Key Characteristics of Selected Trees and Plants for Landscaping
Tree Groupings and Key Characteristics
Capsicum annum / Ornamental Pepper
- Type: Woody subshrub, treated as annual in cooler climates
- Size: Varies
- Native Area: South Texas
- Thrives: Sun to partial shade; more fruit in full sun
- Intolerance: Not very drought tolerant
- Architecture: Variegated foliage, peppers of wide color range
- Usage: Edible landscapes, major economic crop
- Fun Facts: Irritating sap; could be mistaken for poisonous relatives
- Pros: Adds edible aesthetic to landscapes
- Cons: Needs well-drained soils; limited drought tolerance
Caladium bicolor / Caladium
- Type: Tropical perennial, upright growth
- Size: 1'-2' tall
- Native Area: Requires rich organic moist soil, shade
- Architecture: Colorful heart-shaped leaves
- Usage: Beautiful tropical groundcover, indoors and patio
- Fun Facts: Slow growth; may struggle in winter
- Pros: Stunning foliage, great for shady areas
- Cons: Very slow growth and sensitive to drought
Plectranthus scutellarioides / Coleus
- Type: Perennial treated as annual
- Size: 1'-3' tall
- Native Area: Zones 10-13
- Thrives: Shade preferred, some heat tolerance
- Architecture: Variegated ruffled leaves in various colors
- Usage: Great for containers and as a propagation plant
- Fun Facts: Easy to root from cuttings
- Pros: Attractive foliage, low maintenance
- Cons: Sensitive to cold, some pest issues
Senecio cineraria / Dusty Miller
- Type: Tropical shrub used as annual in warmer zones
- Size: Varies, compact rosette growth
- Native Area: Zones 9-13, prefers moist soils
- Thrives: Drought tolerant, handles humidity
- Architecture: Silvery foliage, small yellow flowers
- Usage: Provides compact shape under control with pruning
- Fun Facts: Must prune for compact shape
- Pros: Unique color and texture for garden
- Cons: Can become scraggly in second summer
Begonia semperflorens-cultorum / Waxleaf Begonia
- Type: Perennial treated as annual
- Size: 6"-12" tall
- Native Area: Needs full sun to medium shade
- Thrives: Requires well-drained soil, sensitive to cold
- Architecture: Thick, waxy leaves, colorful flowers
- Usage: Good for bedding, containers, and interiorscaping
- Fun Facts: Grows densely without shearing
- Pros: Continuous blooming through summer
- Cons: Risk of root rot if improperly planted
Impatiens walleriana / Impatiens
- Type: Tropical perennial, summer annual
- Size: 6" to 2' tall
- Native Area: Prefers moist, well-drained soils
- Thrives: Shaded environments
- Architecture: Compact mounding, colorful flowers
- Usage: Ideal for borders and dense colorful masses
- Fun Facts: Quick to fill garden beds
- Pros: Great for shade gardens, indicator plant for drought
- Cons: Sensitive to heat and drought
New Guinea Hybrid Impatiens
- Type: Lesser heat tolerance than I. walleriana
- Size: Varies, less compact in conditions
- Thrives: Performs well in cooler, shaded areas
- Architecture: Dark glossy leaves, showier flowers
- Usage: Best for hanging baskets and containers
- Fun Facts: Requires careful maintenance
- Pros: Enhances aesthetic with color
- Cons: Poor performance in hot climates
Catharanthus roseus / Vinca or Periwinkle
- Type: Subtropical summer annual, evergreen in tropicals
- Size: 1'-2' tall
- Native Area: Tropical regions
- Thrives: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soils
- Architecture: Mounding growth; colorful flowers
- Usage: Great for massing, containers, and borders
- Fun Facts: Susceptible to fires, but low maintenance
- Pros: Long-blooming, attractive to pollinators
- Cons: Fungal issues if not watered properly
Evolvulus glomeratus subsp. grandiflorus / Blue Daze
- Type: Tropical summer annual
- Size: 2'-3' wide, 4"-8" tall
- Native Area: Brazil & South America
- Thrives: Performs well in heat but needs moisture
- Architecture: Flat mound, small blue flowers
- Usage: Bedding, containers, and xeriscapes
- Fun Facts: Low maintenance, attracts pollinators
- Pros: Consistent color year-round
- Cons: Requires occasional pruning
Gazania rigens var. rigens / Gazania
- Type: Evergreen perennial or seasonal annual
- Size: 6-10" tall
- Native Area: South Africa
- Thrives: Performs in various soil types
- Architecture: Clump-forming with striking flowers
- Usage: Great for borders, containers and rock gardens
- Fun Facts: Flowers close at night
- Pros: Adds texture and year-round bloom
- Cons: Pruning needed to maintain shape
Helenium amarum / Bitterweed
- Type: Wildflower, annual herb
- Native Area: Eastern & Central U.S. including Texas
- Thrives: Well-drained, rocky sandy soils
- Architecture: Variable form; light, airy foliage
- Usage: Ideal for native gardens and erosion control
- Fun Facts: Makes cow's milk bitter if consumed by livestock
- Pros: Supports local pollinators and ecosystem
- Cons: Not suitable for grazing areas
Gomphrena globosa / Globe Amaranth
- Type: Summer annual, 1'-2' tall
- Native Area: Central and South America
- Thrives: Full sun, heat, and drought tolerant
- Architecture: Round, mound shape with globular flowers
- Usage: Great for summer garden displays
- Fun Facts: Produces viable seeds quickly
- Pros: Long bloom time, attracts pollinators
- Cons: Requires monitoring to prevent over-seeding
Rudbeckia hirta var. pulcherrima / Black-Eyed Susan
- Type: Short-lived perennial, often grown as annual
- Native Area: Texas native
- Thrives: Adapts to various soil conditions
- Architecture: Daisy-like yellow flowers with brown centers
- Usage: Popular for massing in naturalized areas
- Fun Facts: Self-seeds readily for easy propagation
- Pros: Supports pollinators, very hardy
- Cons: Susceptible to powdery mildew in heat
Ricinus communis / Castor Bean
- Type: Tropical shrub/small tree
- Size: 5'-15' tall
- Native Area: Well-drained sunny locations
- Thrives: Tolerates drought and poor soil
- Architecture: Coarse textured foliage with spikes of flowers
- Usage: Good fast-growing tropical effect
- Fun Facts: Highly toxic seeds; used to produce castor oil
- Pros: Quick screen and dramatic garden display
- Cons: Requires careful management due to toxicity