Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Sunday - November 02, 2008
From: Rodeo, CA
Region: California
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Shade tolerant plant for Rodeo, California
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in Rodeo, California and I need to know what is a good green plant I can get to place in a shady areaANSWER:
Well, Mr. Smarty Plants will tell you how to search for and find a plant yourself. First, go to our Recommended Species page and select 'Northern California' from the map or the pull-down menu. This will give you a list of 158 native plant species that are commercially available for landscaping in northern California. Next, select the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and click both "Part shade—2 to 6 hours of sun per day" and "Shade—Less than 2 hours of sun per day". This will give you a list of 85 native plants (herbaceous, shrubs and trees) to choose from.Here are a few herbaceous choices:
Collinsia heterophylla (purple Chinese houses)
Aquilegia formosa (western columbine)
Ipomopsis aggregata (scarlet gilia)
Mimulus lewisii (purple monkeyflower)
And, here are a few evergreen shrubs:
Mahonia repens (creeping barberry)
Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick)
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Seed source for Carex texensis from Louisville KY
May 02, 2012 - Your reply to my question re a grass for my Kentucky home with cistern only water available was much appreciated, Carex texensis was recommended. I am unable to find this product for sale other than ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for shade
August 19, 2008 - I live in hot, humid Houston and the tree coverage of my yard is nearly 100 percent (so, little sunlight reaches the ground). Can you suggest a plant or two that would thrive in these conditions?
view the full question and answer
Container plant for shade in Austin
August 07, 2010 - I am very new to gardening (have already killed two plants on my front entryway), and I looking for a couple recommendations for for a potted plant that I can place on my entryway porch. It is shaded...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a shady hillside in WI
June 07, 2011 - I would like to know what kind of plants I could plant on a northern exposure hillside to stop erosion. At the bottom of the hill is a lake. Also would putting rocks from the area as natural retaining...
view the full question and answer
Shrub or small tree for dappled shade in San Antonio
April 18, 2010 - I'm looking for an attractive bush or small tree that will grow in dry, dappled shade. I'd prefer one that does not form fruit-I don't want the neighborhood skunks visiting my yard.(My dog has been...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
