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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Sunday - November 30, 2008
From: Grand Prairie, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native grasses for shade in Dallas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What native grasses can be grown under large Live Oaks in the Dallas Area? The combination of shade and black gumbo soil seem to keep all plant life, except for poison ivy and ferns, out. I would love to replace the spotty St Augustine grass that is currently in place.ANSWER:
If you are looking for turf grass, I'm afraid there isn't going to be a good choice. However, there are taller, attractive native grasses that will grow in the shade of your liveoaks. Here are some examples:Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), the State Grass of Texas, 2-3 feet
Bouteloua hirsuta (hairy grama), 10-18 inches
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats), 2-4 feet, a particularly attractive plant
Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye), 2-4 feet
Poa arachnifera (Texas bluegrass), 2-3 feet
Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), 2-4 feet
You might also consider using sedges. They make very good groundcovers and they tend to be rather short. You can read about their use for lawns in Sedge Lawns for Every Landscape by John Greenlee.
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge), 1-3 feet
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge), 12-18 inches
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge), less than 12 inches
Carex texensis (Texas sedge), 10-12 inches
Finally, here are groundcovers that aren't grasses or grass-like, are less than 18 inches high and will grow in the shade or part shade.
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Plants for wildlife and trees for shade.
September 29, 2007 - We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,...
view the full question and answer
Native ground covers for shade in East Texas
June 06, 2008 - I live in Mount Pleasant, Texas which is in northeast Texas. I would like a list of ground covers that would do well in our area. The place I want to put it gets a lot of shade. The ground is clay. Th...
view the full question and answer
Deer Resistant Plants for Dry Shade in Manor, Texas
January 14, 2011 - What deer resistant blooming plants will do well under a huge oak tree?
view the full question and answer
Native wildflowers for shade in Boone NC
July 05, 2011 - I have a totally shaded area with tall trees and want to plant some native shade wildflowers beneath the trees. It is fairly level. I'd like perennial flowers. I noticed Flaming Azalea was one opti...
view the full question and answer
Shady shrubs for an ugly fence in New Jersey.
June 23, 2011 - What type of tree or shrub can I plant in 07747 NJ to cover an ugly fence that gets little or no sun. Thanks
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |