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
Wednesday - September 30, 2015
From: Georgetown, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Vines
Title: Plants for Georgetown with shade in the AM and sun in the PM
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I live in Georgetown and I would like a recommendation for plants (shrubs and flowering perennials) that can handle deep shade until 1 or 2 pm and then have full sun blasting them til sun down. They also have the reflected heat from the garage to contend with. Are there any vegetables that can handle this as well? Oh, and of course I have heavy clay soil that I amended and the beds were dug down 8 inches and raised 4inches. Thanks!ANSWER:
This is a challenging situation. Sun in the morning and shade later in the day is a bit easier to deal with, but here are a few possibilities.
Ageratina havanensis (Shrubby boneset)
Conoclinium coelestinum (Blue mistflower)
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk's cap or turkscap)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena)
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)
You might consider building an arbor or pergola for a sun-loving evergreen vine that could provide some sort of relief from the fierce summer sun. Here are suggestions for vines:
Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle)
Bignonia capreolata (Crossvine)
Gelsemium sempervirens (Carolina jessamine)
For the vegetables, since they are mostly non-native cultivars you should check with the Williamson County AgriLife Extension Sevice for suggestions. Our focus and expertise are with plants native to North America. Here is a link to their vegetable information.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
First wildflower to bloom in Madison Ohio
February 01, 2009 - What is the first wildflower to bloom in spring in Madison, Ohio 44057. Is it the snowdrop?
view the full question and answer
Pruning practices from Austin
May 16, 2013 - I need to do some pruning in my front beds and I know nothing about plants. From what I have been able to identify I have bicolor irises, plumbago, Japanese Aralia. I don't even know where to begin o...
view the full question and answer
Is wild foxglove poisonous to dogs from Liberty TX
May 05, 2012 - Is penstemon cobaea (wild foxglove)poisonous to pets, specifically dogs. I was thinking about adding this to my native Texan wild flower section of my backyard.
view the full question and answer
What gives the Creosote bush its characteristic smell?
August 09, 2011 - Good evening, Mr. Smarty Plants,
There is a question which I would please like to ask regarding a plant called "Creosote Bush" (Larrea tridentata)- does it actually smell like the creosote...
view the full question and answer
Source for Texas Star hibiscus from Grand Prairie TX
June 24, 2012 - I am having a lot of difficulty in trying to find and purchase a Texas Hibiscus. Any clues?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |