You can do lots of things, from annuals to perinnials to a combinations of both. How much sun does the area receive? That will have a lot to do with what kind of plants you can put there. There are several people on this forum who live in the Dallas area and will be able to tell you what kind of plants work in your area.

Happy Gardening!

Sam

What is the exposure? Full sun, part sun, etc.

What direction does your house face, and are there trees that block the light to the area by the door. Personally, since the front door is a focal point, I would put permanent low growing plantings there with some bold texture and possibly something that blooms. Then you can accent with potted bloomers if necessary. How far up is the bottom of the windows - how tall can those plants be? Give us a little bit more information and you'll probably get tons of help. Is your clay red or black?

Could you post a picture?

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is mostly shaded. It gets dappled sunlight but mostly blocked by two large oak trees. The house is north facing. The clay looks black.

The windows are only about a foot or less above the ground. We are not sure whether or how high to plant something in front of the windows.

Thanks again for your ideas!

You could put a couple of Bears Breeches, some Japanese painted ferns, some East Indian Holly ferns and then put some impatiens, caladiums and Techno Heat lobelia in the front for color. The bears breeches get pretty big, so you probably wouldn't want them right in front of the windows, but maybe on either side next to the entryway. You could use southern wood ferns right under the windows at the back. There are lots of things you can do! Keep us posted.

For evergreen color dwarf yaupon,lousiana phylox,spiderwort,strawberry geranium. PJ

If you're looking for something evergreen, there are dwarf nandinas that are very pretty, and low mounding junipers. For flowers, consider begonias, impatiens, balsam (taller), sweet violets, dwarf columbine, spanish bluebells and summer snowflakes - though you'd have to heavily amend for bulbs like the latter two. Actually amending the soil is probably a good idea anyway. Incorporating several inches of washed brick sand and organic material like compost, hummus and/or peat moss will not only make the soil healthier, it will make the clay a whole lot easier to work. You might consider having your soil tested to see what you ought to include. Your county extension office can help with that, or there are kits you can buy.