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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - December 17, 2015
From: San Francisco, CA
Region: California
Topic: Drought Tolerant, Wildflowers
Title: Perennials for Sandy Shade in California
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
Are there any native perennials that would do well in sandy shade? I have a difficult corner in my garden that does not get much sun. The soil is sandy though I have added some amount of compost to enrich it.ANSWER:
Keep adding compost as often as you can to your sandy soil and your perennials will fare better over time. There are some native California perennials that will tolerate dry shade - although they will bloom less, stretch more and be less sturdy in this type of location. To find a list of these plants, visit the Native Plant Database page on our website. Select the following criteria to narrow your search: California, Herb, Perennial, Shade and Dry Soil.
Some perennials for sandy shade to consider are:
Antennaria parvifolia (small-leaf pussytoes)
Fragaria chiloensis (beach strawberry)
Geum triflorum (old man's whiskers)
Heuchera maxima (island alumroot)
Maianthemum stellatum (starry false lily of the valley)
From the Image Gallery
More Wildflowers Questions
Early wildflowers for PA
November 25, 2011 - What spring wildflower is the first to bloom in Erie, PA?
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets and Texas
March 20, 2004 - Can I plant Bluebonnets outside of Texas?
view the full question and answer
Planting time and method for bluebonnets in Leander, TX
May 13, 2010 - What month is the right month to plant the bluebonnet seeds? September or October?
Is the correct way to plant is by "throwing" them on top of the ground?
I have a grassy area and I like them...
view the full question and answer
More on bluebonnets
April 19, 2007 - Are pink bluebonnets still considered very rare? I discovered several growing amongst normal blues on the National Instruments corporate campus here in Austin. I wasn't sure if the Wildflower Cente...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnet rosettes in July from Austin
July 30, 2012 - Dear Mr S.P.:
Please solve my bluebonnet summer mystery!
I established about 1500 sq feet of bluebonnets starting four years ago by scavenging seeds here and there and just scattering in the sprin...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |