There is a lot to enjoy in the Houston region, ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to Memorial Park to the Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site to the Houston Theatre District. The humid subtropical climate includes 70 more sunny days per year than the national average. Over the course of a typical year, the temperature variation is only 50 degrees, typically between 45 and 95 degrees. Consequently, landscaping requirements generally include the need for shade, along with the need for native plants, shrubs, and flowers which can withstand those circumstances. Most of the Houston area is in Zone 9A of the USDA Hardiness Zone map. However, the area starting just north of the city limits is considered Zone 8B.
Although the Houston area occasionally receives significant rainfall, landscape design considerations often include the use of native plants and shrubs. With this in mind, the Texas Lantana, Autumn Sage, Eastern Purple Conflower, and Black-eyed Susan are considered among the best “drought tolerant” native plants. Some plants are known for their ability to better handle the South Texas heat, such as Pentas, Coneflower, Zinnias, and Red Yucca. However, peonies and lilacs do not always do well in the heat, humidity, and gumbo soil, especially nearer to the Gulf Coast. Some property owners prefer “year-round” plants. Live Oak, Cedar Elm, Chinese Pistachio, and Lancebark Elm are among the best choices for this preference.
Top native flowers include Turk’s Cap, Rock Rose, Cenizo, and the American Beautyberry. If considering Hydrangea, the style you choose is important. The PeeGee Hydrangea is considered to be the top performer in that category. However, too much direct sun and humidity can make it difficult for them to both bloom and survive.
There are several perennial flowers which tend to bloom throughout the summer while being considered “easier” to grow. These include the Butterfly Weed, Summer Phlox, Agastache, and Texas Sage. For those who prefer having a garden with an excellent variety of colors, there are different choices. For example, Periwinkle is a “low water” plant which typically blooms in pink, rose, or white. The Purple Fountain Grass, Salvia, Snapdragon, Sweet Peas, and Purslane are also good choices when it comes to adding colors.
When it comes to trees, there are several good choices which are considered to be fast growing. For the long term, the Green Ash is known to grow by at least two feet annually. Bald Cypress is a good choice, especially when near water, as they are known to naturally occur around lakes and large rivers. Other popular choices for faster growth include Live Oak, American Elm, and Cherry Laurel. If working with a tight budget, the Flowering Cherry, Dogwood, Leyland Cypress, Hedge Holly, and Gold Mop Cypress are comparably inexpensive choices for the Houston area’s climate and considerations. With proper planning, appropriate trees are less costly than fencing while contributing to the environment. The right landscape design can result in adding to the curb appeal and property value for properties anywhere in the Houston TX region.
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