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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - June 29, 2009
From: Vevay, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Compost and Mulch, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Native plants for under a pine tree in Vevay IN
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
At our office we have a very nice garden however, in the front we have a large pine tree. We cannot get anything to take root & live there. Do you have any suggestions for a native shrub or perennial to fill in our spot. The soil is moist with partial shade.ANSWER:
There are five pines native to Indiana: Pinus banksiana (jack pine), Pinus resinosa (red pine), Pinus rigida (pitch pine), Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) and Pinus virginiana (Virginia pine). What you have may be none of the above or a hybrid; it doesn't matter too much as members of the pinus share several characteristics that may be affecting what will grow around the tree. Pine trees also grow well on poor, rocky soil. If that is what you have in your whole garden, you should probably first address amending the soil where you wish to plant. Working in some humus, like compost, will help to make trace elements available to the roots of the new plants, and improve drainage. When the new plants are in the ground, mulch them with a good quality shredded hardwood mulch. This will shelter the roots from both heat and cold, help to maintain the moisture and, as it decomposes, continue to improve the texture in the soil.
We were unclear if you were trying to plant shrubs or perennials around the tree or beneath the tree. We're assuming that the tree is doing well, that would probably mean that you have acidic soil, which pines all need. They even contribute to the acidity of the soil with their fallen needles. As the needles decompose, they add still more acidity to the soil. If you are trying to grow plants around the tree, they would just need to be adaptable to the acidic soil and part shade. If you are trying to grow plants beneath the tree, they are having to deal with the heavy shade of the pine, plus the needles on the ground. We would recommend that you let the pine needles stay beneath the pine, they make a good mulch, should inhibit any weeds from coming up, and will continue to contribute to the health of the tree, itself.
On the assumption that you will plant around the tree, you could go to our Recommended Species section, click on Indiana on the map, and then use the Narrow Your Search function to select on "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants) for General Appearance, "perennial" for Duration and "part shade" under Light Requirements. You can even select for "moist" under Soil Moisture. Make the same search, choosing "shrub" under Habit. Follow the links to the webpage on each individual plant to learn growth habits, moisture needs, etc. All the suggested plants like acid or neutral soils and moist soil, will grow in part shade.
Perennial blooming plants for Indiana
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine) - to 2 ft, tall, semi-evergreen, blooms red, pink, yellow February to July, part shade
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - to 2 ft., blooms orange, yellow May to September, sun or part shade
Dicentra cucullaria (dutchman's breeches) - 10" tall, blooms white, yellow April & May, sun, part shade or shade
Geranium maculatum (spotted geranium) - 1 to 3 ft tall, evergreen, blooms white, pink, purple March to July, part shade or shade
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - 1 to 6 ft. tall, blooms red May to October, sun, part shade or shade, attracts hummingbirds
Mertensia virginica (Virginia bluebells) - 1 to 3 ft., blooms pink, blue, purple March & June, part shade or shade
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot) - 2 to 5 ft., blooms white, pink, purple June to September, sun or part shade
Shrubs for Indiana
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick) - evergreen, blooms white, pink March & June, sun, part shade or shade
Cephalanthus occidentalis (common buttonbush) - 6 to 12 ft. tall, evergreen, blooms white, pink June to September, part shade or shade
Cornus sericea (redosier dogwood) - dedicuous, 6 to 12 ft., blooms white May & June, part shade
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) - 4 to 6 ft, deciduous, blooms white, green April to July, part shade or shade
More Shrubs Questions
Replacement Yaupon holly doing poorly in Pflugerville, TX
May 09, 2012 - I had to replace quite a few shrubs after the drought last year. I live in Austin, TX. I have planted 3 dwarf yaupon holly bushes in the exact same place where the previous three same type of shrubs...
view the full question and answer
Winter pruning of lantana from Austin
February 12, 2013 - I live in north Austin. Due to our mild winter, my lantana has not died off this season as it usually does after a freeze - and so I have not cut it back yet this year which I typically do about right...
view the full question and answer
mixed species privacy hedge in Central Texas
March 24, 2016 - I need to plant a privacy hedge along a fence line. I am in east Austin, blackland prairie soil. The soil is rich, usually at least moist but not soggy, and I find lots of worms when I dig. The fen...
view the full question and answer
Identification of wild shrub in Michigan
October 22, 2008 - I have what appears to be a wild shrub that I want to identify. It has green foliage and is bush-like. It is about 10' tall. This fall I noticed light red berries and thorns..after cutting it down...
view the full question and answer
Information about a red-flowered Pavonia lasiopetala in central TX.
September 07, 2010 - I have grown Pavonia for years and just let it re-seed where it wants (and remove if I don't want it where it falls). This year I created a new 6 inch raised bed amended with compost and some manure...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |