What Plants???

Anyone have any good suggestions for plants to get for the backyard? We wanna start getting something goin, but aren't sure where to start as far as types of plants to get. We live in So. Texas, so it's HOT most of the year, with only a few weeks of below freezing. Looking for plants that are, or will get, kinda large...lots of backyard. Also...looking for plants that won't require a second mortgage. :D

thanks,
Dan

Bananas grow fast. Mine grow about 10-12 feet in one year. Plumerias like it hot and will grow way faster in the ground.

http://www.fallingcocos.com

[ Edited by: MEAN GENE on 2005-04-19 09:27 ]

Posted deleted,

[ Edited by: chevypete on 2005-04-19 10:49 ]

Barnett, you are classified as Zone 9.
I would suggest picking up Neil Sperry's "Complete Guide to Texas Gardening". He knows everyting about texas plants. He has a website: http://www.neilsperry.com
I would look for his book in a used store or possibly on Amazon for a cheap copy. My father is a loyal fan of his, and I've been recently getting into his stuff.

I do know a hearty Tx plant that's tropical is the Texas Star Hibiscus (do a serch here on TC for it, I mentioned once before), just don't plant it in the front yard if you have nosey neighbors, they look like pot untill they bloom. The TSH gets about 7-12 ft tall. Yu can also plan Elephant ears and Caladiums. Any type of palms should do well in your area as well.

-one man aspiring to be everyone’s favorite unkle.
http://www.unklejohn.com

My Tiki Lounge http://unklejohn.suddenlaunch.com/index.cgi

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2005-04-19 13:01 ]

Look here:

http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=6815&forum=1

Thanks Phil for posting that! That's the post I was going to post for Barnett, along with this one: http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=10191&forum=1

Are you looking for instant shade? Or, are you just decorating with the light or exposure you have? It r hot there man! What growing zone you live in matters alot to the plant life that will feel like home there too. Floridian zone is 9 & 10 tropo!

Aloha!

McTiki, we're just trying to get some plants goin in the backyard and start to build the "foundation" for a cool tiki-like garden. Neither my or I are very green thumb oriented. I spend too much time painting and messin with old cars...but we want to learn about plants and have a nice lookin backyard. We just bought this house about 1.5 years ago and are finally getting around to tryin to do a little landscaping.

I had no idea about the different zones, eveyone...thanks for the info. I'll look into getting a book by Neil Sperry, too. So much to learn. Our problem is, we have a bigger backyard than I wanted! I just wanted something small-ish, but it's hard to find "the perfect house"...I got the big garage I wanted and my wife got the nummber of bedrooms and baths she wanted...

Thanks agin for all the info...this will definitely help get us on the right track!

Dan

When you go to pick them out.. get the ones that fit "full shade. full sun etc" plenty of water... It will look great