Flowering Shrubs in Houston

Houston, Texas is located in hardiness zone 9, the hottest planting zone in the state, where the average nighttime winter temperatures get no lower than 20 degrees F. The shrubs in Houston must stand up to temperatures in the second hottest zone in the continental United States. The flowers come in a wide range of colors and sizes--small and delicate to big and bold.

Sweet Mockorange

Sweet mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius) is a deciduous shrub that grows from 8 to 10 feet tall with medium or dark-green leaves that grow up to 3 inches long and turn yellow-green in the fall. The white, fragrant flowers bloom from late May to early June, growing in small clusters. Plant sweet mockorange in full sun and in a soil that is well-drained and fertilized with organic matter.

Oleander

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an evergreen shrub that grows from 6 to 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide with lance-shaped, bright-green leaves from 4 to 10 inches long. The flowers bloom from May to August and come in white, red, pink, salmon or light yellow. Plant oleander in full sun and in a soil that is dry, moist or wet.

Winter Honeysuckle

Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) is also known as bush honeysuckle. The shrub grows from 6 to 8 feet tall and about the same in width with evergreen leaves. The white flowers bloom in late winter. Winter honeysuckle does best in full sun and in a soil that is well-drained and not allowed to go dry.

Red Yucca

Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora), also known as red flowered false yucca, redflower false yucca, samandoque and yellow yucca, is a member of the Century-Plant Family. The shrub is an evergreen with blue-green leaves that grow from 2 to 3 feet long and turn plum in the winter. The coral-red or yellow tube-shaped flowers bloom from March through July, growing on stalks that grow up to 5 feet tall. Plant yucca in full sun and in a dry soil. The flowers attract hummingbirds and deer.

Double Bridal Wreath

Double bridal wreath (Spiraea cantoniensis) is also known as Reeves' spirea and double Reeves and is a member of the rose family. The shrub grows from 3 to 6 feet tall with reddish-brown stems that spread from 6 to 8 feet across. The plant produces 2-inch long, diamond-shaped leaves that are dark green on the top and a pale blue-green on the bottom.
The white flowers resemble a rose and grow in 2-inch round clusters that cover the shrub. Double bridal wreath performs best when planted in full sun and in a soil that is dry to moist.