Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
3 ratings

Thursday - April 09, 2009

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Native plants for groundcover under Magnolia in Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

What plants native to the Austin, Tx area will do well underneath a large magnolia tree (instead of the English ivy that is there)?

ANSWER:

Unfortunately, we find ourselves talking more and more about allelopathy, as more is being learned about it. This is a process by which a tree, usually as it matures, emits substances from leaves, twigs or even roots that inhibit the growth of competing plants beneath that tree. Species of magnolia definitely are offenders in this respect. We would certainly recommend that you remove the non-native English ivy, for reasons laid out in this Plant Conservation Alliance Alien Plant Working Group site Least Wanted-Hedera helix, (English ivy). It is an invasive plant and can damage brickwork and kill trees if allowed to grow unchecked. 

Besides the emission of toxic substances, the dense shade of Magnolia grandiflora (southern magnolia) can also prevent the flourishing of understory plants. However, we will suggest a few shade plants, a couple ferns and some grasses, that could hopefully overcome both disadvantages and give you an attractive native cover beneath the tree. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends only plants native not to North America and to the area in which they are being grown; plants already acclimated to the climate, rainfall and temperatures will require less maintenance, water and fertilizer.

Plants for under a magnolia tree

Athyrium filix-femina (common ladyfern) - 2 to 3 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy) - 6" to 1 ft. tall, sun, part shade, shade

Hydrocotyle umbellata (manyflower marshpennywort) - 6" to 1 ft. tall, sun, part shade, shade

Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern) -  to 3 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox) - 8" to 18" tall, part shade, shade

Ruellia drummondiana (Drummond's wild petunia) - 1 to 3 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Viola lanceolata (bog white violet) - part shade, shade

Viola missouriensis (Missouri violet) - 6" to 1 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Grasses for under a magnolia tree

Bromus ciliatus (fringed brome) - sun, part shade, shade

Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - 2 to 4 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) - 1 to 2-1/2 ft. tall, part shade, shade

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) - 3 to 6 ft. tall, sun, part shade, shade


Athyrium filix-femina

Calyptocarpus vialis

Hydrocotyle umbellata

Onoclea sensibilis

Phlox divaricata

Ruellia drummondiana

Viola lanceolata

Viola missouriensis

Bromus ciliatus

Chasmanthium latifolium

Muhlenbergia schreberi

Sorghastrum nutans

 

 

 

 

More Groundcovers Questions

Erosion Solution for Lorton, VA
February 07, 2014 - We have a steep slope in our common area of our homeowners association. Trees that were planted have died. It is a large area around a pond. What should we plant that will hold the soil? The soil...
view the full question and answer

Ground cover for East Texas
November 07, 2010 - I live in the country of east Texas and wish to grow native ground covers around my house and property. I have no way to control this growth, as I have no fences or borders. I have sandy soil and th...
view the full question and answer

Flowering groundcover for Indiana
May 25, 2009 - I live in southern Indiana and am looking for a nice flowering groundcover that will overcome the grass. It is on a hill that is very hard to mow.
view the full question and answer

Pros and cons of Hydrocotyl bonariensis as lawn replacement
March 22, 2008 - Want to convert lawn TO dollar weed! My Garland TX yard has become so shady over the years that I have a hard time with grass. A few years ago I noticed dollar weed in the grass which seemed to cre...
view the full question and answer

Salt-tolerant groundcover for shade with no water supply
September 11, 2013 - We have a home in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida (NE Florida). We have a large area outside our ground floor master bedroom that is completely covered (there is a large solid deck above it). ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.