My garden has been through many changes since 2011. I've experimented, failed, and tried again. After all this time, I feel like my garden has finally developed some structure and enduring greenery. As trees have grown, sunny areas have become shady, impacting established plants and my choice of new ones. Many plants have (sadly) died, even though they are native or adapted. Extreme heat or cold, too much water or not enough, poor drainage, not in the right spot, all possible reasons, some for unknown reasons.
It took several years for the trees I planted to grow tall, but after 7 or 8 years I began to have significant shade. Then, in 2025 I began to intentially trim lower branches to let in more morning sun because many of the plants I love need sun to bloom. From the get-go, I needed a privacy screen on three sides to achieve the enclosed garden oasis I envisioned. Fast growing shrubs near the fence was my hope, but it's not that easy. Even fast-growing shrubs don't grow that fast, and often don't live up to expectations. (see Trees for Shade and Privacy) Ornamental trees and shrubs add interest with foliage or flowers. Evergreens provide year-round greenery and structure, and are generally lower maintenance in my experience.
Ornamental trees I've successfully grown (not necessarily without issues): Flame Leaf Sumac. Crape Myrtle (I have four varieties but there are many more), Texas Redbud, Anacacho Orchid, Texas Mountain Laurel, Lorapetalem (many varieties and sizes).
Flame Leaf Sumac aka Prairie Sumac, flaming in Fall, which is is why I planted it. It grew really fast. Also spreads but it's easy to pull up. Careful or you'll have a thicket.
Tuscarora Crape Myrtles in front yard. First flush of blooms late June, then it's sporatic until Fall. They often have heavy flower buds that don't open. Fertilizer and pruning old growth helps some but sometimes I think it's genetics.
Texas Red Bud by the fence. I was after some shade on that side, but I pruned it up this summer to let in more morning sun. It looks its best when flowering in February.
One of my three Anacacho Orchids. They put on a show of lovely white flowers March-May. They do best with lots of sun but one of mine is under the canopy of the Cedar Elm. Bought two, transplanted one,
Loropetulem with glowing leaves. Spring brings lovely pink flowers and purple leaves, which is why I have five. I use acidified fertilizer and cottonseed mulch to improve it's growing medium.
Texas Mountain Laurel in full bloom in February. It doesn't bloom every year, another mystery, but it's glorious when it does. There is a small worm that will feast on new growth early Spring. It only happened once, thankfully. I mostly picked them off.
Some large shrubs currently growing: Buford Holly, Cleyera, Leatherleaf Mahonia, Althea/Rose of Sharon, Dwarf Euonymus, Winter Gem Boxwood (smaller variety),
This Leatherleaf Mahonia is a favorite evergreen. 4 ft. tall, beautiful yellow flowers winter-early spring, it's low maintenance, low water shade lover that doesn't spread. I'm hoping to plant another.
Buford Holly Evergreen, compact, slow-growing. Planted to screen rainbarrel, but I would make a different choice. Leaves are prickly.
Cleyera (Bronze Beauty) Planted by the fence as an eventual screen, it has hardly grown in 4 years. Now tucked under Forsythia Sage. I'm considering moving or removing. It didn't live up to it's label as fast and tall.
This is the one Boxwood I chose to keep out of eight Winter Gems I planted 10 years ago. It hides the pool pump (bottom left). Evergreen and compact (at least for a few years), it provides year-round structure. After 10 years, they became woody and taller than I wanted.
These two dwarf Euonymus at the entrance of a future seating area are looking ragged after 10 years. Their lifespan is 20-30 years. They were dark green and full with little pruning needed. I'll probably chop them to the ground first and see if they come back nicely before giving up. They're a good choice for evergreen structure.
Rose of Sharon: two in the side yard and one in back. In the hisbiscus family, they need medium water. Many varieties to chose from. I love the purple blooms.
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