HELP! Specific Complimentary Plants for Palms in Zone 8b/9a TX

[Collectorpalms]

Very Specific plants that Either regrow from roots or do well most years without too much die back which add to a tropical or Palmy flair?

What are your sources?

In warm 8b to 9a Texas. 

Annuals/Perennials/Shrubs/trees?

I want palms to be LESS than 50% of garden.

Edited May 13, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[amh]

Aesculus pavia, Asimina genus, Feijoa sellowiana, passiflora, Zingiber officinale or other gingers, Curcuma genus, cold hardy bromeliads, bougainvillea, bamboo, cordylines, philodendrons,Opuntia ellisiana and Piper auritum are a few I can think of. Underlined plants are ones I grow that survived '21 and need very little care. You do need to address your saltwater issue first.

Edited May 13, 2022 by amh

[WSimpson]

Ensete maureliii , Thailand Giant EE , and Gardenias 

C3BFDF9E-ADB6-4520-8F16-4E2DB29AC9AB.heic

[Ben OK]

Some good ones already mentioned. I will add loquat tree, arctic frost satsuma (and other cold hardy citrus), pomegranate trees/shrubs bamboos, magnolia grandiflora, and I like evergreen shrubs such as azaleas oleander, and rhododendrons. I am sure there are lots of other good complimentary plants out there though

[GregDFW]

8 hours ago, Collectorpalms said:

Very Specific plants that Either regrow from roots or do well most years without too much die back which add to a tropical or Palmy flair?

What are your sources?

In warm 8b to 9a Texas. 

Annuals/Perennials/Shrubs/trees?

I want palms to be LESS than 50% of garden.

Texas Star Hibiscus die back to ground here (DFW) but grow fast and are a little less common than what is at the big box stores.  I use too many azaleas but they look aweseome the weeks they are in bloom, but do at least remain evergreen for a year round presence.   Radiance abelia are a common shrub that can also give you year round interest plus small flowers at times.  If you've got some shade the Soft Caress Mahonia are cool too although the Marvel seem to perform better for me.

[Collectorpalms]

7 hours ago, amh said:

Aesculus pavia, Asimina genus, Feijoa sellowiana, passiflora, Zingiber officinale or other gingers, Curcuma genus, cold hardy bromeliads, bougainvillea, bamboo, cordylines, philodendrons,Opuntia ellisiana and Piper auritum are a few I can think of. Underlined plants are ones I grow that survived '21 and need very little care. You do need to address your saltwater issue first.

I collect 300-400 gallons of rain water every rainfall. and all my flower beds are raised so they can leach out when I have to adjust water with my tap water. This year hasn't been an issue, but I look at plants growing at the coastal areas the Gulf coast info Florida and mi-atlantic that are considered salt tolerant from moderate to high levels..

[Collectorpalms]

2 hours ago, GregDFW said:

Texas Star Hibiscus die back to ground here (DFW) but grow fast and are a little less common than what is at the big box stores.  I use too many azaleas but they look aweseome the weeks they are in bloom, but do at least remain evergreen for a year round presence.   Radiance abelia are a common shrub that can also give you year round interest plus small flowers at times.  If you've got some shade the Soft Caress Mahonia are cool too although the Marvel seem to perform better for me.

Tried Azaleas a few times, they cant take salt water greater than 200 pmm. Compare that to DFW its aroun25 pmm. Even a splash of grass irrigation they go do hill without rehab. 

[Collectorpalms]

3 hours ago, Ben OK said:

Some good ones already mentioned. I will add loquat tree, arctic frost satsuma (and other cold hardy citrus), pomegranate trees/shrubs bamboos, magnolia grandiflora, and I like evergreen shrubs such as azaleas oleander, and rhododendrons. I am sure there are lots of other good complimentary plants out there though

azaleas, nope. tropical oleanders work but not the large cold hardy types. and rhods will be like azalea very PH picky and not salt tolerant,

[Collectorpalms]

7 hours ago, Will Simpson said:

Ensete maureliii , Thailand Giant EE , and Gardenias 

C3BFDF9E-ADB6-4520-8F16-4E2DB29AC9AB.heic 2.55 MB · 0 downloads

 

7 hours ago, Will Simpson said:

Ensete maureliii , Thailand Giant EE , and Gardenias 

C3BFDF9E-ADB6-4520-8F16-4E2DB29AC9AB.heic 2.55 MB · 0 downloads

azaleas not slightly salt tolerant or soil PH tolerant. Gardenianas I though in the same boat, but I am not sure if they are salt tolerant/??????? EE, have issues with too high heat and salt burned. tips. Ensete maureliii don't seem to tolerate extreme heat with high overnight temperatures. ( 80 plus at night).

[necturus]

The answer is things which die to the ground in a freeze but come back.

So bananas, gingers, elephant ears, Tetrapanax (a little invasive but easily managed), etc.

I'm not sure how they'll do in College Station, but I had hardy Calatheas in the ground for the bad freeze which came back. There's a red Ruellia which is pretty and not as invasive as the purple ones but comes back from freezes. Red firespike? Avoid pink ones - bloom too late, get frozen before you see the flowers. Cat whisker (not sure about the scientific name) came back from the freeze too.

There are no bromeliads which will survive a record freeze in College Station, but Aechmea recurvata, distichantha, and gamosepala are pretty dang tough. And Billibergia nutans of course. The good thing about other, less cold hardy bromeliads is, you can always just pick them up and throw them in your garage! Just avoid the ones with spines.

Bletilla?

 And then there's clumping bamboo...

[Kailua_Krish]

Crinum lilies? Many of them look quite tropical and in a hard freeze bounce back quickly in spring from the giant underground bulbs.

The green variety of shell ginger is much hardier and faster growing than the variegated and can take a freeze better. There are also other species that are more tolerant.

[WSimpson]

I got one ; Manihot grahamii .

One of mine  has been growing from  the same trunk for 3 years . If I had severe  cold ( below 10F ? )  it would come up from the ground and that trunk would die  . I've never had one grow this long on a single trunk . It's really a small tree now . It's just getting going good and will fill out and get a lot taller too . 

 

 

[kinzyjr]

On 5/13/2022 at 9:13 AM, Collectorpalms said:

Very Specific plants that Either regrow from roots or do well most years without too much die back which add to a tropical or Palmy flair?

What are your sources?

In warm 8b to 9a Texas. 

Annuals/Perennials/Shrubs/trees?

I want palms to be LESS than 50% of garden.

Mountain Laurel was a nice temperate plant when I lived in a temperate zone: https://www.thespruce.com/mountain-laurel-plants-growing-tips-2131174

[Collectorpalms]

What about not die back semi-salt plants, say along zone 7-9 just indland from the coast in the mid-atlantic to NE FLorida.

[Laaz]

Cherry Of The Rio Grande is a nice shrub that takes the cold quite well.

[amh]

Prunus maritima, Ilex vomitoria, Juniperus virginiana, Agave americana, Phormium tenax, and Chaenomeles speciosa are salt tolerant.

Is your soil natural or was it brought in during construction?

[Swolte]

22 hours ago, Will Simpson said:

I got one ; Manihot grahamii .

One of mine  has been growing from  the same trunk for 3 years . If I had severe  cold ( below 10F ? )  it would come up from the ground and that trunk would die  . I've never had one grow this long on a single trunk . It's really a small tree now . It's just getting going good and will fill out and get a lot taller too . 

I should have some seedlings of this one if you want any. 

Edited May 15, 2022 by Swolte

[Collectorpalms]

10 hours ago, amh said:

Prunus maritima, Ilex vomitoria, Juniperus virginiana, Agave americana, Phormium tenax, and Chaenomeles speciosa are salt tolerant.

Is your soil natural or was it brought in during construction?

Everything pretty much is in a raised bed. Obviously over 22 years it is settled and or somewhat washed away since I am on a slight slope, but the top soil was wiped clean. When I tested the edge of property it was like PH 9. I thought it was a mistake, but I think it was pretty darn close. at least 8+. Except the back they had to add sand to make the driveway not so steep. That has caused the crack in my brick as its not the same " soil " if you wan to call it that for the length of the very narrow property. Everything I plant is amended in a raised bed for the most part. I cannot tell you how much soil and supplements I have bought but its more than any sane person. For a few years I planted thousands of tulips, and they are prone to diseases, so every year, I Replaced the soil where they were planted.

[Collectorpalms]

I appreciate the advise those have given, I know I google the plants and then after "ad plant and for sale", but if you have a good trusted source let me know.

My Plants were doing really well but this extra month of summer, its not appreciated to the new growth on my new plants. I have to check for wilted new foliage daily.  Its suppose to be 85 mid May not 95, and no change in forecast. That's just the reality of gardening.

Edited May 16, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[amh]

12 hours ago, Collectorpalms said:

I appreciate the advise those have given, I know I google the plants and then after "ad plant and for sale", but if you have a good trusted source let me know.

My Plants were doing really well but this extra month of summer, its not appreciated to the new growth on my new plants. I have to check for wilted new foliage daily.  Its suppose to be 85 mid May not 95, and no change in forecast. That's just the reality of gardening.

It is 95 to 100 in my area, when it should 80 to 85, add in receiving only about 3 inches of rain for the past 8 months and even the weeds are dying. Gardening in Texas can be interesting.

[WSimpson]

Shrubs—Highly Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Century Plant	Agave americana	5-7 x 8-12	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Elaeagnus	Elaeagnus pungens Elaeagnus x ebbingii	10-15 x 10-15	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Yaupon Holly*	Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’, ‘Bordeaux’, ‘Schilling’s’	3-4 x 4-5	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Oleander	Nerium oleander	6-10 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
New Zealand Flax	Phormium tenax	4-6 x 4-6	E	Well Drained	Sun
Pittosporum	Pittosporum tobira	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Pittosporum	Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’, ‘Mojo’, ‘Cream de Mint’	3-4 x 3-5	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
‘Majestic Beauty’ Indian Hawthorn	Rhaphiolepis umbellata ‘Majestic Beauty’	8-10 x 8-10	E	Well Drained	Sun
Rugosa Rose	Rosa rugosa	3-5 x 4-6	D	Well Drained	Sun
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	3-6 x 3-6	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Butcher’s Broom	Ruscus aculeatus	2-3 x 2-3	E	Well Drained	Part Shade to Shade
Sandwanka Viburnum	Viburnum suspensum	4-8 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Yucca*	Yucca gloriosa Yucca aloifolia	6-8 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun

Shrubs—Moderately Salt Tolerant

7

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Japanese Aucuba	Aucuba japonica	5-8 x 4-6	E	Well Drained	Part to Full Shade
Dwarf Aucuba	Aucuba japonica ‘Nana’	3-4 x 2-3	E	Well Drained	Part to Full Shade
Hedge Bamboo	Bambusa multiplex	15-20 x 6-10	E	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
Wintergreen Barberry	Berberis julianae	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained	Sun
Bottlebrush	Callistemon rigidus	5-6 x 5-6	E	Well Drained	Sun
Flowering Quince	Chaenomeles speciosa	6-10 x 6-10	D	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra*	Clethra alnifolia	4-8 x 3-6	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra*	Clethra alnifolia ‘Hummingbird’, ‘White Doves’, ‘Sixteen Candles’	2-3 x 4-6	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Fragrant Daphne	Daphne odora	2-3 x 2-3	E	Well Drained	Part Shade
Japanese Euonymus	Euonymus japonicus	4-10 x 3-6	E	Well Drained	Sun to Shade
Fatsia	Fatsia japonica	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained	Part to Full Shade
Pineapple Guava	Feijoa sellowiana	6-10 x 5-8	E	Well Drained	Sun
Forsythia	Forsythia x intermedia	8-12 x 8-12	D	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Rose of Sharon	Hibiscus syriacus	8-12 x 6-10	D	Well Drained	Sun
Bigleaf Hydrangea	Hydrangea macrophylla Many varieties available	4-6 x 4-8	D	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
‘Carissa’ Holly	Ilex cornuta ‘Carissa’	3-4 x 4-5	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
‘Rotunda’ Holly	Ilex cornuta ‘Rotunda’	3-4 x 4-5	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
‘Needlepoint’ Holly	Ilex cornuta ‘Needlepoint’	8-15 x 6-12	E	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Inkerry Holly*	Ilex glabra	5-8 x 5-8	E	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Chinese Juniper	Juniperus chinensis Many varieties available	2-12 x 4-8 de- pending on vari- ety	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Texas Sage	Leucophyllum frutescens	4-6 x 4-6	E	Well Drained	Sun
Japanese Privet	Ligustrum japonicum	6-12 x 5-10	E	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Leatherleaf Mahonia	Mahonia bealei	6-8 x 3-4	E	Well Drained	Part to Full Shade
Firethorn, Pyracantha	Pyracantha coccinea	6-10 x 4-8	E	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Indian Hawthorne	Rhaphiolepis indica	2-4 x 3-5	E	Well Drained	Sun

Shrubs—Moderately Salt Tolerant, continued

8

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Azaleas - Southern Indica Varieties	Rhododendron ‘Formosa’, ‘G.G. Gerbing’, ‘George Tabor’	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
Satsuki Azaleas	Rhododendron Satsuki Varieties, ‘Gumpo’ Series	2-3 x 3-4	E	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
Stinking Viburnum	Viburnum odoratissimum	8-15 x 6-12	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Adam’s Needle Yucca*	Yucca filamentosa	2-4 x 2-4	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun

Shrubs—Slightly Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Abelia	Abelia x grandiflora	4-8 x 4-6	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
‘Brilliant’ Chokeberry*	Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’	6-8 x 6-8	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Japanese Barberry	Berberis thunbergii	2-3 x 3-4	D	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Butterfly Bush	Buddleia davidii	4-8 x 4-6	D	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
American Beautyberry*	Callicarpa americana	4-6 x 4-6	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Japanese Camellia	Camellia japonica Many varieties available	6-12 x 4-8	E	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
Sasanqua Camellia	Camellia sasanqua	6-10 x 4-8	E	Well Drained	Light to Part Shade
Gardenia	Gardenia jasminoides	4-8 x 4-8	E	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Winterberry*	Ilex verticillata	6-10 x 6-10	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
Banana Shrub	Michelia figo	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo	Nandina domestica	5-8 x 3-4	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Nandina	Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’, ‘Moon Bay’, ‘Harbor Belle’	2-4 x 1-3	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Tea Olive, Osmanthus	Osmanthus fragrans Osmanthus x fortunei	10-15 x 10-15	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Double Reeves Spirea	Spirea cantoniensis ‘Lanceata’	4-6 x 4-6	D	Well Drained	Sun
Cleyera	Ternstroemia gymnanthera	8-12 x 5-6	E	Well Drained	Sun to Full Shade
Walter’s Viburnum*	Viburnum obovatum	4-12 x 4-10	E	Moist to Well Drained	Sun

Shrubs—Slightly Salt Tolerant, continued

9

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Tinus Viburnum, Laurustinus	Viburnum tinus	5-7 x 5-7	E	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Weigela	Weigela florida	4-6 x 4-6	D	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade

VINES

Vines—Moderately Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Climbing Fig	Ficus pumila	30’+	E	Well Drained	Sun to Shade
Carolina Jessamine*	Gelsemium sempervirens	10’ -20’	E	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Pt. Shade
English Ivy	Hedera helix	50’+	E	Well Drained	Sun to Shade
Coral Honeysuckle*	Lonicera sempervirens	10’ -20’	E	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Pt. Shade
Goldflame Honeysuckle	Lonicera x heckrottii	10’ -20’	E	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Lt. Shade
Virginia Creeper*	Parthenocissus quinquefolia	30’+	D	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Shade
Lady Banks’ Rose	Rosa banksiase ‘Lutea’	20’	D	Well Drained	Sun to Lt. Shade
Confederate Jasmine	Trachelospermum jasminoides	15’	E	Well Drained	Sun
Fatshedera	X Fatshedera lizei	8’	E	Moist to Well Drained	Pt. Shade to Shade

PALMS

Palms—Highly Salt Tolerant

Palms—Moderately Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Soil	Exposure
Dwarf Palmetto*	Sabal minor	4-6 x 4-6	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Cabbage Palm, Palmetto*	Sabal palmetto	10-20 x 10-15	Well Drained	Sun
Saw Palmetto*	Serenoa repens	3-5 x 4-8	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Soil	Exposure
Pindo Palm, Jelly Palm	Butia capitata	10-15 x 10-15	Well Drained	Sun
Mediterranean Fan Palm	Chamaerops humilis	5-6 x 5-6	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
King Sago Emporer Sago	Cycas revoluta Cycas taitungensis	4-8 x 6 4-6 x 10	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Needle Palm*	Rhapidophyllum hystrix	5-10 x 5-10	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Chinese Windmill Palm	Trachycarpus fortunei	10-20 x 6-12	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

10

Ornamental Grasses—Highly Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread	Soil Conditions	Exposure
Pampas Grass	Cortaderia selloeana	8’ x 6’	Moist to Well Drained	Full Sun
Lyme Grass	Leymus arenarius	2’ x 4’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Maiden Grass	Miscanthus sinensis	4’-8’ x 3’-6’	Moist to Well Drained	Full Sun
Muhly Grass*	Muhlenbergia capillaris	3’ x 3’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Bitter Panicum*	Panicum amarum	3’ x 2’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Sand Cordgrass*	Spartina bakeri	3’ x 3’	Well Drained	Full Sun

Common Name

Botanical Name

Height x Spread

Soil Conditions

Exposure

Panic Grass* Fountain Grass

Ornamental Grass—Slightly Salt Tolerant

Panicum virgatum 4’-8’ x 2’-4’ Moist to Well Drained Pennisetum alopecuriodes 3’ x 2’ Moist to Well Drained

PERENNIALS

Perennials—Highly Salt Tolerant

Full Sun Full Sun

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Exposure	Soil
Blanket Flower, Gaillardia*	Gaillardia pulchella	1-2 x 1-2	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Daylily	Hemerocallis species and hybrids	1-4 x 1-4	Sun/Partial Shade	Moist to Well Drained
Lantana	Lantana camara Lantana montevidensis	2-4 x 3-6	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Prickly Pear Cactus*	Opuntia compressa	1-2 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Lavender Cotton	Santolina chamaecyparissus	1-2 x 2	Sun	Well Drained
Seaside Goldenrod*	Solidago sempervirens	4-6 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric

Perennials—Moderately Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Exposure	Soil
Fern Leaf Yarrow	Achillea filipendulina	3-4 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained
Common Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	2-3 x 3	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Agapanthus	Agapanthus africanus	2-4 x 2	Sun to Part Shade	Well Drained

Perennials—Moderately Salt Tolerant, continued

11

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Exposure	Soil
Sea Thrift	Armeria maritima	1 x1	Sun to Part Shade	Well Drained
Butterfly Weed*	Ascelpias tuberosa	2-3 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Asparagus Fern	Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’	2-3 x 2-3	Sun to Part Shade	Well Drained
Crinum Lily	Crinum species and hybrids	2-4 x 2-4	Sun to Part Shade	Moist to Well Drained
Mexican Heather	Cuphea hyssopifolia	1 x2	Sun	Well Drained
Hardy Ice Plant	Delosperma cooperi Delosperma nubigenum	6” x 1-2	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Cheddar Pinks, Dianthus	Dianthus gratianopolitanus	6”-1 x 1-2	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Hummingbird Plant	Dicliptera suberecta	1-2 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained
Firebush*	Hamelia patens	3-5 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained
Hardy Ginger Lily	Hedychium species and hybrids	4-6 x 3-5	Sun to Part Shade	Moist to Well Drained
Candytuft	Iberis sempervirens	6”-1 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained
Red False Aloe	Hesperaloe parviflora	3-4 x 2-4	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Turk’s Cap*	Malvaviscus drummondii	3-4 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained
Nippon Daisy	Nipponanthemum nipponicum	2-3 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained
Seashore Mallow*	Kosteletzkya virginica	4-6 x 3-4	Sun to Part Shade	Moist to Well Drained
Firecracker Plant	Russelia equisetiformus	3-4 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained
Purple Heart	Setcreasia pallida	1 x2	Sun to Light Shade	Well Drained
Hen and Chicks	Sempervivum tectorum	6”-1 x 1	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Society Garlic	Tulbughia violacea	1 x1	Sun	Well Drained

[Collectorpalms]

33 minutes ago, Will Simpson said:

Shrubs—Highly Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Evergreen/ Deciduous	Soil	Exposure
Century Plant	Agave americana	5-7 x 8-12	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Elaeagnus	Elaeagnus pungens Elaeagnus x ebbingii	10-15 x 10-15	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Yaupon Holly*	Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’, ‘Bordeaux’, ‘Schilling’s’	3-4 x 4-5	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Oleander	Nerium oleander	6-10 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
New Zealand Flax	Phormium tenax	4-6 x 4-6	E	Well Drained	Sun
Pittosporum	Pittosporum tobira	6-8 x 6-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
Dwarf Pittosporum	Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler’s Dwarf’, ‘Mojo’, ‘Cream de Mint’	3-4 x 3-5	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun to Part Shade
‘Majestic Beauty’ Indian Hawthorn	Rhaphiolepis umbellata ‘Majestic Beauty’	8-10 x 8-10	E	Well Drained	Sun
Rugosa Rose	Rosa rugosa	3-5 x 4-6	D	Well Drained	Sun
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis	3-6 x 3-6	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Butcher’s Broom	Ruscus aculeatus	2-3 x 2-3	E	Well Drained	Part Shade to Shade
Sandwanka Viburnum	Viburnum suspensum	4-8 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun
Yucca*	Yucca gloriosa Yucca aloifolia	6-8 x 4-8	E	Well Drained to Xeric	Sun

 

PALMS

Palms—Highly Salt Tolerant

Palms—Moderately Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Soil	Exposure
Dwarf Palmetto*	Sabal minor	4-6 x 4-6	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Cabbage Palm, Palmetto*	Sabal palmetto	10-20 x 10-15	Well Drained	Sun
Saw Palmetto*	Serenoa repens	3-5 x 4-8	Moist to Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Soil	Exposure
Mediterranean Fan Palm	Chamaerops humilis	5-6 x 5-6	Well Drained	Sun to Light Shade
King Sago Emporer Sago	Cycas revoluta Cycas taitungensis	4-8 x 6 4-6 x 10	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade
Needle Palm*	Rhapidophyllum hystrix	5-10 x 5-10	Well Drained	Sun to Part Shade

ORNAMENTAL GRASSES

10

Ornamental Grasses—Highly Salt Tolerant

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread	Soil Conditions	Exposure
Pampas Grass	Cortaderia selloeana	8’ x 6’	Moist to Well Drained	Full Sun
Lyme Grass	Leymus arenarius	2’ x 4’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Maiden Grass	Miscanthus sinensis	4’-8’ x 3’-6’	Moist to Well Drained	Full Sun
Muhly Grass*	Muhlenbergia capillaris	3’ x 3’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Bitter Panicum*	Panicum amarum	3’ x 2’	Well Drained to Xeric	Full Sun
Sand Cordgrass*	Spartina bakeri	3’ x 3’	Well Drained	Full Sun

Common Name

Botanical Name

Height x Spread

Soil Conditions

Exposure

Panic Grass* Fountain Grass

 

PERENNIALS

Perennials—Highly Salt Tolerant

Full Sun Full Sun

Common Name	Botanical Name	Height x Spread (ft.)	Exposure	Soil
Blanket Flower, Gaillardia*	Gaillardia pulchella	1-2 x 1-2	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Daylily	Hemerocallis species and hybrids	1-4 x 1-4	Sun/Partial Shade	Moist to Well Drained
Lantana	Lantana camara Lantana montevidensis	2-4 x 3-6	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Prickly Pear Cactus*	Opuntia compressa	1-2 x 2-3	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric
Lavender Cotton	Santolina chamaecyparissus	1-2 x 2	Sun	Well Drained
Seaside Goldenrod*	Solidago sempervirens	4-6 x 3-4	Sun	Well Drained to Xeric

 

Thank you, I just edited to the extreme limit of salt tolerance. I did come across that list but I did not save it. I would say that our city water qualifies as highest salt PPM. Its over 225 mg/l Compare that to Austin, Dallas, Houston, they are down near 25 mg/l So they can water 7 days and accumulate 175 mg/l while if I water every day I accumulate 1,575 mg/l ,if its not leached out. Its why I have raised beds, so it can sorta leach out, and I can adjust the PH.

EPA recommends not to exceed 30 to 60 mg/l.  College Station Utilities Monopoly.  I wonder how many heart attacks and diseases people get in this county.

Edited May 16, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/13/2022 at 12:12 PM, Will Simpson said:

Ensete maureliii , Thailand Giant EE , and Gardenias 

C3BFDF9E-ADB6-4520-8F16-4E2DB29AC9AB.heic 2.55 MB · 0 downloads

I saw Ensete glaucum ( snow banana) Growing at Mercer Arboretum, north Houston, not long ago ( 2018) , and were massive. So maybe I should try them again - maybe it was just my soil and water that did them in... but only saw them one other time doing well in the south... I think In southern Alabama, However, I cannot find a live Ensete glaucum anywhere. They were the Bismarckia of Bananas!

Edited May 17, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/13/2022 at 11:43 AM, amh said:

Aesculus pavia, Asimina genus, Feijoa sellowiana, passiflora, Zingiber officinale or other gingers, Curcuma genus, cold hardy bromeliads, bougainvillea, bamboo, cordylines, philodendrons,Opuntia ellisiana and Piper auritum are a few I can think of. Underlined plants are ones I grow that survived '21 and need very little care. You do need to address your saltwater issue first.

Just Added this spring or had a few of these, I hope the Pineapple Guava does well. Ill add to my notes so I can research for this fall availabilities of some others.

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/13/2022 at 4:25 PM, Ben OK said:

Some good ones already mentioned. I will add loquat tree, arctic frost satsuma (and other cold hardy citrus), pomegranate trees/shrubs bamboos, magnolia grandiflora, and I like evergreen shrubs such as azaleas oleander, and rhododendrons. I am sure there are lots of other good complimentary plants out there though

My Loquat came back from the stems. So I added 5 more of these. Pomegranate came back from roots. Added two Magnolia Browns Beauty. honestly that was a big purchase. Not a single Little Gem i see has lived here in the city. I even saw dead ones in Waco from the freeze. My EE Rouge azalea might be my first causality, I am not sure what happened it was so happy then looked like it was hit by a critter. I have a semi-dwarf tropical oleander that come back that I love. It blooms all year, unlike the big leaf ones. So I am propagating it since I do not know the variety. There are southern type of Rhods listed on Southern Living, but they are never in stock, makes me think maybe they wont work since they are trying to grow them in coastal AL.

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/14/2022 at 9:55 AM, Kailua_Krish said:

Crinum lilies? Many of them look quite tropical and in a hard freeze bounce back quickly in spring from the giant underground bulbs.

The green variety of shell ginger is much hardier and faster growing than the variegated and can take a freeze better. There are also other species that are more tolerant.

I have a couple Crinum Lilies, I guess they need full sun to flower? I have a green ginger, that has slowly spread. I need to divide to and spread in yard. The variegated form under a live oak and never gets enough moisture to flourish. 

[Collectorpalms]

On 5/15/2022 at 1:38 PM, amh said:

Prunus maritima, Ilex vomitoria, Juniperus virginiana, Agave americana, Phormium tenax, and Chaenomeles speciosa are salt tolerant.

Is your soil natural or was it brought in during construction?

I had eastern red cedar I considered a nuisance But I have one that sprouted in my yard that I have kept same as Youpon Hollies. I wanted a Taylor Juniper, but passed on it. I got 4 Arizona cypress, two regular, and two sorta dwarf forms. I wanted the Icy blue type... will see next year. Ill be surprised if I can keep these alive as they can drop dead if I Forget to water a day until established.

[amh]

4 hours ago, Collectorpalms said:

Just Added this spring or had a few of these, I hope the Pineapple Guava does well. Ill add to my notes so I can research for this fall availabilities of some others.

The pineapple guava will handle shade, full sun, cold, heat, drought and flood, but I don't know about salt.

The deer will leave it alone, so that is another plus.

[Xenon]

1 minute ago, amh said:

The pineapple guava will handle shade, full sun, cold, heat, drought and flood, but I don't know about salt.

The deer will leave it alone, so that is another plus.

A&M has some big pineapple guava that hardly get any care but are still flowering a ton.

Might be vanilla but plumbago flowers constantly all summer (hard to beat blue) and hardly needs any water when established. 

The Parkinsonia around town look pretty "exotic", looks like they only got minor damage to younger wood from the big freeze.

The older more vigorous tropical Hibiscus like 'President' should come back though you may be waiting until July for blooms barring a mild winter. Handles salt but not excessive alkalinity

 

 

[Collectorpalms]

2 hours ago, Xenon said:

A&M has some big pineapple guava that hardly get any care but are still flowering a ton.

Might be vanilla but plumbago flowers constantly all summer (hard to beat blue) and hardly needs any water when established. 

The Parkinsonia around town look pretty "exotic", looks like they only got minor damage to younger wood from the big freeze.

The older more vigorous tropical Hibiscus like 'President' should come back though you may be waiting until July for blooms barring a mild winter. Handles salt but not excessive alkalinity

 

 

Got the imperial blue Plumbago covered, got 55 plants. Mostly liners, 2 to pot. Not planted. InLike the look of climbing so I started the one on right.

Do tropical hibiscus flower in our heat? I had them come back but was dissatisfied with blooms. Got bugs tossed. Seems more like a Hilo climate. Who knew Mandevilla and orange bird of paradise can come back.  
 

Yesterday, shown Proven winners Petunia, Whales tounge. Plumbago, etc., two days of not watering almost lost two petunias in front. Think they are ok now.

Edited May 17, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Xenon]

27 minutes ago, Collectorpalms said:

Do tropical hibiscus flower in our heat? I had them come back but was dissatisfied with blooms. Got bugs tossed. Seems more like a Hilo climate. Who knew Mandevilla and orange bird of paradise can come back.  
 

Heat isn't an issue, they are all over south Texas. Needs a lot of sun and potassium for best flowering. Lowes sometimes has wilted but otherwise fine plants on clearance for 4 bucks 

Blooms right up till frost (pic from mid December)

Edited May 17, 2022 by Xenon

[Collectorpalms]

6 minutes ago, Xenon said:

Heat isn't an issue, they are all over south Texas. Needs a lot of sun and potassium for best flowering. Lowes sometimes has wilted but otherwise fine plants on clearance for 4 bucks 

If they can handle fixed ph, fixed soil with potassium and leached salt I’ll try again. They were at Moodys for awhile… I think I recall a special fertilizer awhile back didn’t help. It was the bugs. What were they. Spider mites? Had full sun. 

Edited May 17, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

No one mentioning Podocarpus? 

[Xenon]

2 minutes ago, Collectorpalms said:

If they can handle fixed ph, fixed soil and potassium and leached salt I’ll try again. They were at Moodys for awhile… 

They are all over the Houston Area. Some were tree sized at some point in the 2000s. The older varieties always come back.

The yellow flowering Turnera ulmifolia in the pic above should handle salt and heat too (it's all over coastal Florida). Not hardy even as a perennial but very easy from cuttings (save in the fall for next season), will also reseed itself. 

[Collectorpalms]

6 minutes ago, Xenon said:

They are all over the Houston Area. Some were tree sized at some point in the 2000s. The older varieties always come back.

The yellow flowering Turnera ulmifolia in the pic above should handle salt and heat too (it's all over coastal Florida). Not hardy even as a perennial but very easy from cuttings (save in the fall for next season), will also reseed itself. 

I almost bought liners of those two weeks ago but had to limit myself. I did a cutting from Esperanza and it took ok. Now I have to go back T the damn weeds there. They got so out of control last year after the freeze and extra sun. Nothing kills texas weeds forever. Killing a Bermuda grass area for 20 years I think 

Edited May 17, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

Royal Hawaiian Colocasia is a must have it puts out tons of purplish leaves. It’s a new one this season for me. 

[Collectorpalms]

I think someone mentioned Texas Olive. Yup, mine came back and is flowering. 

[Allen]

12 minutes ago, Collectorpalms said:

Royal Hawaiian Colocasia is a must have it puts out tons of purplish leaves. It’s a new one this season for me. 

It's one of my favorite here too.  Called a different name but same plant.

Edited May 18, 2022 by Allen

[Allen]

I'll toss into the ring Hardy hibiscus, Colocasia 'Coffee cup' and all Canna lily 

Edited May 18, 2022 by Allen

[Collectorpalms]

11 minutes ago, Allen said:

I'll toss into the ring Colocasia 'Coffee cup' and all Canna lily

Purchased 7 bulbs of them, all turned out bad. I thought one was going to do something. Nope. Disappointed. If they come from Columbia, stay away. Evidently they have had issues from there. 
Proven Winners Sells live Tea cups., but rarely do we get their products down here with no speciality nursery. 

Edited May 18, 2022 by Collectorpalms