Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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
3 ratings

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)

Rhus virens (evergreen sumac)

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.

 


Melampodium leucanthum

Ruellia nudiflora

Salvia engelmannii

Salvia roemeriana

Tradescantia occidentalis

Wedelia texana

Calylophus berlandieri ssp. pinifolius

Erythrina herbacea

Leucophyllum frutescens

Pavonia lasiopetala

Rhus virens

Sophora secundiflora

Tecoma stans

Chasmanthium latifolium

Eragrostis intermedia

Nolina texana

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

ground covers for shady areas in New York City
June 27, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: What would be the best ground covers for big shady areas in New York City instead of lawns?
view the full question and answer

Ground cover for shade from Atlanta GA
May 28, 2012 - I am looking for recommendations for a ground cover. I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have a large shady slope on which I would like to use low maintenance/water native ground cover. What wou...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for dry shade in Virginia
May 23, 2008 - I live in Reston, Virginia and have dry shade. What are the best plants to use for my garden. Xeriscaping and native plants are important considerations.
view the full question and answer

Large shrub for screen in shade
June 11, 2008 - I am trying to find some large shrubs that will thrive in shade in the north Texas climate. This area will receive very little light during the day but need to grow quite large to hide a fence and cr...
view the full question and answer

Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado
August 10, 2012 - I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.