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Plant Resource Catalog
(Download our Plant List Planner here)
Welcome to our plant resource catalog. Here you will find many major plants to choose from to make your garden a year-round exterior living room.
Compiled by Matthew Ponseti
Click on a plant name or scroll down below to view all.
Southern Live Oak Tree
English Boxwood
Cypress tree
Japanese Yew
Dwarf Mondo
Crape Myrtle
Orange Bird of Paradise
Giant Liriope
Vitex
Salvia
Red Banana
Pigmy Date Palm
Windmill Palm Tree
Mondo Grass
Date Palm
Oriental Magnolia
Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo)
Mandevilla (Dipladenia)
Longleaf Pine
Coleus
Christmas Berry
Carolina Yellow
Giant Bird of Paradise
Autumn Fern
Aspidistra
Fan Palm Tree
Elephant Ear Plants
Dwarf Oleander
Wax Leaf Ligustrum
Southern Live Oak Tree
Southern Live Oak Trees are so much part of New Orleans landscaping, and of New Orleans family photos too. They are almost evergreen trees typically found in the southern states of the US. You may also know them by the names Virginia live oak, bay live oak, plateau oak and - in Spanish - Encino. In New Orleans, southern live oak is mostly known in the large and spreading version but there are shrubby versions too. Most live oak trees are covered in mysterious Spanish moss hanging and dangling in the wind. Height: about 50 feet. Soil conditions: moist or dry soil.
English Boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens)
English boxwood shrubs provide elegance, symmetry and a wide range of garden sculpture opportunities to the rich New Orleans garden designs full of vigor and vitality. As the shrub is simply inviting you to customize it in all kinds of shapes, it is a great excuse for tapping creative energies, but it is basically a plant with very low maintenance needs. Height: 6-10 feet (width 3-5 feet)
English boxwood grows about one inch a year (early spring growth, when fertilization should take place).
How can you tell apart English boxwood from an American boxwood?
Mind you, English boxwood is not the same as American boxwood. English boxwood shrubs are denser, more compact, you cannot see through them, and they do not grow as fast as their American counterparts. But probably the fastest test is to have a closer look at the leaves. English boxwood leaves are rounded, while American ones look like a spear with a pointed tip. Instead of a pointed tip, English boxwood has a tiny notch on the tip as if somebody clipped the tip with a miniature clipper.
Cypress
Cypress trees, e.g. Leyland cypress are highly popular evergreen trees, which can provide privacy in a natural way and with grace all year round - with low maintenance needs (no need for trimming to get symmetry!). What is more, they can grow very fast, up to 3-4 feet a year, due to their very adaptive root systems, so a new garden can become quickly showy with a row of cypress trees.
Height: (in rows) approx. 2-3 feet, otherwise mature trees can grow up to 70 feet
Tips & more
- Cypress trees are quite drought tolerant, and they can grow steadily in part shade or in full sunlight too
- If you wish to have a privacy cypress row, it is worth leaving about 6 feet between each cypress tree
- When ordering cypress trees, make sure that the roots are intact, properly developed, not bare
- adding mulch around the roots will slow down the growth of weeds
Japanese Yew
Japanese Yew is an evergreen shrub oftentimes used as an ornamental privacy hedge. Its berries (called ‘arils’) & leaves are extremely toxic.
As Japanese yew grows slowly, it has low maintenance needs in the garden, but it also means that privacy needs must be satisfied with fully grown mature yews.
Height: up to 50 feet
Dwarf Mondo
Dwarf Mondo grass (also known as the Monkey grass), is a great groundcover or border plant in garden designs grown for its dark foliage. It is also a typical plant in rock gardens. Height: about 4- 6 inch
Dwarf Mondo grass likes shade (light - full) and well-drained soil. You can easily propagate Dwarf Mondo by dividing the root balls.
Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle can often be seen as tree hedges or barriers in the streets of New Orleans: bright pink and red flowers standing out from the green foliage, which are very attractive, just like the clean pale trunks. Crape Myrtle blooms from spring to fall. Height: 15-25 feet (average growth rate 3-5 ft a year - similarly to Cypress trees)
Tips:
- Crape myrtle can tolerate cold, drought, and different soil conditions pretty well
- Full sun is ideal for crape myrtle - in shade you may see that the bright pinkish flowers will lose their color
Orange Bird of Paradise
Bird-of-paradise or crane flower (Strelitzia reginae) is a native of South Africa and is closely related to the banana. The herbaceous plant derives its common names from the unique flower it bears, which resembles a brightly colored bird in flight. The leathery leaves are held upright on stiff leafstalks and are about 6 inches wide and 18 inches long. The plant forms a 3- to 5-foot-tall clump that can be used as a focal point in the landscape or in mass plantings. The evergreen leaves of bird-of-paradise do not drop from the plant, which makes it an excellent addition around pools or wherever shedding leaves are an aesthetic and/or maintenance problem.
Bird-of-paradise makes an attractive landscape plant throughout Louisiana, although it requires cold protection. The plant will tolerate temperatures as low as 24°F for a short time; however, freezing temperatures will damage developing flower buds and flowers.
Giant Liriope
Giant Liriope is a tall growing dark green foliage plant that is reminiscent of grass. The gorgeous arching leaves can grow one to two feet tall. It is a very popular border grass. It grows in a clumping fashion. This hardy plant can usualy be planted year round. It grows moderately fast, and does best in the full sun.
Vitex
Vitex, which has many other names like Monk’s Pepper tree or Chaste tree, etc., is a nice deciduous shrub of subtropical climates, and as such it loves New Orleans gardens. From early summer to the first frost, you will see Vitex blooming: the flowers are usually like many lilac/ violet fragrant candles pointing upwards to the sky and hailing humming birds, butterflies, bees. It’s ideal for New Orleans gardens as it is very drought tolerant. Average height: 12-24 feet
Salvia
Salvia is a quickly growing bedding plant with increased heat and drought tolerance and little garden maintenance needs. In a couple of weeks (approx. 6-8 weeks from sowing) you can have a showy plant with continuously new flowers from June to September. From full sun to full shade, your salvia will enjoy various light conditions. Height: 20-35 inches.
The most simple version of Salvia you will also know is referred to as common sage (yes, the culinary herb) and the Salvia that you can see in the photo below is also called Scarlet Sage (Salvia splendens) - although there are many color varieties like lavender, purple, white, and so on.
Red Banana
This banana tree is known by many names in other parts of the world, (Cuban Red banana tree, Jamaican Red banana tree, Indio, Macaboo, etc) this very sweet lady finger banana plant type fruit is one of the most beautiful. It turns "sunset" colors when ripening from dark burgundy to orange, yellow-green and mutated colors in between. The full bodied flavor and distinctive sweetness make it worth the wait to give fruit. They are smaller in size than the common Cavendish banana and have a creamy white to pink flesh, with a slight raspberry flavor. They can be sliced and dried or eaten Very wide green leaves that are so beautiful. The dwarf Red banana tree grows 6 ft. to 8'.
Pigmy Date Palm
Pygmy date palm is one of the most widely used landscape palms in the United States. This palm's small stature, slow growth, easy care and graceful crown have made it a popular accent plant in tropical settings. They are one of the most adaptable palms for container growing. Pygmy palms do best with regular feeding and watering; they should not be allowed to dry out. If located in full sun, water 3 times per week in summer months and at least 2 times per week in winter weather. Shade locations usually will use less water.
Windmill Palm Tree
Windmill Palm trees (also called the Chinese or Chusan Fan Palm trees) are really cold-tolerant and can survive harsh winter conditions too. It is usually a single trunk palm but occasionally you can come by multi-trunk varieties. Windmill Palm Trees are really ideal for weather conditions in New Orleans.
Height: typically approx. 40 feet (but can grow more in excellent conditions in rare cases)
Mondo Grass
Mondo grass is a great garden ground cover for partially sunlit areas (or full shade). Its blueish green smooth texture is ideal for toning down the garden design, for providing continuous ground foliage background (lusher and more artistic than with normal lawn grass), under live oak trees, as borders etc. Varieties of mondo grass and liriope are quite often mixed in landscaping, as often seen in New Orleans garden design too. Do not expect spectacular blooming from mondo grass, it is really popular for the blue-green shade and dramatic ground texture and not for its humble flowers we love using it in landscaping. If not handled carefully, it may become invasive and take over the garden. So, thinning out mondo grass on a regular basis is important. Height: approx. 6-12 inches
Date Palm
Date Palm trees are very tall perennial palm trees, which produce dates, so this palm tree is very specific in a food history sense, because it is one of the oldest fruit trees all over the world. The tree has no branches, its long trunk is topped with a very big crown featuring long leaves of about 20 feet. Height: 20-50 feet
Date Palm trees like indirect sunlight and moist soil. However, you can let the tree go through a dryer winter season and water it less. When there is not enough humidity, the tips of the leaves turn brown.
Date palm trees have separate male and female versions, and only the female ones produce dates.
Oriental Magnolia
Nandina (Heavenly Bamboo)
One looks at the nice foliage of Nandina and may think that it is a less tough plant. Not so. Especially in the southern states, like Louisiana, Nandina is a popular evergreen hedge with beautiful fall and winter leaves and berries, and showy clusters of white flowers blooming in spring. In the Nandina photo below you can see the foliage turning into reddish shades (the pic was taken in mid May) before assuming its green colors. If you wish to have a really spectacular mix of spring colors, plant it in direct sunlight! Nandina is also known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo, but it is not a bamboo at all. Height: 5-7 feet.
Little garden maintenance is required: annual pruning would do.
Mandevilla (Dipladenia)
Longleaf Pine (Pinus Palistris)
Coleus by New Orleans Garden Design
Coleus (also known as Painted Nettle or Flame Nettle) has colorful leaves. Coleus is often used as a border plant or a background plant to create a dramatic effect. Dwarf varieties are about 10 inch high on average, full mature Coleus plants can be as high as 24 inch.
Coleus should be planted in partial shady - bright light areas, but not exposed to direct light in order to preserve the nice intensive inner color contrast of the individual leaves. By the way, the leaves do not sting, despite the common names ‘painted nettle’ or ‘flame nettle’ as Coleus belongs to the mint plants within the nettle family. Moist soil is great, refrain from over drainage.
Note: if you want to make sure that your Coleus is long-lived, take off the flowers to prevent seed production. Once Coleus starts producing seeds it ‘thinks’ that its life cycle is over. However, as handling Coleus may cause skin irritation, make sure to use gloves.
Christmas Berry (Toyon)
Christmas Berry or Toyon (or California holly) is an evergreen shrub that can reach the height of about 6-8 feet, while its width is about 4-5 feet. The red berries make a delightful sight in winter, while the white flowers are gently protected by the finely-toothed leaves in summer - they have hawthorn-like scent.
Horticulturists like Christmas berry as it is quite tolerant: full shade or full sun, drought are all survived by the shrub easily. Christmas berry is ideal for screening in the garden design. Finally, it is truly popular when it comes to butterfly or bird gardens (to attract mockingbirds, American Robins, etc.).
Carolina Yellow (Gelsemium sempervirens)
Carolina yellow also called Carolina jessamine is a very nice bushy vine with fragrant yellow flowers often seen in New Orleans on fences, patios, arbors, etc. It enjoys sunlight and regular moist (even though it tolerates drought quite well, it looks a lot better when watered adequately) whether you grow it in a container or use it as a ground cover.
Height: caroline yellow can climb really high, even up to 6 feet on trees.
Tips:
- carolina yellow likes wet ground and ample sunlight. It is a very user-friendly plant regarding maintenance needs.
Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)
Autumn Fern (Dryopteris erythrosora)
Autumn fern, also known as shaggy shield fern or copper shield fern, likes organic soils in shady places and partial shade. It is especially drought-tolerant, so it will do with moderate water use. In addition, it is mostly pest and disease free, which is a great feature for garden designs with low maintenance needs.
Height: 1.5 - 2 feet (its width is almost the same as its height), but some versions can be twice as high as the regular autumn fern.
In spring, autumn fern grows graceful coppery red fronds, which gradually turn into green. The fern provides an ideal backdrop for spring flowers and is also used as an accent plant or in containers.
Propagate: it is very easy to get new ferns, just divide the mature clumps.
Cultural note
Autumn fern, which originally comes from Asia (Japan, Korea, China, etc.) is a truly attractive plant especially in gardens in the south. According to Marie Harrison, autumn fern has been selected a Florida Plant of the Year as well as a Georgia Gold Medal Winner.
Aspidistra by Orleans Garden Design
Aspidistra elatior, also known as Cast Iron plant for its hardy nature, could take the motto “reliably green.” It is highly tolerant of bad conditions and keeps its lance-shaped leaves shiny and strong (florists like using them in flower arrangements). It is often seen in containers on porches, patios and placed in the house. In the garden it is a typical border ground cover oftentimes lending the background for flower beds, but it can be planted around trees too (Aspidistra sits well at the foot of southern live oak trees and magnolias).
Height: 2-3 feet
Tips & more
- although Aspidistra is OK with poorer soils, what it really likes is good fertile, well-drained soil
- do not plant Aspidistra in (very) sunny areas: it prefers shady places, no wonder it is also referred to as the Barrom plant tolerating dusty smoky shady parlors
- Aspidistra is easy to propagate: in spring divide the clumps and put the new divisions into somewhat deeper holes. But don’t expect them to overrun the place: they spread quite slowly.
- it is mostly pest-free
Cultural note: the plant is native to Japan, China, Taiwan, etc.
Fan Palm Tree
Elephant Ear Plants
Dwarf Oleander by Orleans Garden Design
Dwarf Oleander is a very pretty mini (petite) version of oleanders: it is a showy evergreen shrub, which is very drought tolerant, and likes to be in full-part sun.
Height: about 4 - 6 feet (width of 6 feet)
Make sure you wear gloves when handling oleanders, including dwarf oleanders as all parts of the plant are poisonous. Pruning should take place before buds break, and do not burn the pruned parts as toxic fumes need to be avoided. If you prune the upper limbs more, you can keep your oleander dwarfer.
Wax Leaf Ligustrum
Wax Leaf Ligustrum is a vivid evergreen shrub with dark green leaves of oblong shape. It is ideal for a nicely sheared hedge but can also be sheared as an individual tree. Besides being flexible regarding its shape, it is also a plant that tolerates less than ideal conditions pretty well, e.g. it can tolerate drought, heat, mild pollution, etc. Wax Leaf Ligustrum likes sun (part or full sun). So, it can tolerate well hot New Orleans summers too. Average height: approx. 5-9 feet
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