Native Plants

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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Wednesday - April 30, 2008
From: Halfmoon, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native shade plants for sandy soil in New York
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a small patch (about 10 feet x 6 feet) of shady ground next to my house. The soil is very sandy. I really would like some perennial color - or at this point, anything actually - that will grow well in this area (zone 5). I would prefer native species, but will take whatever I can get! Thank you!ANSWER:
We're glad you want native species, because that's all we at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommend. We have a Recommended Species section of our website, from which we have first selected New York, and then herbaceous perennials for 2 or less hours of sun a day. This gave us a list of 27 plants, from which we are going to try to find several that are colorful and will do well in sandy soil. Just in case you need some more variety in height, we also searched for shrubs with the same characteristics. There were 8 recommended, of which only one was evergreen, but that's probably what you expect in Zone 5. From these two lists, we are going to select several of each that will grow in sandy soil and tolerate that much shade. All of them would probably bloom more if there was more than 2 hours of sun a day; our definition of "part shade" is 2 to 6 hours a day. When you're ready to start planting, here is a list of Native Plant Suppliers in your general area.
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Anemone canadensis (Canadian anemone) - white blooms, April to June
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower - blue, purple blooms June to September
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - yellow blooms April to June
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - red blooms May to October
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - blue blooms July to October
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) - blue, purple blooms May to June
Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm) - red blooms July and August
Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower) - yellow July to October
SHRUBS
Gaultheria procumbens (eastern teaberry) - evergreen, white, pink blooms June to August
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort) - yellow blooms June to August
Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) - white blooms May, June
Cornus alternifolia (alternateleaf dogwood) - white blooms May, June
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Shade trees not invasive to foundations and driveways
August 02, 2009 - I am in zone 9. What shade trees can I plant that will not be invasive to foundations or driveways?
Thank you,
Mr. Smarty Plants
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Native flowering vine for trellis in shade in Henrico, VA
April 07, 2010 - I live in Henrico, Virginia and have a trellis in a shady area. I am looking for a native vine to grow, preferably one that flowers and attracts birds and/or butterflies. What do you advise?
view the full question and answer
Replacing mature Arizona Ash trees in Austin
August 26, 2011 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have 2 very large, very old Arizona Ash trees in my yard. I want to remove them and replace them with something like Cedar Elm or Chinquapin Oak. The problem is that they are t...
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Native plants for dry shade in Virginia
May 23, 2008 - I live in Reston, Virginia and have dry shade. What are the best plants to use for my garden. Xeriscaping and native plants are important considerations.
view the full question and answer
Restoring the woods in Central Austin.
May 08, 2012 - I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun...
view the full question and answer
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