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

Small shrub for shady area
March 06, 2010 - I would like to find a shrub to plant on the north, northeast side of my house, but it will be in mostly shade. It needs to get between 21/2' to 4' tall. Do you have any suggestions please?
view the full question and answer

Fast growing shade tree for Phoenix, Arizona
November 07, 2007 - Would you recommend a fast growing shade tree for Phoenix, AZ that will grow at least 30 ft. high and with a similar canopy in clay soil?
view the full question and answer

Michigan native plants for shady, low traffic area
May 10, 2006 - Hello, I am looking for a recommendation for a Michigan native groundcover. I live adjacent to the Rouge River watershed and want to buy the right thing. The location is shady, infrequently walked ...
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

Recovering neglected garden space from Grapevine TX
March 22, 2014 - I live in Grapevine TX (Dallas). I just moved into a house where almost the entire large backyard is covered by oak trees that shed tons of leaves throughout our mild falls/winters. The yard has not...
view the full question and answer

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