dw,

I do not live in Houston but these plants have worked for me in Kyle (zone 8B), with poor, alkaline soil. Many of them are invasives, so please do your research before planting them: Coral honeysuckle, Yellow honeysuckle, Hall's honeysuckle, Coral bean, Canyon Daisy, Purple ruellia, white ruellia, Bauhinia (several species), Almond verbena, Calylophus, asparagus fern, variegated pittoposrum, variegated privet, soap aloe, iris, freesia, rosemary, lavender, variegated carex, roughleaf dogwood, salvia, sage, Texas kidneywood, bougainvillea, passiflora, Canary Island Palm, Coral bush, Texas red yucca, firebush (Hamelia), Vitex, esperanza, Gaura, Callicarpa Americana and flame acanthus. I'm sure you'll have even more choices than the ones I mentioned because of your warmer zone. Happy gardening!

Omar

You could add the oleanders if they will fit into your mind's idea of what to do.

I also have enjoyed dianthus and snapdragons. They stay evergreen in my area. Though I have noticed that the dianthus won't get too big, so they don't take over a spot. They just stay nice and tidy where they are growing. The snaps do get taller and seem to spread more but still decently contained also.

So far I have not really experienced too much of reseeding. It is just the original plants growing and staying alive after these many years.

I'm about an hour north of you. Plain 'ol cheap impatients do TERRIFIC for me, they'll get huge, and look great in the front of my flowerbed, with bushes behind them. Try some in the ground or a pot!

I live in Houston and have had good luck growing plumeria. Just like hibiscus they must be protected from a hard freeze during the winter months.

DW, whatever you plant, make it natives. The benefits far outweigh planting Chinese plants. Make a trip out to Arbor Gate in North Houston. Do some homework on Houston Native Plants and the reason to plant native and you'll do fine.