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
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - March 09, 2008

From: Corsicana, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native grasses for dry shade in North Central Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in North Central Texas and have an area that is 80% shade and a dry soil condition. What native grasses would be suitable for this location?

ANSWER:

The following grasses (and one sedge) are found in Navarro County, Texas, or in an adjacent county. These grasses will grow in partial shade and dry soils.

Tridens flavus (purpletop tridens)

Eragrostis intermedia (plains lovegrass)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)

Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)

Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama)

Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem)

Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)


Tridens flavus

Eragrostis intermedia

Chasmanthium latifolium

Carex blanda

Bouteloua hirsuta

Andropogon ternarius

Andropogon gerardii

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Container plant for shade in Austin
August 07, 2010 - I am very new to gardening (have already killed two plants on my front entryway), and I looking for a couple recommendations for for a potted plant that I can place on my entryway porch. It is shaded...
view the full question and answer

Screen and shade for pool in Michigan
July 18, 2010 - We recently moved to a new home that has a pool. There is no shade nor privacy. What types of trees, plants would you recommend for our small backyard?
view the full question and answer

Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama
April 03, 2014 - I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s...
view the full question and answer

Ornamental grasses under desert willows from Dallas, TX
September 06, 2013 - I am planning on planting 3 desert willows in full sun, below the power lines at the back of my back yard in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. I would like to plant some ornamental grasses in the be...
view the full question and answer

Ground cover for shady site in Tyler TX
February 24, 2009 - I live in Tyler Texas and have a lot of shade and sandy soil. No grass will grow and I was wondering if I should look at ground cover instead? If so, what grows in shade and sand? I have tried sever...
view the full question and answer

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