soilssoils Sun or part shadeSun or part shade

HydrangeasHydrangeas

Hydra = water, ie. Hydra = water, ie. moist soilmoist soil

Shade to light sunShade to light sun Prefers east and Prefers east and

north exposurenorth exposure pH > 7 = pink pH > 7 = pink

bractsbracts pH < 7 = blue bractspH < 7 = blue bracts

double versus single flowersdouble versus single flowers

‘Oakleaf’ Hydrangea

is an East Texas

jewel!

Indian HawthornIndian Hawthorn

3-6 feet tall and wide3-6 feet tall and wide White to deep pink White to deep pink

flower colorflower color Full sun to partial shadeFull sun to partial shade Drought tolerantDrought tolerant Easily prunedEasily pruned Fungal leaf spot Fungal leaf spot

susceptible susceptible

JunipersJunipers

From trailing to treesFrom trailing to trees Well-drained soilsWell-drained soils Full sunFull sun Spider mites, blights Spider mites, blights

and root rots a and root rots a problemproblem

LigustrumLigustrum

Readily available and Readily available and inexpensiveinexpensive

Use as a specimen or Use as a specimen or hedgehedge

Easily prunedEasily pruned Solid green or Solid green or

variegatedvariegated Susceptible to root Susceptible to root

rotrot

Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower)Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower)

Prefers well-drained acidic Prefers well-drained acidic soil. Will tolerate otherssoil. Will tolerate others

No major pestsNo major pests Replaces azaleasReplaces azaleas Drought tolerantDrought tolerant Partial sunPartial sun Long bloomingLong blooming Attracts moths, butterflies Attracts moths, butterflies

and hummingbirdsand hummingbirds

‘Sizzling Pink’

‘Dazzling White’

French MulberryFrench Mulberry

4-6 Feet in height and 4-6 Feet in height and widthwidth

DeciduousDeciduous Fast growth rateFast growth rate Bright purple, pink or Bright purple, pink or

white fruitwhite fruit Native, easy culture Native, easy culture Sun or shadeSun or shade Attracts birdsAttracts birds Prefers acid soilPrefers acid soil

Nandina or Heavenly BamboosNandina or Heavenly Bamboos

Dwarf to 6 feet in heightDwarf to 6 feet in height Clusters of white bloomsClusters of white blooms Leading to cluster of red Leading to cluster of red

berries berries Slow to moderate growth Slow to moderate growth

raterate Relatively pest freeRelatively pest free Excellent source of fall Excellent source of fall

colorcolor

‘Fire Power’ grows to 2 feet

PhotiniaPhotinia

Chinese and Fraser Chinese and Fraser are popular typesare popular types

New growth exhibits New growth exhibits red colorred color

Full sun for full colorFull sun for full color Susceptible to Susceptible to

leafspot and root rotleafspot and root rot White flower clustersWhite flower clusters

‘Fraser’s Red Tip’ Photinia

PittorsporumPittorsporum

EvergreenEvergreen Solid green and Solid green and

variegatedvariegated Standards and dwarfsStandards and dwarfs Drought tolerantDrought tolerant Variety of soilsVariety of soils Hardy to 22 degreesHardy to 22 degrees Scale and root rot Scale and root rot

susceptiblesusceptible‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’

Pyracantha – Fire ThornPyracantha – Fire Thorn

Easy to growEasy to grow Easy to espalierEasy to espalier Hard to pruneHard to prune Attracts birdsAttracts birds Fruit can be made Fruit can be made

into jellyinto jelly Leafspot susceptibleLeafspot susceptible

Pyracantha is easily espaliered and does well for the first 3 years.

RosesRoses

Antiques and Antiques and ‘Earthkind’ Roses are ‘Earthkind’ Roses are very pest resistantvery pest resistant

Full sunFull sun Well-drained soilWell-drained soil Good spacingGood spacing Keep mulchedKeep mulched

‘Cecile Bruner’

Cherokee Rose

‘Lady Banks’ Rose’ White & Yellow

‘Belinda’s Dream’

‘Climbing Pinkie’

‘Knockout’

‘Climbing Pinkie’

‘Mutabilis’

‘Caldwell Pink’

‘Marie Daly’

Serissa (S. foetida variegata)Serissa (S. foetida variegata)

Dwarf Dwarf Full sun or shadeFull sun or shade Small white flowersSmall white flowers No pestsNo pests Drought tolerantDrought tolerant Easy to propagateEasy to propagate Use like dwarf Use like dwarf

yauponyaupon

ViburnumViburnum

Well-drained to Well-drained to poorly-drained soilspoorly-drained soils

Semi-dwarf to tall Semi-dwarf to tall formsforms

Sun to partial shadeSun to partial shade Burgundy leaves and Burgundy leaves and

colorful fruit in fallcolorful fruit in fall Few pest problems Few pest problems

‘Snowball’ Viburnum

‘Arrowleaf’ Viburnum

Vitex or Chase TreeVitex or Chase Tree

Moderate to fast growth Moderate to fast growth Blue, pink or white Blue, pink or white

flowersflowers Resemble lilacsResemble lilacs Totally pest resistantTotally pest resistant Wide variety of soilsWide variety of soils Responds well to Responds well to

pruningpruning Religious significanceReligious significance

Vitex ‘Common Blue’

‘Pink Lavender’ Vitex

Southern Wax MyrtleSouthern Wax Myrtle

Native Native Adapted to our heavy, Adapted to our heavy,

poorly drained soilspoorly drained soils Dwarf & standard formsDwarf & standard forms Evergreen foliage with Evergreen foliage with

pine scentpine scent Well adapted to pruningWell adapted to pruning Sun or shade adaptedSun or shade adapted Berries for wildlifeBerries for wildlife

Cast Iron PlantsCast Iron Plants

Rugged semi-sun or Rugged semi-sun or shadeshade

To 2 feet tallTo 2 feet tall Large coarse textured Large coarse textured

leavesleaves Green or variegated Green or variegated

varieties availablevarieties available Heat and moisture Heat and moisture

toleranttolerant

Shrubs For the MetroplexShrubs For the Metroplex

?? Questions ??

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