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topicquestion
Shade tolerant plants for erosion from Austin
May 03, 2014
I live in Austin and my house backs up to Shoal Creek. I am looking for a native creeping vine or something that will grow on the shaded bank to help prevent erosion. It should be able to tolerate the...
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Plants to grow under elm tree in Amarillo TX
May 01, 2014
I have a large elm tree and I can't get seem to get anything to grow under it. I was wondering if there are any shade-loving groundcovers that you would recommend (have tried English Ivy, hostas, an...
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Flowering Shrub for Houston, TX
April 24, 2014
I live in Houston, Texas and would like to plant a flowering shrub 3-6 feet in height. It will get sun to part sun, 2-6 hours daily. I have had azaleas in this area and am now looking for something to...
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Vine for shady planter from Cedar Park TX
April 19, 2014
We bought a home in Central Texas and inherited several raised-bed planters. One of the planters is set up to grow a vine, but it's in a part of the yard that is mostly in the shade of a tree. Is t...
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Vine to cover fence from Haverhill MA
April 17, 2014
Hello, I'm looking for a fast growing vine to cover a chain link fence. The area is sunny half of the day. I have 2 small children so I don't want something that attracts bees or could be dangerous ...
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Full Shade Plants for Muncy PA
April 10, 2014
I need a suggestion for almost full shade plants for central Pennsylvania.
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Disagreement with HOA on raised beds placed beneath mature oak from Tequesta FL
April 05, 2014
I have mature 30 year old oak trees on my property and I put a raised bed under each with very good soil and I used pavers for retaining the soil about about 1.5 ft high. I planted a perennial begonia...
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Plants for a Narrow, Dry, Shaded Site in Georgia
April 03, 2014
I am writing from Valdosta, GA. Could you please suggest three perennial shrubs and/or plants that flower at different times of the spring and summer? Also ones that can be planted in a 2 ft. wide s...
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Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama
April 03, 2014
I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s...
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Recovering neglected garden space from Grapevine TX
March 22, 2014
I live in Grapevine TX (Dallas). I just moved into a house where almost the entire large backyard is covered by oak trees that shed tons of leaves throughout our mild falls/winters. The yard has not...
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Shade tolerant evergreens for privacy shield in Louisville KY
March 10, 2014
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Our property is adjacent to the highway for ~ 200ft. I'm looking for partial-to-full shade tolerant evergreens that will grow to be relatively tall. Our soil is clay and g...
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Ground cover to control erosion in Montgomery County, Texas
February 24, 2014
I am looking for some kind of ground cover to control erosion on a north facing slope in Montgomery County, Texas. The area gets very little direct sunlight. I need something that will establish quick...
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Low Ground Cover for Steep, Shaded PA Site
February 17, 2014
I am located in Downingtown, PA, right on the border between Zone 6 and 7. Please provide a recommendation of a native ground cover for the following conditions: steep slope (greater than 45%), full s...
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Low evergreen drought-resistant shrubs for area in partial shade
January 03, 2014
I promised my mom to help her with some new plants for her house, so here goes. She lives near Waco on Blackland clay soil. The problem area is right in front of the house. It only receives a few hour...
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Understory Shrubs for Pennsylvania Clay
December 04, 2013
I want to replace three non-native Euonymus alatus with native shrubs that will serve as host plants for butterfly/moth species and/or attract bumblebees and other native bees. The shrubs I have are ...
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Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana
November 29, 2013
What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South?
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Grasses for shady areas
November 24, 2013
I would like to know which grasses would grow in mostly shady part of the house.
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Plant for total shade in Austin Texas
November 18, 2013
Most of north wall of my house is in total shade. Is there a native that will grow there? The nonnative Cast Iron Plant is thriving and the soil is good. Your list of plants requiring 2 hours or less ...
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Habiturf for shady areas in San Antonio TX
November 08, 2013
Will the Habiturf grass mentioned here do well in shady areas too?
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Alternative for sedges for turf-like lawn in shade
October 25, 2013
When it comes to a turf-like lawn in shade, is it pretty much sedges or nothing among native options? By the way, I write from up north here in Iowa. Thanks!
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Habiturf lawn in Carson City, NV
October 15, 2013
I planted habiturf just south of Reno NV May 5. First two months no or little germination because nite temps too cold. Now doing ok except battling purslane and redstem filaree.. SO, I notice bare/spa...
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Identifying native sedges
October 14, 2013
What's the best way to identify a specific sedge ?
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Shade tolerant low shrub for Houston
September 28, 2013
Please suggest a shade loving shrub that doesn't get more than 3' tall for a foundation planting along a front porch in Houston, TX. I prefer native, drought resistant if possible. No nursery person...
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Shrubs for Shade in Annapolis MD
September 12, 2013
Can you please recommend dense shade tolerant shrubs for Annapolis, Maryland.
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Salt-tolerant groundcover for shade with no water supply
September 11, 2013
We have a home in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida (NE Florida). We have a large area outside our ground floor master bedroom that is completely covered (there is a large solid deck above it). ...
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Native lawn replacement for shady areas in Austin
September 11, 2013
Our front lawn was totally destroyed this summer during some remodeling construction. I am interested in replacing it with native grasses, but we have several oak trees that keep the area fairly shady...
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Starting shade-tolerant ground covers in New York
September 10, 2013
Hi, I have seen some of the posts for shade-tolerant ground cover on the east end of Long Island and my question is process related. Now that I've identified the grasses/plants I need to keep my fro...
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Ornamental grasses under desert willows from Dallas, TX
September 06, 2013
I am planning on planting 3 desert willows in full sun, below the power lines at the back of my back yard in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. I would like to plant some ornamental grasses in the be...
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Erosion control for shady slope in Kentucky backyard
August 28, 2013
I live in northern Kentucky (near Cincinnati). I have an area in my backyard that has slope. It is next to an ash tree and is very shady. Water erosion has washed away the top soil and pretty much no...
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Plants for a Septic Field in NC
August 14, 2013
What kinds of low water plants can I plant over a new septic field in North Carolina? The area is part sun so I am concerned about having trouble getting grass started.
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Salt tolerant plants for shade on tidal inlet in NY
August 11, 2013
Are there any salt water tolerant grasses or forbs with deep roots that grow in shade? I live on a tidal inlet/canal on Long Island NY. The southern bank has cedars and oaks but the soil is eroding ...
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Plants to replace Polygonum cuspidatum ( Japanese knotweed)
August 10, 2013
I live in a heavily wooed area of Chippewa Falls, WI. Our property is covered with Giant Japanese Knot Weed. We have been trying to get rid of it for years. We are finally going to try using the dr...
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Ground cover for shady area in north Texas
July 29, 2013
I'm looking for a ground cover for a mostly shady area where St. Augustine won't grow. I don't want the ground cover to overtake my established St. Augustine in the rest of the yard. The area is un...
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Growing non-vascular moss as a lawn from Seattle WA
July 27, 2013
I have lots of moss in my back yard. How can I encourage it to grow over the whole yard?
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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...
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Erosion Control with perennials for a shady Dallas bank
July 25, 2013
Thank you for your help with turf or perennials on a shaded bank, 4000 sq ft, for the Dallas area that has good roots, grows in semi shade to shade, is on a steep bank so cannot mow, and flowers the l...
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An evergreen, deer-resistant shrub for Memphis
July 24, 2013
I need an evergreen, deep to partial shade, deer resistant shrub or tree. Does such a plant exist?
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Plants for shaded area in East Texas
July 23, 2013
I live in East Texas and have an area that is shaded most of the day - it only gets sun in the middle of the day but it is direct. What would be best? I would prefer something that won't freeze, bu...
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Low-growing plants for a slope in the shade
July 08, 2013
Hello, I'm looking for native plants to put in the shade (within the drip-line) of a well-established American Holly. The area gets deep shade; it is also on a very gentle north-exposure slope. We ...
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Illinois native grasses for shade
June 27, 2013
Hello, my grass has died in a very shady area (standard buffalo grass), and I took this as an opportunity to plant some native grass varieties. I originally thought of buffalo grass, but learned that ...
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Drought & Deer Resistant Shrub for Shade in Medina, TX
June 14, 2013
We are dedicated to native plants in Medina, but are desperate to find a drought and deer resistant shrub for shade. Would we be too far off base with an oleander bush? We know birds and most butterfl...
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Perennial Suggestions for Under Ash Trees in Minnesota
June 12, 2013
With our house we have inherited 2 ash trees in our front yard with a large amount landscaping underneath. I'm replacing the landscaping but there are tree roots at the surface preventing me from bei...
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Plants for a Shady Woodland in MA
June 09, 2013
Hello, I am looking for natives to plant in full shade or part shade. My house is in the mountain woodland area of Mt. Washington, MA. I am looking for grasses, flowers and shrubs. Also I am looking f...
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Plants for the Shade of a Pine Tree in Pittsburg
June 03, 2013
I live in Pittsburgh, PA. My neighbor has a huge pine tree. Last year everything I planted on that side near the tree died. That part of the yard only gets morning sun, as the tree overshadows it. Wha...
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Ground cover for a dry slope in PA
May 23, 2013
My side yard is a slope with rocky (a lot of small serpentine rocks) soil under white and black pine trees. I can grow lots of weeds :-) but would like to plant a low (0-3in) evergreen ground cover th...
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Evergreen flowering shrub for San Antonio, TX
May 20, 2013
Need a suggestion for an evergreen flowering bush, 3 ft tall for shady area by front door. Have gardenia bushes there now - did well until we had a hard freeze and have struggled ever since. Ideas ple...
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Wildlife garden for Austin
May 19, 2013
I am trying to make my backyard more wildlife friendly. I have pecan trees for the canopy and some understory shrub/trees like rough leaf dogwood and redbud. I am having a really hard time finding sui...
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Groundcover for foot traffic in dry shade from Prineville OR
May 12, 2013
I live in central Oregon. I have an area under a large elm tree that slopes on all sides and has lots of foot traffic and no sun. (my kids have a swing in the tree and play around it a lot.) It's a v...
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Shade tolerant vines for Mobile AL
May 07, 2013
I am looking for an evergreen vine that will thrive in the shade in hot and humid south Alabama. I plan to plant on a trellis. A flowering vine would be even better.
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Groundcover for shade under oaks in San Antonio
May 04, 2013
I have been modifying my landscape to reduce grass and the need for frequent watering. Have turned half the backyard into native plants garden with hardscape and sitting areas. Have 2 mature Monterey ...
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