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
Wednesday - May 27, 2009
From: St. Cloud, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control, Groundcovers, Shade Tolerant, Wildflowers
Title: Wildflowers for high canal bank in Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My home is on a canal to a natural lake in Central Florida (Orlando area). I am wondering if there is a wildflower that I can grow on a 3' high canal bank that is mostly shady.ANSWER:
The following plants should do well as groundcover plants in part shade (2 to 6 hours of sunlight per day) on your canal bank:
Arisaema dracontium (green dragon)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Dyschoriste oblongifolia (oblongleaf snakeherb)
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
Ruellia caroliniensis (Carolina wild petunia)
You can find more recommendations for shade tolerant plants for Florida by selecting your state from the map or the pulldown menu on our Recommended Species page. You can limit this list by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and selecting the characteristics you are looking for (e.g., select 'Herb' from General Appearance and 'Part Shade' and 'Shade' from Light requirement). You can also find other recommendations for plants for Orange County, Florida from the Florida Native Plant Society. This site doesn't have information about light requirement, but you can check that in our Native Plant Database page by searching by the botanical name.
More Wildflowers Questions
Plants for steep clay bank in Summerfield OH
April 07, 2012 - Hello, We have a steep 15-20 foot high bank behind our house here in southern Ohio. Probably 50 ft.long. What could we plant for beauty and erosion control. It is nasty clay soil with lots of shale an...
view the full question and answer
How many leaflets does a Texas Bluebonnet have?
July 04, 2010 - How many leaves does a Texas Bluebonnet have? I have a co-worker who is making disparaging remarks about my bluebonnet plaque.
view the full question and answer
A&M maroon bluebonnets for Hawaii
July 10, 2011 - My daughter graduated from Texas A&M and has moved to Hawaii. She would love to have the maroon bluebonnets developed by A&M to plant in her new home. How would she need to prepare the seeds since t...
view the full question and answer
Wildflower seeds affected by mulch in Austin
October 24, 2010 - I have a small wildflower garden in my central Austin yard. In early summer, I had some extra mulch and put it in this garden. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake. The bed has re-seeded itself for se...
view the full question and answer
Asters bloom period
April 16, 2005 - When do the asters bloom?
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. |
