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Wednesday - April 30, 2008
From: Halfmoon, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native shade plants for sandy soil in New York
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a small patch (about 10 feet x 6 feet) of shady ground next to my house. The soil is very sandy. I really would like some perennial color - or at this point, anything actually - that will grow well in this area (zone 5). I would prefer native species, but will take whatever I can get! Thank you!ANSWER:
We're glad you want native species, because that's all we at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommend. We have a Recommended Species section of our website, from which we have first selected New York, and then herbaceous perennials for 2 or less hours of sun a day. This gave us a list of 27 plants, from which we are going to try to find several that are colorful and will do well in sandy soil. Just in case you need some more variety in height, we also searched for shrubs with the same characteristics. There were 8 recommended, of which only one was evergreen, but that's probably what you expect in Zone 5. From these two lists, we are going to select several of each that will grow in sandy soil and tolerate that much shade. All of them would probably bloom more if there was more than 2 hours of sun a day; our definition of "part shade" is 2 to 6 hours a day. When you're ready to start planting, here is a list of Native Plant Suppliers in your general area.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Anemone canadensis (Canadian anemone) - white blooms, April to June
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower - blue, purple blooms June to September
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - yellow blooms April to June
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - red blooms May to October
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - blue blooms July to October
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) - blue, purple blooms May to June
Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm) - red blooms July and August
Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower) - yellow July to October
SHRUBS
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry) - evergreen, white, pink blooms June to August
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort) - yellow blooms June to August
Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) - white blooms May, June
Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood) - white blooms May, June
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Shrub for part shade for hedge in Holly Ridge NC
April 07, 2010 - We live in Coastal NC. We would like a type of shrub for the front of our home which is partial shade, similar style to a boxwood or trainable hedge. What NC native would compare?
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Edible plants in shade in Enville TN
June 15, 2009 - I have a flower bed against the back of my house with nothing in it. We moved into this house late last year and I was planning on planting some tomato plants there until I discovered it never gets an...
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Native plants for heavy clay soil in east Austin
May 02, 2007 - I live in East Austin and have very thick clay soil on my property. I also have a lot of shade and partial sun/shade. Can you suggest some native plant varieties that are well-adapted to these condi...
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Bee-attracting vine for shade from St. Paul MN
June 02, 2011 - I need a vine for shade that attracts bees. I am in Minnesota, zone 4a.
Thanks
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Native shade trees for Austin
May 15, 2009 - I am building a new home that does not have any trees close by-- I want to have several shade trees to increase the efficiency of my home. What are your suggestions for an easy care, fast-growing, an...
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