Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Friday - November 29, 2013
From: Basile, LA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South?ANSWER:
For colorful flowering plants that grow in the shade I can give you a long list or you can look for them yourself by doing a COMBINATION SEARCH in our Native Plant Database and choosing "Louisisana" from the Select State or Province option, "Herb" or "Shrub" from the Habit (general appearance) and "Shade - Less than 2 hours of sun per day" under Light requirement. There are other criteria you can choose as well. Here are some representative plants from a search the criteria above and "Herb" under Habit (general appearance). :
Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis)
Iris brevicaulis (Zigzag iris)
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)
Oenothera biennis (Common evening-primrose)
Packera obovata (Golden groundsel)
Phlox divaricata (Wild blue phlox)
Ruellia nudiflora (Violet ruellia)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed susan)
Salvia coccinea (Scarlet sage)
Solidago altissima (Tall goldenrod)
Viola missouriensis (Missouri violet)
There are many more possibilities.
There may be a problem growing plants under your oak tree, not just because it will be shady but because the oak tree has an allelopathic effect on some other plants. Allelopathy is a situation where a plant releases a chemical that has an effect on another plant. The effect may be beneficial or harmful, but the ones we hear about the most are those that are harmful to another plant. One of best known of the allelopathic plants is the walnut tree (Juglans spp.). It has a very strong effect on most plants attempting to grow beneath it. Trees with a lesser allelopathic effect include oaks, hackberries and eucalyptus trees. Red oaks, which in your area would probably be Quercus falcata (Southern red oak) are mentioned more often than other oak trees. You can read more about allelopathy in this article, Allelopathic plants: nature's weedkillers. That said, not all plants are susceptible to the oak's chemicals. Some plants can grow under oaks. Unfortunately, there are no lists of plants that will grow under oaks although you can find lists of ones that will grow under the allelopathic walnut trees. Since live oaks don't appear as large threats as allelopathic sources, your challenge will probably be getting plants that will do well in the shade. Those above should all do well in the shade.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Competition between peony and bulbs
November 06, 2015 - I am planting 3 herbaceous peony bare roots 3 feet apart from each other. I am told it will take 3 years before I get blooms. In the meantime, can i safely plant springtime flowering bulbs in th...
view the full question and answer
Pruning for Spring
January 21, 2007 - When should I cut back (and how far should I cut back) the following plants in order to promote growth in the spring:
Salvia gregii,
Salvia leucantha,
Ruellia (Mexican petunia),
Plumbago,
Sku...
view the full question and answer
Identity of blue sage-like plant blooming in September in Lubbock TX
November 07, 2014 - This has bothered me for years. It looks like a miniature version of Salvia azure. About a foot talk with multiple stems. Flowering in September. Grows on the hillsides overlooking Buddy Holly Lak...
view the full question and answer
Salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas
September 16, 2009 - Do you have any suggestions for salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Plants for full-sun landscape
November 20, 2007 - I live in a very rocky area just outside of Fort Worth, TX. It's taken me all spring, summer & now I'm going into the fall, to landscape just 30 feet in front of my house. The front of the house get...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |