Shrubs and ornamental grasses are landscape elements that add character, structure and privacy to a home landscape. When used as foundation plantings, shrubs and grasses help to “anchor” the architecture of a home and soften the hard surfaces of the house, driveways and walkways. When planted along the perimeter of the property, these elements can function as a windbreak, help reduce environmental noise and provide screening for privacy. Many shrubs and grasses produce flowers, berries or seeds that provide food for birds and other wildlife. These plants are important in establishing wildlife habitats.

When used as foundation plantings, shrubs and grasses help to “anchor” the architecture of a home and soften the hard surfaces of the house, driveways and walkways.

There are more than 125 native and adapted shrubs and grasses for the upper Texas Gulf Coast. Native and adapted species are better able to tolerate the extreme heat, soil drenching rains and periodic droughts that are common to the Upper Texas Gulf Coast. Once established, these plants require very little supplemental irrigation. The WaterSmart “Five that Survive” landscaping shrubs for the Upper Texas Gulf Coast are Barbados Cherry, Dwarf Wax Myrtle, American Beautyberry, Yaupon Holly and Dwarf Palmetto.