Native Plants
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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Sunday - June 21, 2009
From: Magnolia, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Shade plants for a childrens garden in Magnolia, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What shade plants would be good to plant in a Children's garden at a learning center?ANSWER:
You can choose plants for this yourself by going to our Recommended Species section, clicking on East Texas on the map, and then using the Narrow Your Search by selecting "shade" under Light Requirements. Click on the Narrow Your Search box-you will get the native plants that thrive in shade (less than 2 hours of sun a day) in your part of Texas. Some of them won't be practical, so you should follow the plant link to the individual page on each plant, find out its height, water use, bloom time, etc. We are going to make a suggested list using this technique; if you don't find what you want, go back and do the search yourself. Of course, you can change some of the criteria, such as searching only for "shrubs" under Habit, or "part shade" under Light Requirements, to suit your site. We tried to choose plants that would attract bees and birds, had no toxic parts and are pretty sturdy.
Native shade plants for Magnolia TX
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - perennial, 3 to 6 ft. tall, grows in most soils, medium water use, part shade or shade
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial, evergreen, blooms yellow April to June, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade, attracts pollinators
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial, blooms red May to October, low water use, sun, part shade or shade, attracts hummingbirds
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (wax mallow) - perennial shrub, blooms red May to November, medium water use, part shade or shade, attracts butterflies and hummingbirds
Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox) - perennial, evergreen, blooms white, red, pink, purple March to May, medium water use, part shade or shade, attracts butterflies
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) - annual to short-lived perennial, blooms yellow June to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade, nectar source for bees and butterflies, seeds for birds
Salvia coccinea (blood sage) - annual or perennial, blooms white, red, pink February to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
More Shade Tolerant Questions
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May 12, 2015 - I planted some Red columbine seeds in October of last year and they are now doing well, roughly 6-inches tall. I believed I was planting them in mostly shade at the time; that area now seems to get 6+...
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August 26, 2011 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have 2 very large, very old Arizona Ash trees in my yard. I want to remove them and replace them with something like Cedar Elm or Chinquapin Oak. The problem is that they are t...
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Need a recommendation for a fast growing shade tree near Gettysburg PA
October 08, 2009 - I am looking to plant a fast growing shade tree with non-invasive roots. I live in south central Pennsylvania just north of Gettysburg PA.
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