Trees

• Trees provide shade in warm zone 9 climates. The Japanese persimmon ("Diospyros khaki") thrives in sun and moist, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 7 to 9, this deciduous tree has glossy foliage that turns yellow, orange and red in autumn. It also produces white flowers in late spring, followed by edible orange fruits. Japanese persimmon trees grow to 25 feet tall with a 20-foot spread. The bald cypress ("Taxodium distichum") is hardy in zones 4 to 9. This adaptable tree thrives in a variety of sites, from wet to compacted and dry, and prefers full sun. Bald cypress trees grow to 100 feet tall with a 30-foot spread. Other trees for zone 9 include the crape myrtle, live oak and red mulberry.
  
  

Shrubs

• Shrubs define borders and provide privacy screens and hedges. The standard nandina ("Nandina domestica") grows well in zones 6 to 9, reaching 8 feet high with a 3-foot spread. Nandinas produce white summer flowers followed by clusters of long-lasting, bright-red berries. This drought-tolerant shrub grows in sun to shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil, but tolerates a variety of conditions. The dwarf yaupon holly ("Ilex vomitoria" cv. Nana) grows to 5 feet tall with a 6-foot spread. This small evergreen grows in a compact mound and thrives in zones 7 to 10. The yaupon's small red berries last from winter to spring. Yaupons are drought- and salt-tolerant, do well in any type of soil, and grow in sun to partial shade. Other shrubs for zone 9 include the dwarf oleander, snowberry and yucca.
  
  

Ground Covers

• Ground covers help prevent soil erosion and runoff. Species for zone 9 gardens include dwarf plumbago ("Ceratostigma plumbaginoides"), a fast-growing semi-evergreen hardy in zones 6 to 9. Dwarf plumbago grows to 10 inches tall with a much wider spread, and grows in a dense mat. Plumbagos bloom with bright-blue flowers in midsummer and prefer sun to light shade and rich, well-drained, acidic soil. Verbena ("Verbena rigida") grows into a quick-spreading mat of lance-shaped, serrated foliage. This deciduous to semi-evergreen ground cover is hardy in zones 7 to 10 and prefers full sun and well-drained to dry soil. Verbena blooms with spikes of purple flowers from summer to fall; the Texas A&M Extension recommends the Tex Tuf cultivar. Other ground covers for zone 9 include the confederate jasmine and muhly grass.
  
  

Perennials

• Perennials provide colorful blooms and foliage for at least 3 years. Perennials for zone 9 include hybrid sage ("Salvia x superba"), a 2- to 3-foot plant that produces spikes of purple to blue flowers in summer. This perennial is hardy in zones 3 to 10 and prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. The blue mist ("Caryopteris x clandonensis") grows in zones 5 to 9 and thrives in sites with full sun and well-drained soil. The blue mist blooms for up to 2 months in late summer with tall towers of small blue blossoms. This plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall. Other perennials for zone 9 include bidens, seaside daisy and yarrow.