Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Wednesday - September 16, 2009

From: Denton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Small shrubs for flower bed in Denton, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have a small flowerbed that faces south on the front of my house. What small shrubs would be best in that situation?

ANSWER:

Visit our Texas-North Central Recommended list for commercially available native plants for landscapes in North Central Texas.  You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to limit the list by choosing 'Shrub' from the General Appearance category.  You can also choose other characteristics that match your site (e.g., from Light Requirement and/or Soil Moisture).  Here are a few choices from that list:

Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)

Salvia greggii (autumn sage)

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)

Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) can be pruned to maintain a smaller shrub.

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Wright's desert honeysuckle)

Here is another possibility recommended in the Wasowskis' book Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region

Dalea frutescens (black prairie clover)


Lantana urticoides

Salvia greggii

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Rhus aromatica

Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii

Dalea frutescens

 

 

 

More Shrubs Questions

Compact possumhaw holly for Plano TX
April 19, 2010 - What variety of possumhaw holly would be best planted close to a house? I'm looking for a variety 15-25 feet, as compact as possible. Any suggestions?
view the full question and answer

Evergreen Trees for Low Maintenance Screen
April 18, 2015 - We live in Pacifica, CA and are looking to plant a row of low maintenance trees in our back yard along our fence, that grow to be a maximum of 15' high, that stay green year round. What do you recomm...
view the full question and answer

Esperanza freezing back in Highlands, TX
April 16, 2011 - I have an 3 yr. old Esperanza that froze the last two yrs. but grew back each spring. This spring after getting about 2 ft. the leaves at the bottom began turning brown at the edges and now seems to...
view the full question and answer

Non-native, invasive peanut butter tree from Canby, OR
July 17, 2012 - I too have a peanut butter tree with the pink and white blooms, its about 5 years old and is beautiful, but 2 weeks ago it started wilting and losing all its leaves, I am afraid it is dying. Can I sav...
view the full question and answer

Identity of shrub with brownish flowers called cinnamon bush
April 25, 2012 - When I lived in Vernon, CT, my neighbor had a small shrub/tree approximately 5 ft tall with small ovate slightly serrated leaves. In spring it produced reddish brown flowers that were of a hardened p...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.