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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
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