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Plant This Not That: Texas

Swap invasive or overused plants for Texas natives

Ten common Texas landscape plants and the native swaps that give you the same look with less headache and more wildlife value.

📖 10 min read • Texas natives • SwapsUpdated March 2026

Redtip Photinia is prone to Entomosporium leaf spot in North Texas, which causes severe defoliation. Evergreen Sumac gives you the same dense, glossy screen with red-tinted new growth. It is drought-hardy, feeds wildlife, and reads as tidy for HOA-conscious yards.

Why swap

  • Redtip often collapses from fungal disease in wet or humid years.
  • Evergreen Sumac (Rhus virens) stays evergreen and does not need spraying.
  • Birds eat the fruit; same screening role without the headache.