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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - November 01, 2011
From: Watauga, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers, Shade Tolerant, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Shade tolerant groundcover plants for Tarrant County, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in far NE Tarrant County (Ft Worth), TX and need a groundcover that can tolerate complete shade and poor, rocky, clay soil. I need mostly for erosion control, and needs to be relatively lowANSWER:
Here are several groundcovers that will grow in the shade. Except for the two grasses, they are semi-evergreen or evergreen.
Calyptocarpus vialis (Straggler daisy) is evergreen to semi-evergreen. "Evergreen in areas with mild or no winter, deciduous in areas with cold winters."
Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit) is semi-evergreen.
Packera obovata (Golden groundsel) is evergreen to semi-evergreen.
Carex planostachys (Cedar sedge) is evergreen.
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) dies back in winter but is perennial. This grass grows in clumps and can reach 2 feet or more, but is very attractive.
Muhlenbergia schreberi (Nimblewill) dies back in winter but is perennial.
From the Image Gallery
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Replacing St. Augustine with native grasses in San Antonio
November 04, 2009 - I am hoping to replace St. Augustine on a sloped yard with native grass. I was wondering where I might get information on the prairie grass seed mats used by the TXDOT highway dept to stop erosion.
...
view the full question and answer
Native buffalograss for Round Rock, TX
September 14, 2009 - Hi, I am wondering what the best Buffalo grass selection would be for Round Rock, Tx? I have about 400 - 500 Sq Ft that boarders the street that I would like to maintain as a natural type of environme...
view the full question and answer
Native buffalograss in sandy loam
April 19, 2008 - I am in the Austin area and want to plant Native Texas Buffalo Grass in sandy loam from the Colorado River bed. Will this work?
view the full question and answer
Tropical Texas landscape from Houston
March 04, 2013 - Do you know of any public (or at least photographed) place in Texas that has been landscaped entirely with native "tropical-looking" (i.e. evergreen but NOT conifer and NOT succulent/arid) species? ...
view the full question and answer
Planting Habiturf in an occasional overflow area
November 14, 2014 - Wondering about putting Habiturf in an area that is for occasional flood overflow. How will the Habiturf be affected by these occasional conditions? I suspect it won't like it and will start to thin ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |