Native Plants
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - August 28, 2008
From: San Marcos, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native evergreen for shade
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I am looking for a plant that is evergreen (or semi evergreen), native to central Texas, and shade tolerant. This is for a Wildscape area in San Marcos. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!ANSWER:
Here are some evergreen and semi-evergreen plants that will tolerate part shade (2-6 hours of sunlight/day) and a few will tolerate shade (<2 hours of sunlight/day).Vines:
Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle) semi-evergreen, sun and part shade
Gelsemium sempervirens (evening trumpetflower) evergreen, sun and part shade
Bignonia capreolata (crossvine) semi-evergreen, sun and part shade
Shrubs/Small Trees:
Sophora secundiflora (Texas mountain-laurel) evergreen, sun and part shade
Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) evergreen, part shade
Mahonia trifoliolata (agarita) evergreen, sun and part shade
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) evergreen, sun and part shade
Rhus virens (evergreen sumac) evergreen, sun and part shade
Leucophyllum frutescens (Texas barometer bush) evergreen, sun and part shade
Herbaceous plants:
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy) semi-evergreen, sun, part shade and shade
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit) semi-evergreen, sun and part shade
Grasses and sedges:
Carex texensis (Texas sedge) evergreen, sun and part shade
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge) evergreen, part shade
There are several grasses that aren't evergreen, but they are still attractive when they begin to brown. For example:
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) part shade and shade
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) sun, part shade and shade
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) sun and part shade
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Low water use tree to shade pond in Burnet TX
May 10, 2011 - I'm in need of some shade at a 1/2 acre pond, but I don't want a tree to consume so much water that it will lower the water level. During droughts the little pond needs all the water it can get. Som...
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for a dry slope in PA
May 23, 2013 - My side yard is a slope with rocky (a lot of small serpentine rocks) soil under white and black pine trees. I can grow lots of weeds :-) but would like to plant a low (0-3in) evergreen ground cover th...
view the full question and answer
Green roof plants tolerating shade
July 01, 2006 - I am researching extensive greenroof plants for a potential site in Austin. The roof surface is shaded for most days of the the year. Are there any top choices for plants for this condition?
view the full question and answer
Thorny vines for a shady Louisiana fence
January 17, 2015 - Do you know of a fast growing, non-invasive, thorny vine that I can grow along a shady fence row in Baton Rouge, Louisiana?
view the full question and answer
Native plants for heavy clay soil in east Austin
May 02, 2007 - I live in East Austin and have very thick clay soil on my property. I also have a lot of shade and partial sun/shade. Can you suggest some native plant varieties that are well-adapted to these condi...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |