Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - January 08, 2008
From: Charleston, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Shade-loving native plants for South Carolina
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am looking to incorporate a native plants section in my backyard. Shade seems to be a limiting factor in some parts, especially where I would look to create a natural hedge bordering my neighbor's yard. Any ideas for plantings?ANSWER:
You can find a list of native plants for South Carolina on our Recommended Species page. You can narrow your list for South Carolina by selecting the plants' characteristics or growing conditions, e.g., select "Shrubs" under Habits and "Part shade" and "Shade" under Light requirement. This will give you a list of shrubs that are native to South Carolina that will grow well in shade and/or part shade. These should be good choices for making a natural hedge. Mr. Smarty Plants has a few suggestions from that list:EVERGREENS
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Rhododendron maximum (great laurel)
DECIDUOUS
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Euonymus americanus (bursting-heart)
Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort)
Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush)
Physocarpus opulifolius (common ninebark)
Rhododendron calendulaceum (flame azalea)
You can, of course, narrow the South Carolina list for herbs, trees, vines, etc., also, and for other growing conditions.
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Plants for a Shaded Slope in Philadelphia
April 17, 2015 - I have a small slope along the North side of my house in a suburb of Philadelphia. A small maple tree grows there but most of it gets no sun at all (a large segment is under the tree). I had the soil ...
view the full question and answer
Small evergreen shrubs for part shade in Texas
January 31, 2015 - Mr. Smarty Pants,
I'm, for some reason, at odds with myself about a shrub decision. I have need about 8 ft of hedge-like evergreen shrub(s) that I can maintain around 4ft to go under a window. It...
view the full question and answer
Flowering shrub for part shade in Southern California
September 10, 2009 - What shrubs would be able to flourish in morning shade but deal with afternoon sun and 90 plus degrees in the summer months in Southern California? I would like a shrub that is about 5 ft. tall and 3 ...
view the full question and answer
Oak leaf hydrangeas from Edwardsville IL
August 13, 2012 - Hello,
I live in West Central Illinois (across the river from St. Louis) and I am considering planting several Oak leaf Hydrangea's in my yard. The location where I would like to plant them is und...
view the full question and answer
Plants for Georgetown with shade in the AM and sun in the PM
September 30, 2015 - Hi, I live in Georgetown and I would like a recommendation for plants (shrubs and flowering perennials) that can handle deep shade until 1 or 2 pm and then have full sun blasting them til sun down. T...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |