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.

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?

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

4 ratings

Wednesday - March 07, 2007

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Rain Gardens
Title: Native Texas plants for rain gardens
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am looking for native Texas plants that would do well in very shady and partial shade rain gardens. Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER:

Rain garden plants need to be able to tolerate growing in standing water, but also need to be able to thrive when the water dries up. The plants below should meet those criteria and will do well in partial shade (2 to 6 hours sun per day). Plus, the violets (Viola soria) and groundnut (Apios americana) will do well in complete shade (<2 hours of sun per day):

GRASSES/GRASS-LIKE:

Inland sea oats, Chasmanthium latifolium
Eastern gamagrass, Tripsacum dactyloides

BUSHES/SMALL TREES:

Buttonbush, Cephalanthus occidentalis
Roughleaf dogwood, Cornus drummondii
False indigo, Amorpha fruticosa
Marshmallow hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos
Scarlet rose mallow, Hibiscus laevis
Palmetto, Sabal minor
Baccharis, Baccharis halimifolia

VINES:

Groundnut, Apios americana

TALL HERBACEOUS:

American waterwillow, Justicia americana
Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis
Physostegia sp. (e.g., Obedient plant, P. intermedia)
Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
Blue water leaf, Hydrolea ovata
American germander, Teucrium canadense

LOW HERBACEOUS: