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

Wednesday - June 22, 2011
From: Laceys Spring, AL
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification, Trees, Wildflowers
Title: Wildflowers that grow in woodlands
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Please tell me the names of wildflowers that grow under your oak trees in Texas. I am only familiar with those open meadow plants, not those that live under the deciduous trees. Thank you for your time!ANSWER:
Well, Texas is a really big state with lots of different ecoregions so I am going to focus on the ones that grow in Central Texas where I live and where the Wildflower Center is located. East Texas, West Texas and South Texas plants can be very different from those that grow here in Central Texas. Also, since oaks are allelopathic to some plants growing beneath them (i.e., they produce chemicals that inhibit the growth of some plants), I will give you the names of wildflowers that you can find growing in shady woodlands instead of just plants that grow under the oaks. Below are a few herbaceous wildflowers. You can see more examples as well as flowering shrubs that grow in dry shade in two of our Recommended Species files—Dry Shade Plants for Central Texas and Woodland Plants for Central Texas. If you would like to see some of the wildflowers that grow in other ecoregions of Texas, check them out on our Recommended Species page under JUST FOR TEXANS. You can limit the number of species on those lists by using the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and choosing "Part shade" and/or "Shade" under LIGHT REQUIREMENT.
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk's cap or turkscap)
Salvia coccinea (Scarlet sage)
Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine)
Packera obovata (Golden groundsel)
Phacelia congesta (Blue curls)
Tradescantia occidentalis (Prairie spiderwort)
Conoclinium coelestinum (Blue mistflower)
Salvia roemeriana (Cedar sage)
From the Image Gallery
More Wildflowers Questions
Yellow and purple wildflowers for a wedding in Burgettstown PA
August 10, 2010 - I'm not sure exactly what I am looking for and I'm sorry if its too much to ask but....I want to have a fun relaxed wedding next June or July time. I can't find wildflowers that would bloom during...
view the full question and answer
Flowers for Fall in Bosque County from Valley Mills TX
April 06, 2012 - What Wildflowers could we plant in Bosque County area to bloom in the Fall?
view the full question and answer
Best place for picking wildflowers in Austin
February 14, 2014 - Where is the best place to find wildflowers for picking near or in Austin around the end of March?
view the full question and answer
List of native perennial Texas flowers
March 13, 2006 - Good day, I am searching for a list of native Texas flowers (preferably perennials) for a flower garden.
Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Year-round wildflower display in Mississippi
June 14, 2007 - I live in central Mississippi and I'm interested in transforming a 2,000 sq. ft. turf area of my yard into a showy wildflower exhibit that will bloom from now(July) until winter and even possibly thr...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |