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
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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