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
1 rating

Monday - June 15, 2009

From: Enville, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Edible plants in shade in Enville TN
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I have a flower bed against the back of my house with nothing in it. We moved into this house late last year and I was planning on planting some tomato plants there until I discovered it never gets any direct sun. Is there any type of edible or fruit bearing plant I can grow there since it's nice and close to the house.

ANSWER:

Many fruits and vegetables are not native to North America and/or have been so extensively hybridized and therefore not recognizable as natives. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the care, protection and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown. A plant native to an area will already be adapted by millennia of experience to the soil, climate and rainfall of that area, and will need less fertilizer, water and maintenance. For the site you are referring to, you apparently need something that we would classify as "shade," or less than 2 hours of sun a day.  "Sun" is considered 6 or more hours of sun daily, and "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun. We went to our Native Plant Database, and found these plants that are native to Tennessee, would grow in the specified amount of sun, and are considered edible. Please follow the plant links and read about each plant; all are perennials, some are considered more edible for wildlife than people, and many are very prickly bushes.

Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry) - blooms white May to August, part shade to shade

Gaylussacia baccata (black huckleberry) - blooms white, pink May to July, part shade or shade

Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry) - blooms white in June, sun, part shade or shade - pictures

Rubus canadensis (smooth blackberry) - blooms white June to July, sun, part shade or shade

Rubus idaeus (American red raspberry) - blooms white June and July, sun, part shade or shade - pictures

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) - blooms white May and June, sun, part shade or shade

Vaccinium corymbosum (highbush blueberry) -  blooms white, pink May and June, sun, part shade or shade


Fragaria vesca

Gaylussacia baccata

Rubus canadensis

Vaccinium angustifolium

Vaccinium corymbosum

 

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Plants for xeriscape and shade
August 20, 2008 - I live in Jones county, Texas. I would like to xeriscape portions of my lawn. The soil is sandy, I have a lot of shaded lawn area. What plants do you recommend that would be low maintenace, low water ...
view the full question and answer

Deer resistant, drought and shade tolerant plants to go under oak tree in Austin
March 21, 2011 - What is the best deer resistant, drought resistant native plant to grow under my huge Oak tree? Grass does not grow. Will iris bloom?
view the full question and answer

Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado
August 10, 2012 - I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ...
view the full question and answer

Shade trees not invasive to foundations and driveways
August 02, 2009 - I am in zone 9. What shade trees can I plant that will not be invasive to foundations or driveways? Thank you, Mr. Smarty Plants
view the full question and answer

What will grow under neighbor's overhanging tree in Grosse Pointe Woods MI
May 29, 2011 - My next door neighbor has a beautiful tree that is easily 60 years old and thus not going anywhere. Unfortunately, for me the roots of this tree have extended under a large corner of my back yard. Add...
view the full question and answer

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