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?

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
Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - May 27, 2009

From: St. Cloud, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Erosion Control, Groundcovers, Shade Tolerant, Wildflowers
Title: Wildflowers for high canal bank in Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

My home is on a canal to a natural lake in Central Florida (Orlando area). I am wondering if there is a wildflower that I can grow on a 3' high canal bank that is mostly shady.

ANSWER:

The following plants should do well as groundcover plants in part shade (2 to 6 hours of sunlight per day) on your canal bank:

Arisaema dracontium (green dragon)

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)

Dyschoriste oblongifolia (oblongleaf snakeherb)

Helenium amarum (yellowdicks)

Mitchella repens (partridgeberry)

Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)

Ruellia caroliniensis (Carolina wild petunia)

Salvia lyrata (lyreleaf sage)

You can find more recommendations for shade tolerant plants for Florida by selecting your state from the map or the pulldown menu on our Recommended Species page.  You can limit this list by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and selecting the characteristics you are looking for (e.g., select 'Herb' from General Appearance and 'Part Shade' and 'Shade' from Light requirement).  You can also find other recommendations for plants for Orange County, Florida from the Florida Native Plant Society. This site doesn't have information about light requirement, but you can check that in our Native Plant Database page by searching by the botanical name.


Arisaema dracontium

Conoclinium coelestinum

Dyschoriste oblongifolia

Helenium amarum

Mitchella repens

Phyla nodiflora

Ruellia caroliniensis

Salvia lyrata

 

 

More Groundcovers Questions

Native plants for groundcover under Magnolia in Austin
April 09, 2009 - What plants native to the Austin, Tx area will do well underneath a large magnolia tree (instead of the English ivy that is there)?
view the full question and answer

Groundcover for rocky slope
February 27, 2012 - My house has a very steep and very rocky slope. We have no problems with erosion, its just very unnattractive. There is no way to mow it whatsoever, and we live in a planned community so we can't h...
view the full question and answer

Shady Groundcovers for NC
April 23, 2015 - I have a side yard that gets very little sun during the day and have tried St. Augustine grass unsuccessfully. Can you recommend a groundcover? We live close to the coast in Southeastern N. Carolina...
view the full question and answer

Native Groundcover for High Activity Location in Austin, TX
October 01, 2010 - Howdy! We live in South Austin and have a smallish backyard that we're perennially working on. We have two young, very active dogs that spend a lot of time RUNNING and we never can keep ground cover ...
view the full question and answer

Need suggestions for plants to put between stones on a path in Austin, TX
April 12, 2013 - I am looking for plants to put between stones on a path, which are low-an inch or two, green, low water and tolerate full sun in Austin, Texas
view the full question and answer

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