Catalog 03: Parking Lots & Paved Surfaces

Site Type

Parking Lots & Paved Surfaces

Converted hardscape, parking lot islands, and former paved surfaces requiring maximum urban heat island mitigation.

This catalog is designed using the Houston Miyawaki Forest Design Guide species selection criteria — all species validated for Houston's USDA zones 9a–10a and the specific site conditions of this catalog type.

Site Specifications

Planting Density 3.2 plants/sq meter (~298 plants per 1,000 sf)

Planting Window October–March

Self-Sustaining By Month 24–36

USDA Zones 9a–10a (Houston)

Species Composition

Recommended species mix

All species are native to the Houston region and validated for this site type. Percentages represent target proportions of total planting count.

22%

Emergent

30%

Sub-Canopy

30%

Shrub

18%

Ground Cover

Common Name	Scientific Name	Layer	% Mix	Notes
Live Oak	Quercus virginiana	Emergent	12%	Houston's most iconic and widely recommended tree; extraordinary tolerance for urban stress and salt
Cedar Elm	Ulmus crassifolia	Emergent	10%	Most alkaline- and drought-tolerant elm; outstanding urban tolerance for parking lot sites
Eastern Redbud	Cercis canadensis	Sub-Canopy	12%	Spectacular magenta-pink spring blooms; among the earliest nectar sources for pollinators
Mexican Plum	Prunus mexicana	Sub-Canopy	10%	Earliest native flowering tree; very adaptable to alkaline clay; fragrant white February blooms
Eastern Red Cedar	Juniperus virginiana	Sub-Canopy	8%	Extremely drought- and alkaline-tolerant; excellent for highway and parking lot forests
Texas Lantana	Lantana urticoides	Shrub	12%	Outstanding butterfly attractor; highly drought tolerant; thrives in poor, rocky soils
Agarito	Berberis trifoliolata	Shrub	10%	Hardy evergreen adapted to alkaline upland soils; spine-tipped leaflets provide nesting protection
Coralberry	Symphoricarpos orbiculatus	Shrub	8%	Shade-tolerant; persistent coral berries provide winter food for bluebirds and robins
Zizotes Milkweed	Asclepias oenotheroides	Ground Cover	10%	Most drought-tolerant native milkweed; essential Monarch host for dry, paved sites
Lance Leaf Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata	Ground Cover	8%	Bright yellow blooms April–July; self-seeding; thrives in well-drained clay and sandy soils

Site-Specific Guidance

Key considerations for this site type.

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Sub-base Preparation

Former pavement requires full base removal to 18-inch depth plus compaction remediation before planting. Asphalt sub-base residues can impede drainage — test soil pH and drainage before amendment.

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Mandatory Irrigation

Paved surface conversions require automated drip irrigation for the full Year 1 establishment period — heat island effects significantly increase water demand vs. natural sites.

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Heat Island Metrics

Parking lot conversions are the highest-impact site type for urban heat reduction. Expect measurable surface temperature reduction of 15–25°F within 2 growing seasons as canopy closes.

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Pollinator Priority

Urban hardscape conversions create critical pollinator stepping stones. Maximize Zizotes Milkweed, Texas Lantana, and Agarito planting density — these species provide exceptional pollinator habitat in hot, exposed conditions.