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
Thursday - November 13, 2008
From: Roanoke, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Low plants for shady, damp area in Roanoke, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
First, thanks for answering my first question about Texas Native Trees for our new home! I have just started working on plans for our back yard and have a question about Texas Native Shade plants. We have an area that seems to remain somewhat damp with little watering as it gets little to no sun. I am looking for some low lying plants and ground cover to place here. This area is where our master bedroom windows are so I do not want anything that will get too tall(2-3 feet). We like color, flowers and want a few things that will either have interest through the year or alternate interest so at least there's something. Thanks again for all the wonderful help!ANSWER:
Thanks, we're glad to help, hope the trees you select will do well. We will go to our Recommended Species site,and see what we can find for "shade" which we consider to be less than 2 hours of sun a day, and moist soil. We're going to select North Central Texas on the United States map, and then select, first, Herbs (herbaceous plants) on the drop-down menu for Habit, Shade for Light Requirement and Moist soil. Next, we'll look for some grasses in the same way, as there are some very attractive grasses that can tolerate that little light and the moist soil. And, we'll add in a couple of low ground covers. They will give some variety and texture to your garden. We probably referred you last time to our Native Plant Suppliers section, where you put your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape consultants. Here are our suggestions but you can certainly go looking for more in our Native Plant Database.
HERBS (herbaceous plants)
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine) - up to 2' tall, perennial, blooms red, pink, yellow, blooms February to July
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - 1 to 6' tall, perennial, red, May to October
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) - annual to short-lived perennial, 1-3' tall, yellow, June to October
GRASSES
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - 2 to 3' stems, perennial, red, yellow, May to October
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) - 3 to 8' tall, perennial, yellow, August to October
GROUND COVERS
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit) - 3 TO 6" tall, perennial, white, May to October
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy) - 6 to 12" tall, perennial, March to November
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Evergreen Privacy Screen for Maryland
November 19, 2012 - I am looking for an evergreen that will suffice to be planted as a privacy screen between my property and my neighbors. Looking to plant a row at the property line.
The lot is shaded most of the d...
view the full question and answer
Plants to replace Polygonum cuspidatum ( Japanese knotweed)
August 10, 2013 - I live in a heavily wooed area of Chippewa Falls, WI. Our property is covered with Giant Japanese Knot Weed. We have been trying to get rid of it for years. We are finally going to try using the dr...
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers for a shady spot in IL
February 26, 2011 - I have a low-sun spot on the side of my house in Chicago, IL. I would really like to turn this spot into a wildflower garden.
Could you suggest some native IL flowers that might work in this spot? ...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen shrub for part shade in Austin
September 21, 2010 - I am planning a pocket prairie on the north side of my house. Where I am struggling is finding an evergreen shrub that will grow about 6-8', be native and provide semi-privacy in front of a bedroom ...
view the full question and answer
Plants to grow in shady area near a pecan tree in Maryland
March 26, 2013 - I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have planted only natives in my front lawn. My backyard, which sports a pecan tree, fir, fig tree, and others I can't identify is dirt, just dirt. I have...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |