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
Monday - March 09, 2015
From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Deer Resistant, Groundcovers, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Need ground cover plants to grow in the shade a large oak in San Antonio, TX
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
We have a large backyard in San Antonio covered with live oak and red oak. Since grass does not do well in this shade / bright shade area I would like to plant a low growing ground cover and then add Turks cap for interest. If needs to be deer resistant if possible. Can you suggest any low ground covers (under a foot tall)?ANSWER:
Lets start by looking at our Native Plant Database. Click on this link, and scroll down to the Combination Search box. Select Texas under State, herb under Habit, and Perennial under Duration. Check Part shade under Light requirement, Dry under Soil moisture, and 0 - 1 ft under Height. Click on the Submit combination Search button, and you will get a list of 71 plant species that fit these criteria, and are native to Texas. Clicking on the scientific name of each plant will bring up its NPIN page that contains a description of the plant, its characteristics and growth requirements, and in most cases, photos. You can repeat the search, this time selecting grass or grass like under Habit. See what happens if you check Shade under light requirement.
Mr. Smarty Plants has been doing this a while, and he is going to give you links to a couple of previously answered questions:
# 10310
# 9838
These answers have links to other previously answered questions, so in a sense, you have tapped into the accumulated wisdom of Mr. Smarty Plants.
Compare the plants from the links and the Database with this list of Deer Resistant Species .
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Plants indigenous to Sedona, AZ
July 07, 2010 - I live in Sedona AZ and I want to plant indigenous plants in my garden. Is there a list of AZ native plants shrubs and trees that are indigenous to Sedona?
If there is no list that is specific f...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification from Prairie Village KS
August 25, 2012 - My friend has identified this plant as a Horseweed. It is 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall. Has a thick, fuzzy single stem. Linear leaves, about 3/4 inch across and 3 or 4 inches long with one or two notches on e...
view the full question and answer
Winter plants for windowbox in Piedmont SC
October 26, 2012 - What kind of outdoor window box spruss can grow in upstate South Carolina in the winter months?
view the full question and answer
Is Evolvulus nuttallianus native to Central Texas and Deer Resistant?
June 11, 2015 - The website doesn't have much information about blue daze (Evolvulus nuttallianus. Is this plant native to Central Texas? Is it deer-resistant?
view the full question and answer
Wildflower Meadow for Poth, TX
January 22, 2014 - I recently cleared some underbrush from a virgin pasture, with large oaks and mesquites scattered through it, and was wondering if it was too late to plant wildflowers? If not, what varieties of wildf...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |