Native Plants

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Tuesday - September 23, 2008

From: Azle, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Grasses for shady area with sandy soil
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

We have very sandy soil, is there any type of grass that will grow well. Also, very shady.

ANSWER:

Here are grasses that will grow in sandy soil and part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun per day) in Tarrant County. Several of them (those designated) will also grow in shade (less than 2 hours of sun per day).

Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem)

Andropogon ternarius (splitbeard bluestem)

Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge bluestem)

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) shade

Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss)

Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama)

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) shade

Chloris virgata (feather fingergrass)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye) shade

Eragrostis intermedia (plains lovegrass)

Paspalum floridanum (Florida paspalum)

Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem)