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)
Wednesday - August 26, 2009
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Colorful native plants for oak tree shade in Houston
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Houston Tx - our subdivision entrance has many oak trees. We cannot find anything that will "stay alive" around these trees. It is mostly shady, but gets a slight bit of sunlight. we would like something colorful. Please make some suggestions.ANSWER:
We're assuming you are referring to an entrance to the whole subdivision, rather than in an individual yard. We are also assuming that some arrangements have been made for irrigation of the area. We don't blame you for wanting something colorful, but that is going to be a problem. Most colorfully blooming herbaceous plants and shrubs need a good quantity of sunlight to fuel their blooms. We consider full sun to be 6 or more hours of sun a day, part shade 2 to 6 hours of sun, and shade less than 2 hours of sun a day.There are other factors besides heavy shade that might be causing problems in getting plants to stay alive, including the fact that oak roots tend to be in the upper 12 inches of the soil, and form a mat that would be discouraging to other plant roots. In addition, there is the question of allelopathy. From the University of California Cooperative Extension article Landscape Notes by James Downer, Farm Advisor, we have extracted this paragraph about the allelopathy of oaks:
"Various studies have demonstrated that oaks can
have allelopathic affects on surrounding plants.
Allelopathy is the production of plant inhibiting
chemicals by one plant to regulate the growth of
others in its vicinity. One important group of
chemicals produced by oaks is tannins. They are
produced in leaves and litter and also directly by
root systems in soil. Tannins are inhibitory to many
organisms. Salicylic acid and other organic acids
are also produced by oaks and are toxic to other
plants. Allelopathy is species specific for the oak
in question and the species that is inhibited."
Now, having told you all the reasons why things won't grow there, we will go to our Native Plant Database, and look for plants native to the Harris County area that can tolerate part shade or shade and have some landscape value. We went to our Recommended Species section, clicked on East Texas on the map, and selected first on herbs (herbaceous blooming plants) and next on shrubs under Habit, and part shade and shade on Light Requirements. We found 5 blooming plants and 3 shrubs that might work for you. Remember, you are not going to have year-round color, nor even green. Some of the plants are evergreen, some are deciduous and at least one shrub has winter berry color. Follow each plant link to our webpage on that individual plant to learn more about its characteristics and propagation.
Herbaceous blooming plants for oak tree area in Houston:
Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow) - perennial spreading evergreen, blooms white, pink or purple March to June, sun or part shade
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial evergreen, 1 to 2 ft. tall, blooms yellow April to June, sun, part shade or shade
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial, 1 to 6 ft. tall, deciduous, blooms red May to October, sun, part shade or shade
Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox) - perennial evergreen, 8 to 18 inches high, blooms white, red, pink or purple March to May, part shade or shade
Salvia coccinea (blood sage) -annual or perennial, blooms white, red or pink March to October, sun, part shade or shade
Shrubs for oak tree area in Houston:
Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) - 3 to 5 ft. tall, deciduous, blooms white, pink May to July, part shade
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (wax mallow) - perennial, deciduous, 3 to 6 ft. tall, blooms red May to November
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) - 4 to 6 ft. tall, deciduous, blooms white, green April to July, part shade or shade
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Magnolia species are allelopathic
August 02, 2014 - Have a healthy Southern Magnolia tree around 8 years old. It seems like everything I plant next to it dies.: Variegated Spirea, Stokes Aster, Hydrangeas. Is there something it secretes like the waln...
view the full question and answer
Identifying native sedges
October 14, 2013 - What's the best way to identify a specific sedge ?
view the full question and answer
Grass to grow in the shade of pecan tree
December 10, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Pants,
We have an enormous pecan tree in our backyard that had grass underneath the breadth of the branches, but not around the trunk. The grass isn't doing well (though we did fai...
view the full question and answer
Erosion Control in Bartlesville OK
May 10, 2012 - What kind of plants can we use to stop erosion and loss of bank on a creek that is mostly shaded? Is there any free advice/plants for people that are losing land due to water levels rising/dropping?
view the full question and answer
What habitat would my Antennaria solitaria like in Red Bank, TN?
October 26, 2010 - I want to know what habitat my mystery plant will like- sun, shade, dry or moist. I think it is an Antennaria solitaria or Little Pussytoes. I got it at a native plant sale here in Chattanooga. It has...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |