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)
Wednesday - March 18, 2009
From: La Verne, CA
Region: California
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Native shade plants around fountain in California
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Hi, we just put a fountain in our front yard. It is in a mostly shady area. I need to know what plants would go best around the fountain and survive in the shade.ANSWER:
We recently answered a similar question, also from California, in which they were having difficulty finding flowers that would endure the splashing of water from the fountain. Only two of them, the Iris missouriensis and the Spiraea splendens specified sun (more than 6 hours of sun a day) and the rest all will do well in sun, part shade (2 t 6 hours of sun a day) and shade (less than 2 hours of sun a day), as well as moist soil. If your bed extends out of the shade, or has sunshine at different times of the day, these would all fit your purposes.
HERBACEOUS PLANTS
Iris missouriensis (Rocky Mountain iris)
Aruncus dioicus (bride's feathers)
Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)
Equisetum hyemale (scouringrush horsetail)
Hesperochiron pumilus (dwarf hesperochiron)
SHRUBS
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Landscaping in shade in Round Rock, TX
May 04, 2010 - I have a flower bed that is 3' deep by 15' wide. It is in front of my front porch. Half of it only gets sun right now from about 3:30-5pm (a little filtered sun for maybe another hour). The other ha...
view the full question and answer
Low evergreen shrubs for shade in Spring TX
February 19, 2009 - I am looking for an evergreen plant that grows no taller than 2 feet and will grow in shade. I would love to have one that would also produce flowers. Please help and thanks.
view the full question and answer
Shade loving plants with color for Irving, Texas
July 01, 2010 - Looking for shade loving perennials or annuals with color - native and low water. Live in Irving, Texas.
view the full question and answer
Native alterrnatives for Bermuda grass in shade
July 30, 2007 - I have Bermuda Tif 419 on my lawn. As expected, there are small areas in the shade that the Bermuda is not doing well in. What would happen if I spread Zoysia seed in those shady areas? Would it gro...
view the full question and answer
Hedge shrub for shade in Jacksonville FL
January 17, 2013 - Looking for shrub or hedge ( no Azaleas please )to line front of house that is full time shade in Jacksonville Florida ( something different, on the lines of tropical if possible).
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |