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.
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Enough sun from San Marcos TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
Follow these plant links:
Salvia farinacea (Mealy blue sage)
Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana)
to our respective webpages on each. Scroll down the page to Growing Conditions. When we refer to Light Requirements, we say that "sun" is 6 hours or more of sun a day, "part shade" is 2 to 6 hours of sun and "shade" is less than 2 hours a day. You will see that both require sun. Spend a few minutes every day observing the spot where you want to plant these excellent native plants, and do so at several different times of the day. If it is borderline, say 4-1/2 hours of sun a day, you might give it a try, using just one or two plants of each as test cases. They might make it, plants do not necessarily grow in the best places, but where they can get away with it. These are both profusely flowering plants, popular with bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds, but blooming plants normally need a lot of sun to do their best blooming. Since we don't make house calls, only you can make the decision in this matter. We hope you can find a place where both can thrive!
Plants for a mixed border in Houston
February 22, 2010 - I live in Houston and have a flowerbed I'd like to fill with plants that will look good year-round. The back is already lined with 6-foot shrubs so nothing like that. I'd like something with colorf...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for sandy soil and not much water
April 14, 2008 - I am planning a new garden at home and would like to grow native plants that can handle sandy soil and don't need much water. I do not water my gardens.I would prefer plants that can have more than o...
view the full question and answer
Getting rid of rain lilies in Aledo, TX
August 24, 2008 - How do I get rain lilies to stop growing in my yard?
view the full question and answer
Information about Berlandiera spp. from DeLand FL
May 26, 2011 - I am looking for information (something cool) about green eyes,
Berlandiera spp. Information such as any medical use or story associated with the plant. Thanks
view the full question and answer
Meadow garden for Colorado Springs CO
June 03, 2012 - We recently purchased a restored home on a mesa just above the downtown area of Colorado Springs on the front range. The previous owners seeded the front lawn with blue gramma and told me that all I ...
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. |