Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
1 rating

Monday - July 30, 2007

From: Rockport, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Recommendations for native shade plants in sandy soil
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in Rockport, TX, and would like to plant a small, shaded triangular corner (bounded on 2 sides by wooden fence)in my front yard. The area has limited southern exposure due to shading by live oaks & receives little or no sunlight. Soils are sandy. Any recommendations?

ANSWER:

Here are some suggestions for plants found in Aransas County, Texas that should do well in sandy shade or part shade:

Wildflowers:

Argemone albiflora (bluestem pricklypoppy)

Argemone sanguinea (red pricklypoppy)

Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow)

Coreopsis tinctoria (golden tickseed)

Delphinium carolinianum (Carolina larkspur)

Echinacea angustifolia (blacksamson echinacea)

Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel)

Ruellia nudiflora (violet wild petunia)

Sisyrinchium langloisii (roadside blue-eyed grass)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Tradescantia subacaulis (stemless spiderwort)

Xanthisma texanum (Texas sleepydaisy)

 

Low shrubs:

Acacia angustissima (prairie acacia)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides (St. Andrew's cross)

 


Argemone albiflora

Argemone sanguinea

Callirhoe involucrata

Coreopsis tinctoria

Delphinium carolinianum

Echinacea angustifolia

Gaillardia pulchella

Ruellia nudiflora

Sisyrinchium langloisii

Solidago altissima

Tradescantia subacauli

Xanthisma texanum

Acacia angustissima

Amorpha canescens

Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Shrub for Shady Austin, Texas Backyard
July 11, 2016 - I am looking for a colorful shrub or bush for my drab backyard in Austin. It won't get much sun and I want something native that detracts bugs if possible.
view the full question and answer

Ground cover under live oaks
June 18, 2012 - I have some areas under Live Oak trees (maybe 200 sq. ft.)that remain bare, in spite of trying Habiturf. Soil is dry, poor and shallow. Can you suggest a living ground cover that would not require m...
view the full question and answer

Native plants with little sun and northern exposure for New York
April 26, 2006 - I live in a co-op and want to fix up the backyard. The backyard area has a west area to plant with a northern exposure and little sun and I am looking to plant something to cover the area. I would lik...
view the full question and answer

Native shade plants around fountain in California
March 18, 2009 - Hi, we just put a fountain in our front yard. It is in a mostly shady area. I need to know what plants would go best around the fountain and survive in the shade.
view the full question and answer

Good evergreen screen and some shade plants for Plano Texas
November 03, 2010 - We live in Plano Texas. We have 15' between our house and our neighbor. We want to plant a divider/screen of something evergreen, about 6-15' (6-8' is better) and narrow, about 2-3' wide between t...
view the full question and answer

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