Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
2 ratings

Monday - May 25, 2009

From: St Augustine, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Flowering plants for shade in St. Augustine FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I would like to know what flowering plants I can purchase that grow in a shaded area in St Augustine Florida

ANSWER:

From our Recommended Species for Florida, we have chosen 13 herbaceous blooming plants and 1 low shrub that will bloom in part shade or shade. We consider "sun" to be 6 hours or more of sun a day, "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun, and "shade" less than 2 hours. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends only plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown. All of these plants are known to grow in or very near to St. John's County in Northeast Florida on the Atlantic coast. They are all commercially available and if you have difficulty locating them, go to our Suppliers section, type in your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape and environment specialists in your general area.

Blooming plants for shade in St. Augustine, FL

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - perennial, 2 ft tall, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, low water use, sun or part shade, blooms orange, yellow, May to September

Coreopsis nudata (Georgia tickseed) - perennial, 3 to 6 ft. tall, blooms pink April and May, high water use, part shade

Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel) - annual to 2 ft tall, blooms red, yellow, brown May to August, sun or part shade, medium water use

Ipomopsis rubra (standing-cypress) - biennial, to 4 ft tall, blooms red, orange, yellow May to July, medium water use, sun or part shade

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial to 6 ft tall, blooms red May to October, low water use, sun, part shade or shade

Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) - perennial, to 3 ft tall, blooms blue, purple May and June, sun or part shade, medium water use

Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) - annual or short-lived perennial, to 2 ft tall, blooms yellow June to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade

Salvia coccinea (blood sage) - annual or perennial, blooms white, red, pink February to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade

Viola lanceolata (bog white violet) - perennial, blooms white April to June, medium water use, part shade or shade

Viola sororia (common blue violet) - annual, to 10 inches tall, blooms white, pink, blue, purple March to May, high water use, sun or part shade

Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) - perennial, to 5 ft tall, blooms white, pink May to July, low water use, part shade


Asclepias tuberosa

Coreopsis nudata

Gaillardia pulchella

Ipomopsis rubra

Lobelia cardinalis

Lupinus perennis

Rudbeckia hirta

Salvia coccinea

Viola lanceolata

Viola sororia

Callicarpa americana

 

 

 

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Grapeland, TX is NOT Grapevine, TX
July 25, 2013 - I submitted a question and today received my answer. I do thank you for this valuable service. However, I stated that I lived in East Texas in GRAPELAND, Tx. Nan Hampton answered me and said that a...
view the full question and answer

Should Solanum eleagnifolium, silverleaf nightshade, be removed from yard
October 01, 2009 - I live in Upstate NY. I'm quite sure, after checking many sites/pictures, that I have a couple specimens of Silver Leaf Night Shade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) growing in the "wild" portion of my side...
view the full question and answer

Plants to control erosion in shade in California
October 06, 2008 - I need plants that will help prevent soil erosion on a sloping area under a wood fence. The area has filtered light. thank you!
view the full question and answer

Plants for shade in New Jersey
September 21, 2008 - hi ,i live in rahway nj and i was wondering what are good plant and shrubs to plant for this area. we are doing all new landscaping and we have alot of shade areas. we like the ornamental grasses but ...
view the full question and answer

Partial shade plants for underneath ash tree in Tarrant County, Texas
April 20, 2011 - I have a BIG Ash Tree in my front yard that blocks out most afternoon sun. I generally get morning and evening sun. I am looking for something to plant around the base of the tree so my yard doesn'...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.