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 - February 04, 2008

From: Manchaca, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Vines for shade in Central Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

We'd like to fill in our long expanse of yard fencing with climbing vines. We are limited by 40' live oaks that cut off the sun but surely something works in the shade and heat!

ANSWER:

There are lots of possibilities for vines that will grow in shade or partial shade in Travis County, Texas:

Berchemia scandens (Alabama supplejack), Parthenocissus heptaphylla (sevenleaf creeper), Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper), and Calystegia sepium (hedge false bindweed) will grow in shade (<2 hours a day) or part shade (2 to 6 hours a day).

The following will grow in part shade (2 to 6 hours a day):

Ampelopsis arborea (peppervine)

Ampelopsis cordata (heartleaf peppervine)

Bignonia capreolata (crossvine), semi-evergreen

Cissus trifoliata (sorrelvine)

Clematis drummondii (Drummond's clematis)

Clematis pitcheri (bluebill)

Clematis texensis (scarlet leather flower)

Cocculus carolinus (Carolina coralbead)

Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower), evergreen

Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba (tievine)

Lonicera albiflora (western white honeysuckle)

Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle), evergreen

Maurandella antirrhiniflora (snapdragon vine)

Matelea reticulata (netted milkvine)

Merremia dissecta (Alamo vine)

Passiflora affinis (bracted passionflower)

Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower)

Vitis mustangensis (mustang grape)

Vitis cinerea var. helleri (Heller's grape)


Berchemia scandens

Parthenocissus heptaphylla

Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Calystegia sepium

Ampelopsis arborea

Ampelopsis cordata

Bignonia capreolata

Cissus trifoliata

Clematis drummondii

Clematis pitcheri

Clematis texensis

Cocculus carolinus

Gelsemium sempervirens

Ipomoea cordatotriloba var. cordatotriloba

Lonicera albiflora

Lonicera sempervirens

Maurandella antirrhiniflora

Matelea reticulata

Merremia dissecta

Passiflora affinis

Passiflora incarnata

Vitis mustangensis

Vitis cinerea var. helleri

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Native ground covers for rocky, shady slope in Arlington, TX
January 25, 2009 - I need a good native ground cover for a completely shaded and rocky 30 degree slope with red sandy soil and southern exposure. Will anything grow in these conditions?
view the full question and answer

Plant for deep shade in Pennsylvania
April 09, 2013 - Hi! I am landscaping our house and trying to use only plants that provide seasonal benefit to bees, butterflies, birds etc. not the deer though. My question is that I have a fairly steep slope of abou...
view the full question and answer

Plants to replace Polygonum cuspidatum ( Japanese knotweed)
August 10, 2013 - I live in a heavily wooed area of Chippewa Falls, WI. Our property is covered with Giant Japanese Knot Weed. We have been trying to get rid of it for years. We are finally going to try using the dr...
view the full question and answer

Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream
July 28, 2011 - I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for part shade in North Carolina
February 07, 2009 - I'm thinking about planting a border in front of my house. It's on the north side, so it's fairly shady. One of the main problems with this is that I don't like many common shade plants, so it's ...
view the full question and answer

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