Choosing the best shade plants for Texas is a crucial part of gardening in the south. Shade plants in a Texas landscape should thrive, despite being in the shade for several hours a day. However, knowing which Texas flowering plants and shrubs are suitable for the shade can be challenging. After all, most plants, especially flowering ones, require some sunlight to thrive.

Small maple trees are perfect for adding ornamental features to your garden without taking up too much room. Maple trees that grow less than 20 feet (6 meters) tall fit well into most garden landscapes. Some small ornamental maple trees have spectacular colorful lacelike leaves. And all species of maples — large and small — are famous for their beautiful fall colors of golden yellow, warm orange, and vibrant reds. 

Desert plants thrive in hot, arid environments where they can survive with minimal rainfall. The desert biome is characterized by sandy or stony soil, high temperatures, and little moisture. Plants that grow well in desert environments need to store moisture in their fleshy leaves or have an extensive root system. Cacti are the most common desert plants; however, succulents, desert trees, grasses, and types of small shrubs and flowering bushes all grow well in deserts.

Choosing ground cover plants for a Florida landscape doesn’t have to be challenging. Many creeping, ground-hugging plants are well-suited to growing in Florida’s unique climate. Spreading flowering ground cover plants are perfect for planting in full sun in the Sunshine State. However, several varieties of mat-forming plants for shade also thrive in warm, humid climates like the southeastern United States.

Fast-growing trees are excellent for providing shade and privacy in a Florida landscape. Many species of trees with a fast growth rate are suitable for growing in the Sunshine State. Evergreen trees for Florida gardens offer benefits throughout the year, providing privacy and shade and boosting curb appeal. In addition, many deciduous trees for warm climates have attractive and fragrant flowers to enhance your front or backyard aesthetics.

Removing mushrooms in your lawn is usually necessary during late summer and fall. This is because lawn mushrooms have a habit of seeming to appear overnight, spoiling the appearance of your lush turfgrass. Although mushrooms growing in a lawn won’t damage the grass or soil health, the white or yellow fungus growths are typically unwelcome yard visitors.

Hedge plants for landscaping a Florida garden help to increase privacy, improve its aesthetics, and act as a noise barrier. However, finding the best plants to grow as a hedge in Florida is challenging. Florida’s unique climate means that hedge plants should tolerate humidity, full sunlight, coastal air, and periods of drought.

Red and white mushrooms are the most iconic types of mushrooms you will find. Red-capped mushrooms with characteristic white warty spots evoke pictures of enchanted woodlands. However, far from being harmless fungi growing in grassy undergrowth, most red and white mushrooms are poisonous if consumed. Most varieties of red and white mushrooms are in the genera Amanita and Russula.

A creeping thyme lawn is an excellent alternative to a traditional lawn. Planting low-growing creeping thyme as a lawn substitute is easier to maintain and requires less watering. Additionally, creeping thyme transforms your yard every summer with a blanket of pink, purple or magenta-red flowers — something a typical lawn can never do. Also, a creeping thyme lawn thrives in full sun and doesn’t suffer sun scorch like traditional turfgrass.

Mushrooms growing in lawns are a common sight. Small clusters of white, brown, orange or even red fungi can appear in grass seemingly from nowhere. Most types of lawn mushrooms have a characteristic umbrella-shaped or flat cap on top of a slender stem. Even though many mushroom species prefer shaded areas, lawn mushrooms have the habit of popping up even in sunny yards.