Looking for year-round plants for the yard (Houston: landscaping, neighborhood)

[RVD26]

I am looking to put in some nice plants in the yard that will last all year round.
Bush-type plants are preferred. Not looking to spend a fortune.
I am looking to get it done this weekend.
I am looking for something that is low maintenance and that will last through the winter and the whole year.
As you can probably tell, I know absolutely nothing about plants.
Please suggest some nice plants to go around the yard.

[TimBomb]

check out your neighborhood to see which ones survived this past winter

[Houston_2010]

Azaleas do well and they are flowering in the spring. One of my favorites is the Sago Palm - not a bush...but can make a good accent in your yard. The bigger you get it the more expensive, but you can get a medium size and give it room to grow.

If you have a lawn guy or your neighbors do, ask them...they will probably tell you what will be best for your yard.

[RVD26]

I have seen some of my neighbor's plants that survived, but I am not sure what they are called.
Sorry, I'm not the most neighborly guy in the world and don't want to go up to neighbors I've never spoken a word to, to ask them about their plants.
And my lawn guy speaks little to no English.
Just looking for suggestions on what plants tend to last year round here in the Houston area with little maintenance.

[katydiva]

I have Knock Out Roses in my backyard and while they are not really flowering right now, they survived just fine and will be back soon. They are pretty easy to maintain, i.e. no covering.

[Cassino]

Our Japanese Boxwood bushes survived the latest ICE/SNOWMAGEDDON 2011!!!! just dandy. They are hardy little bushes.

[crone]

What you are suggesting is not a casual thing. Plants are living things, not something you just go to nursery and stick in the ground and cross your fingers. They all have preferences and needs.
Sun, shade?
Well drained or boggy? Sandy or clay soil?
How tall and big around do you want the final growth to be, or do you intend to prune weekly, monthly, annually?
Ph of soil.
Flowering?
Budget?

[Sampaguita]

I thought the "approach your neighbors" was a good idea until I realized that so many people don't even do their own landscaping anymore - they probably wouldn't know anyway.

I've driven around & taken pics of landscaping I've found attractive, turned it over to our landscape architect friend who named all the plants for me and gone from there.

[supaflyz]

You can get a magnolia tree. They last throughout the year, and is very low maintenance. You can also try knockout roses. They are the most hardy of all the roses.

[EasilyAmused]

Boxwoods and Buford Hollies.