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
Tuesday - April 17, 2007
From: austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Central Texas plants for dry partial shade
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in Austin Texas. My front garden area has rocky dry soil with intermittent sunlight and shade, maybe 2 to 4 hours of sunlight a day. Herbs do great. What perennial flowers (for some color) will work? I (of course) am looking for maximum bloom time. I am also open to other suggestions to spice up the garden (perhaps something that is not a flower). Also, my friend has given me some iris to plant. She doesn't know what specific type they are but grew them in dry conditions in Concord Oregon with sporadic sun and said they did well. Is it possible they could work in the space I mentioned above?ANSWER:
Below are some suggestions for Central Texas plants that will do well in dry, partial shade:Perennial herbaceous plants:
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
Ruellia nudiflora (violet wild petunia)
Salvia engelmannii (Engelmann's sage)
Salvia roemeriana (cedar sage)
Tradescantia occidentalis (prairie spiderwort)
Wedelia texana (hairy wedelia)
Shrub or shrublike:
Calylophus berlandieri ssp. pinifolius (Berlandier's sundrops)
Erythrina herbacea (coralbean)
Leucophyllum frutescens (cenizo)
Pavonia lasiopetala (Rose pavonia)
Sophora secundiflora (mountain laurel)
Tecoma stans (yellow trumpetbush)
Grass or grasslike:
Chasmanthium latifolium (Indian woodoats)
Eragrostis intermedia (plains lovegrass)
Nolina texana (Texas sacahuista)
Mr. Smarty Plants doesn't know why your friend's iris shouldn't grow just fine in your yard, unless the Texas heat is too much for it.
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Butterfly garden plants for partial shade in Georgia
August 14, 2009 - I have a patio that is brick with 2 small areas for planting. The area has partial shade and soil is moist and looks dense. Currently there is an Ivy Bush in the back left corner which I like and ha...
view the full question and answer
Plants under Oak Trees in Austin TX
December 10, 2012 - Half of my small yard is in the shade of one big live oak and one kumquat. Nothing I plant grows in this shade. The other half of my yard gets sunlight. It is planted with Jasmine grass which grows w...
view the full question and answer
Sun and shade landscaping in Coppell TX
April 03, 2011 - My two-story home in Coppell Texas faces north. The houses are ten feet apart. The sun leaves the front yard late-0ctober/early-November. It is March 24 and the beds are still in house shade. In s...
view the full question and answer
Native wildflowers for shade in Boone NC
July 05, 2011 - I have a totally shaded area with tall trees and want to plant some native shade wildflowers beneath the trees. It is fairly level. I'd like perennial flowers. I noticed Flaming Azalea was one opti...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |