I was at the John Fairey garden yesterday and saw they had a number of cycads growing.  They are having their big annual event in 3 weeks where they will have some for sale.  I wasn't really able to get and up and close to the in ground plants during the tour so did not see any names.  What species other than the Cycas will grow in and around Houston?  I noticed they had a big Coontie outside but all the fronds were gone.

In Houston you can realistically grow at least half of the cycads.  I am in a humid 9B/9A borderline spot, and have ~325 cycads with ~225 in the ground. 

• Ceratozamia (lots of them) Miqueliana, Presa Aleman/Aurantiaca, Hildae, Mexicana, Robusta, etc.
• Cycas Clivicola, Debaoensis, Diannanensis, Guizhouensis, Litoralis, Multipinnata, Panzhihuaensis, Pectinata, Rev x Deb, Rev x Diannanensis,
• Dioon Edule, Angustifolium, Mejiae, Merolae, Spinulosum, Rzedowskii, Califanoi, Holmgrenii, Purpusii
• Encephalartos Aemulans, Altensteinii, Bandula, Ferox, Gratus, Hildebrandtii, Ituriensis, Kisambo, Laurentianus, Manikensis, Munchii, Natalensis, Sclavoi, Senticosus, Tegulaneus, Transvenosus, Turneri, Whitelockii
• Lepidozamia Peroffskyana
• Zamia Furfuracea, Loddigesii, Integrifolia/Floridana/Coontie, Picta/Variegata, Muricata, Fairchildiana, Vazquezii, Prasina,

I would avoid the "South African blues" like Arenarius, Horridus, Trispinosus, etc.  I've found them difficult to keep alive in the swamp of Floriduh, and I'd imagine the swamp of Houston is likewise difficult.

Wow on the 325 cycads!!

And wow again on how many I can actually grow.  Looks like I have a lot of reading to do!  Thanks @Merlyn

@Chester B there is a chance I went overboard on my cycad purchases...    If you want to look through photos to see what you like, agaveville has a pretty good and easy to browse selection:  https://www.agaveville.org/viewforum.php?f=42

Definitely recommend Coontie it is possible landscapers might've cut off all the fronds, they usually sprout new fronds right around now to April and some landscapes due to a low diversity, get scale issues (have never had this issue at home and I do see ladybugs eat scale at work) and cut off all fronds. they are great taller groundcover plant especially in tough situations like dry shade.

 

I also second the Dioon. most others get freeze damage where I live in N FL but Dioon seem most robust of the exotic neotropical species, they also have a distinctive leaf color and fine texture. they are not as crazy as the african blues (i have container one) but still have a nice powdery look and often new fronds are blush red.

Bamboo cycad is less common but quite attractive too, nice whorled leaves and great for shaded area (we grow it under oaks)

For in ground year round I would stick with the Dioon edule varieties and Dioon angustifolium, in an elevated fast draining position. Both are extremely hardy, in fact angustifolium barely burned in Austin’s Zilker Garden in 2021. Merolae and califanoi will possibly survive in ground in Houston, depending on moisture level in the area they are planted, but are extremely slow to flush. The others will rot from either moisture intolerance or lack of cold hardiness. I own or have owned almost every Dioon.

Here are a few pictures from Zilker Garden. The first page is immediately after the 2021 freeze, the second page I added pictures of what recovered. There’s a lot more that survive there than that

 

Here is another page on agaveville

https://www.agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?t=12094

Merlyn has a pretty good list regarding Encephalartos. Although I have heard laurentianus probably would struggle to survive the last few winters in Houston A lot of the larger green species can take quite a bit of cold. Especially if you cover their caudex in mulch during the worst of it. Here’s another good list from JLBG in North Carolina.

https://www.juniperlevelbotanicgarden.org/winter-hardy-cycads/

@Meangreen94z yeah the Laurentianus is probably the most sensitive on the list.  Mine defoliate with any frost or below 30ish.  Whitelockii/Ituriensis are good for a couple of degrees lower, but start taking damage around 28F or with frost.  Many of the other Encephalartos are good into the lower 20s, at least the caudex.  

I have done ok with Dioon here, but definitely in fast draining sandy soil.  Spinulosum is a LOT hardier than I read, taking minimal burn at 25F with frost and no canopy.  Mejiae is a bit less leaf hardy, but have done fine for years  here.

I can see clay being an issue with Dioon and some Encephalartos, so I am sure drainage and raised beds are a good idea.  

I'm having a new patio put in and they'll be excavating.  I'm planning on spray painting the outline of a large mound and have them dump all the dug up soil onto that.  From there I'll add my own layer of fast draining mix so it could be a great spot for some Cycads.

The Dioon edule we have for reference do share beds with many other plants so that might be helping with drainage as well. One 10 feet from a clumping bamboo (maybe Alphonse Karr?) in native gray sandy loam. If Salvia greggii and Salvia microphylla can grow for you I would think Dioon edule can and those are much cheaper to test out a site with

I was told by one person that Salvia don't do the best here.  Surprised to hear that but I'm going to try anyway, as they are real staple of Texas Gardens.  I always have Salvia not only for their non stop blooms, but the animals that they attract.

You likely have heard of at least some of these if not all lol as they are not particualrly rare plants but:

Chances are there is a Salvia that would work for you as it is a very large genus. Off top of my head: Salvia x Amistad (east-facing for TX maybe), Salvia miniata is great in all day dappled shade it still blooms (great under live oak), Salvia leucantha / Mexican bush sage (Santa Barbera is a nice dwarf variety) should be able to handle sun there.

Salvia coccinea and Salvia lyrata both have large natural populations in your area. Lyrata is a great meadow "mixer" plant and shade groundcover "mixer" plant. Salvia coccinea is extremely versatile in sun or shade as well and blooms within 3 months from seed in addition to being easy to root with several color varieties available.

Of the above all bloom year round except Lyrata (mostly in spring) and Mexican bush sage which is fall-blooming. All except Lyrata are great hummer plants, that one is more of a bee  plant/swallowtail plant in the wild at least