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
Thursday - May 02, 2013
From: Elkhart, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Planting, Soils, Shade Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs, Trees
Title: Flowers under pine trees from Elkhart Indiana
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have a number of pine trees at the back of my lot and would like to plant flowers under the tree. What can I plant?ANSWER:
We have a very similar previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer for flowering plants under pine trees; it is, however, from Illinois. And, another one from New York, which also gives you instructions for using our National Suppliers Directory. So, we will use the same method detailed in the previous answers to find flowers that will grow in part shade, tolerate acidic soils and are native not only to North America but also to the area where they are to be grown; in your case, Elkhart County, IN.
We will go to our Native Plant Database and, scrolling down the page to use the Combination Search, search on Indiana for the state, herbs (herbaceous blooming plants) for Habit, and "part shade" under Light Requirements. We will list some examples and you can go back to do your own search for different plants with different characteristics. Follow each plant link to our webpage on that plant to learn bloom times and colors, mature heights, soils preferred and soil moisture for that plant. We ave checked each plant on our list with the USDA Plant Profile Maps to make sure they are native to your area and therefore compatible with your climate, soils and rainfall.
Achillea millefolium (Common yarrow)
Aconitum uncinatum (Southern blue monkshood)
Agalinis purpurea (Purple false foxglove)
Anemone virginiana (Tall thimbleweed)
Aruncus dioicus (Bride's feathers)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed)
Caltha palustris (Yellow marsh marigold)
Claytonia virginica (Virginia springbeauty)
Euphorbia marginata (Snow on the mountain)
Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry)
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Propagation of cardinal flower with variegated leaves from Wakefield RI
August 21, 2013 - I purchased cardinal flower seeds from the Brandywine museum & have had great success for over a decade. Recently I spotted one cardinal flower with variegated leaves. Is this a plant worth propagatin...
view the full question and answer
Sources for Eustoma exaltatum (Texas bluebells)
October 01, 2015 - Could you list sources for seeds for eustoma (texas bluebells)?
view the full question and answer
Plants for freestanding water in Oklahoma
July 28, 2013 - I have an overflowing gutter and the ground below becomes a muddy hole. I'd like to put a basin or pot in/or above the ground with a rain chain. Are there any plants--shrubs or otherwise that flouris...
view the full question and answer
Habiturf lawn in Carson City, NV
October 15, 2013 - I planted habiturf just south of Reno NV May 5. First two months no or little germination because nite temps too cold. Now doing ok except battling purslane and redstem filaree.. SO, I notice bare/spa...
view the full question and answer
Food Allergy to Beautyberry or Persimmon?
October 22, 2015 - I think I might have a food allergy to Beautyberry or American Persimmon, eaten Saturday at the North Carolina Great Dismal park. These were the only strange foods recently, though I've had persimmo...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |