Plants for Dry Shade in Central Texas

The plants selected for this list respond to a common question asked by Central Texas gardeners; “What can I grow in dry shade that will provide some interest throughout the year?”


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Aesculus pavia Scarlet Buckeye, Red buckeye, Firecracker plant Perennial Shrub, Tree Part-shade Moist
Ageratina havanensis Havana snakeroot, Mistflower, Shrubby boneset, White mistflower, White shrub mistflower Perennial Shrub Sun Dry
Capsicum annuum Chile pequin, Chile petin, Bird pepper, Turkey pepper , Cayenne pepper Annual, Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Carex cherokeensis Cherokee sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Wet, Moist
Carex perdentata Meadow Sedge, Sand sedge Perennial Grass/Grass-like Sun Moist
Cercis canadensis var. texensis Texas redbud Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Chasmanthium latifolium Inland sea oats, Indian wood oats, Wild oats, River oats, Flathead oats, Upland Oats, Upland Sea Oats Perennial Grass/Grass-like Shade, Part-shade Moist
Clematis texensis Scarlet clematis, Scarlet leatherflower, Texas clematis Perennial Vine Part-shade Moist
Conoclinium coelestinum Blue mistflower Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. oligosanthes Heller's rosette grass Perennial Grass/Grass-like
Diospyros texana Texas persimmon, Mexican persimmon, Black persimmon, Chapote, Chapote prieto Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Ilex decidua Possumhaw, Possumhaw Holly, Deciduous Holly, Winterberry, Deciduous yaupon Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ipomoea lindheimeri Lindheimer's morning-glory, Blue Morning Glory Perennial Vine Sun Dry
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii Turk's cap or Turkscap, Drummond's turkscap, Wax mallow, Drummond wax-mallow, Red mallow, Texas mallow, Mexican apple, Manzanilla, Sleeping hibiscus, Bleeding hearts Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Manfreda maculosa False Aloe, Spice lily, Spice-Lily Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Marsilea macropoda Bigfoot water clover, Water clover, Clover-fern Perennial Herb, Fern Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet
Maurandella antirrhiniflora Snapdragon Vine, Roving sailor, Climbing snapdragon, Little snapdragon vine Perennial Vine Part-shade Dry
Melica nitens Three-flower melic, Tall melicgrass, Threeflower melicgrass, Melicgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Moist, Dry
Nemophila phacelioides Baby blue-eyes, Flannel breeches, Large-flower baby-blue-eyes, Largeflower baby blue eyes, Texas baby blue eyes Annual Herb Part-shade Dry
Nolina texana Texas sacahuista, Texas beargrass, Basket grass, Sacahuista, Bunchgrass Perennial Grass/Grass-like Part-shade Dry
Onosmodium helleri Heller's marbleseed, Marble-seed Perennial Herb Part-shade
Packera obovata Golden groundsel, Roundleaf groundsel, Roundleaf ragwort, Squawweed Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Passiflora foetida Corona de Cristo, Scarlet-fruit passion flower, Fetid passionflower Annual Vine Sun, Part-shade Dry
Penstemon tenuis Brazos Penstemon, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Sharpsepal beardtongue Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Phacelia congesta Blue curls, Caterpillars, Fiddleneck Herb Sun, Part-shade Dry
Philadelphus texensis Texas mock orange Perennial Shrub Part-shade Dry
Prunus serotina var. eximia Escarpment black cherry, Edwards Plateau black cherry Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Moist
Ptelea trifoliata ssp. trifoliata Baldwin hop-tree, Common hoptree Perennial Tree
Quercus buckleyi Texas red oak, Buckley oak, Spanish oak, Spotted Oak, Rock Oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Quercus laceyi Lacey oak, Texas blue oak, Canyon oak, Smoky oak, Rock oak Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Quercus muehlenbergii Chinkapin oak, Chinquapin oak, Chestnut oak, Yellow chestnut oak, Yellow oak, Rock chestnut oak, Rock oak Perennial Tree Sun, Part-shade Dry
Sabal minor Dwarf palmetto, Palmetto, Bush palmetto Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Salvia coccinea Scarlet Sage, Tropical Sage, Blood sage Annual, Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Salvia roemeriana Cedar sage Perennial Herb Part-shade Dry
Scutellaria ovata ssp. bracteata Heartleaf skullcap, Heart-leaf skullcap Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Dry
Styphnolobium affine Eve’s necklace, Eve's necklacepod, Texas sophora Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Tilia americana var. caroliniana Carolina basswood, Small-leaved basswood, Downy linden Perennial Tree
Ulmus crassifolia Cedar elm, Fall elm, Olmo Perennial Tree Part-shade Moist
Viburnum rufidulum Rusty blackhaw viburnum, Rusty blackhaw, Southern blackhaw, Downy viburnum Perennial Tree Part-shade Dry
Yucca rupicola Twistleaf yucca, Twisted-leaf yucca, Texas yucca Perennial Cactus/Succulent Sun, Part-shade Dry