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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - February 19, 2008
From: Brenham, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Plants for shady area in Brenham, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have an area which receives shade all day, but gets a lot of sun just before sunset. What sorts of plants would do well?ANSWER:
Since it gets the sunlight in late afternoon, it is no doubt at an angle, and not as drying as sun at high noon. Therefore, you would probably be looking for plants that succeed on 2 hours or less sunlight every day. There are other factors, too, of course, including soil moisture. In our Native Plant Database, we selected some possibilities. All these are natives of North America, which is the focus of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and all are either native to Texas or naturally distributed in Texas. The lists were selected on Texas (location), habit (herb, shrub or tree), perennial (duration), 2 hours or less sun a day and dry soil. You can go to the Native Plant Database page and, using the "Combination Search," change the conditions and select choices of your own.
Herb
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)
Ionactis linariifolius (flaxleaf whitetop aster)
Penstemon digitalis (talus slope penstemon)
Ruellia nudiflora (violet wild petunia)
Shrub
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
Tree
Cornus drummondii (roughleaf dogwood)
Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar)
Prunus serotina (black cherry)
Ptelea trifoliata (common hoptree)
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Native grasses to accompany buffalograss in shade
May 01, 2008 - What grass goes with buffalo for shade/partial shade?
view the full question and answer
Replacement for shade grass in El Paso TX
April 05, 2013 - We currently have a Honey Mesquite tree with thinning bermuda grass underneath in our front yard. I suspect that the filtered shade is killing the bermuda. I was thinking of planting Buffalo Grass, or...
view the full question and answer
Need a shade tree in a limited space in Louisville, GA
October 29, 2009 - Mr. Smarty Pants, Hello! What kind of tree would be good to shade, in a limited space, and having a taproot? This is in middle Ga. One side of yard has main water pipe coming in off the road and ...
view the full question and answer
Grass for shade under Post Oaks in Austin
October 04, 2008 - Can you recommend a water conserving grass for shade under Post Oaks in Austin. Very gravelly poor nutrient soil. thanks!
view the full question and answer
Magnolia species are allelopathic
August 02, 2014 - Have a healthy Southern Magnolia tree around 8 years old. It seems like everything I plant next to it dies.: Variegated Spirea, Stokes Aster, Hydrangeas. Is there something it secretes like the waln...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |