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_43.gif)
Thursday - April 24, 2014
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant, Shrubs
Title: Flowering Shrub for Houston, TX
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
I live in Houston, Texas and would like to plant a flowering shrub 3-6 feet in height. It will get sun to part sun, 2-6 hours daily. I have had azaleas in this area and am now looking for something to replace them. My azaleas were 20 years old.ANSWER:
You have lots of choices. This question is a perfect application for one of the Wildflower Center websites most useful features. As the Wildflower Center is dedicated to the use of native species, the replacement of your old azaleas is right down our line!
If you look to the left of the webpage, one of the links available is to “Recommended Species”. Within that link, you can choose the different plant lists by state, province, ecoregion or a few other popular choices.
If I choose South Texas, the full list of native plants found there is presented in this link. But that is not all! On the left side of this new webpage there is the capability to reduce the listing by sorting for several key aspects. These include general appearance, light requirement, water requirement, bloom color and height. You can sort that list by any or all of these criteria. Simply choosing “Shrubs”, the height and “Partial Shade” results in a shorter list.
It has 10 candidates for replacements for your Azaleas. Mr Smarty Plants would recommend one of these:
Abutilon hypoleucum (Rio grande abutilon)
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry)
Chromolaena odorata (Jack in the bush)
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)
Malpighia glabra (Acerola)
Pavonia lasiopetala (Rock rose)
From the Image Gallery
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Evergreen plants for shaded fence in Arizona
January 28, 2009 - I need to place a fence around my front yard (4-5 ft tall), in Arizona. What evergreen flower/plant can you recommend that would grow on this fence? (it would only get about 2-4 hours of sun daily and...
view the full question and answer
Dwarf native plants for shade in Burlington, MA
May 02, 2009 - Hi, I removed all of the evergreen shrubs in front of my house in Zone 6. It is in full shade all summer but has some sun during the spring because of a huge beech tree in front yard. there is 2 8'...
view the full question and answer
Shade trees with a tap root
July 31, 2009 - I need a list of shade trees with a tap root system. I would also like the tree to grow at a medium to fast rate. I will be planting near a concrete wall and do not want the roots to do any damage to ...
view the full question and answer
Michigan native plants for shady, low traffic area
May 10, 2006 - Hello, I am looking for a recommendation for a Michigan native groundcover. I live adjacent to the Rouge River watershed and want to buy the right thing. The location is shady, infrequently walked ...
view the full question and answer
Non-poisonous trees to shade horse pasture in Leesville SC
February 07, 2011 - Please list NON-poisonous trees for horses in South Carolina. I would live to plant a few trees along the fence of my horse pasture and in my horse pasture for shade.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |