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Regional Picks: The Experts’ Top Ten Plants – Southern Plains

By Alan Dean Fine Gardening - Issue 143

Southern Plains

 

No. 1

Chinese mastic (Pistacia chinensis)

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 9

Size: 50 to 80 feet tall and 22 to 30 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

This is a good shade tree with great fall color—even in the warm climate of the Southern Plains—and it’s not picky about soil or water. For attractive red berries in fall, you will need to plant both male and female trees.

 

2. ‘Magnus’ purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’)

Zones: 3 to 9

Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

 

3. Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Zones: 6 to 11

Size: 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. ‘Goldsturm’ black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Size: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; well-drained soil

5. Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)

Zones: 3 to 8

Size: 2 to 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Purple Diamond™ Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense ‘Shang-hi’)

Zones: 7 to 10

Size: 4 to 5 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

7. Endless Summer® hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Bailmer’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Size: 3 to 6 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, fertile, well-drained soil

8. ‘Adagio’ miscanthus (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Adagio’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

9. Autumn sage (Salvia greggii)

Zones: 7 to 9

Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun; well-drained soil

10. Knock Out® rose (Rosa ‘Radrazz’)

Zones: 4 to 9

Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and wide

Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; moist, well-drained soil

 

Alan Dean Franz is a landscape architect in Dallas, Texas, and the author of Perennial Gardening in Texas.

Photos, except where noted: Danielle Sherry; Mark W. Skinner/USDA-NRCS Plants Database; Jennifer Benner; Michelle Gervais; author, courtesy of Alan Dean Franz

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