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
Monday - October 22, 2007
From: Frisco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Wildflowers suitable for full sun and partial shade in the Dallas, Texas area
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What wildflowers are best for the Dallas area both in sunny and semi shade locations? Are you able to purchase by mail?ANSWER:
You can find a list of "commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in North Central Texas" by choosing TX—North Central under Recommended Native Plants by Region and State on our Recommended Species page. You can Narrow Your Search by choosing plant characteristics and growing conditions that interest you.Here are a few herbaceous flowers that do well in full sun and in dry soil:
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)
Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel)
Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet)
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
And, here are a couple of shrubs that do well in full sun and dry soil:
Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)
These are herbaceous flowers that do well in partial shade and dry soil:
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Phlox drummondii (annual phlox)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
And, these are shrubs that do well in partial shade and dry soil:
Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita)
Some of these plants will do well in either full sun or partial shade, and there are many more to choose from.
The Wildflower Center doesn't sell plants by mail (we have two onsite sales every year, our Spring Plant Sale and our Fall Plant Sale), but you can search for nurseries and seed companies that specialize in native plants for your area in our National Suppliers Directory. The Collin County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas also shows a list of suppliers in your general area.
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Plants for under Oak Trees in LA.
March 05, 2013 - What type of plants and grass can be planted under and around oak trees
view the full question and answer
Hedge shrub for shade in Jacksonville FL
January 17, 2013 - Looking for shrub or hedge ( no Azaleas please )to line front of house that is full time shade in Jacksonville Florida ( something different, on the lines of tropical if possible).
view the full question and answer
Plants for a moist, wooded area in North Carolina
December 06, 2014 - I am looking to plant some native flowers in a wooded area in Surry County NC. The chosen location is fully shaded beside a creek. The water table typically sets about 2 feet below the surface of th...
view the full question and answer
Container plants for cool weather in Cypress TX
October 02, 2011 - I am a novice gardener and I am looking for some ideas on potted plants for the fall/winter. They would be covered by a roof, but still susceptible to the elements. What can be planted now that will...
view the full question and answer
Plants for steep slope in shade in Iowa
July 02, 2010 - I work for a small non-profit shelter here in Dubuque, Ia. that has a very steep slope behind the building that needs some sort of plant or grass planted to stop erosion. The slope gets little to no s...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |