Hardiness Zone: 8a
Thanks,
Holly
Once established, these natives require very little water and much less care than non-native varieties. They will also provide habitat for beneficial insects, provide cover for wildlife and attract several species of native birds.
Here are just a few examples:
And of course, there are many beautiful native tree species as well.
There's no need to hire a professional to install native plants. Look in the Yellow Pages or contact your county extension service for a list of native plant nurseries in your area. These experts will be able to recommend the best performing natives for your particular site conditions and help you select plants with different blooming periods for a show of color all season long.
For more information, check out these sites featuring information on native plants:
Ellen
Holly, I'm a Texan, also. I have enjoyed the maintenance free evergreens such as Chinese Holly, Eleagnous and Boxwoods. Dwarf youpons grow almost anywhere with filtered sun. Avoid Hawthorn, and Pittisporum, which die often in freezes. Also, you might consider trying to Zeriscape around whatever you plant, and not prune them, if ever needed, during late Fall or Winter. I have a lot of trees and found these work very well in hot shady areas with plenty of mulching. Good luck and God bless. : )