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Friday - March 21, 2008

From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Groundcover for shade in San Antonio
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus

QUESTION:

I have a large red oak tree in the front yard. It is keeping any sun except filtered underneath. Faces n/w and in san antonio. I need a ground cover that is drought tolerant and likes the shade and heat.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants thinks that this sounds like a job for sedges.  Here are a few suggested ones:

Carex planostachys (cedar sedge)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

Some broadleaf possibilities are:

Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy)

Geum Canadense (White Avens)

Salvia lyrata, (Lyre-leaf sage)

Salvia coccinea, (Scarlet sage)

Salvia roemeriana, (Cedar sage)

 

From the Image Gallery


Cedar sedge
Carex planostachys

Texas sedge
Carex texensis

Horseherb
Calyptocarpus vialis

White avens
Geum canadense

Lyreleaf sage
Salvia lyrata

Scarlet sage
Salvia coccinea

Cedar sage
Salvia roemeriana

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