Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Monday - July 30, 2007

From: Rockport, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Recommendations for native shade plants in sandy soil
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in Rockport, TX, and would like to plant a small, shaded triangular corner (bounded on 2 sides by wooden fence)in my front yard. The area has limited southern exposure due to shading by live oaks & receives little or no sunlight. Soils are sandy. Any recommendations?

ANSWER:

Here are some suggestions for plants found in Aransas County, Texas that should do well in sandy shade or part shade:

Wildflowers:

Argemone albiflora (bluestem pricklypoppy)

Argemone sanguinea (red pricklypoppy)

Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow)

Coreopsis tinctoria (golden tickseed)

Delphinium carolinianum (Carolina larkspur)

Echinacea angustifolia (blacksamson echinacea)

Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel)

Ruellia nudiflora (violet wild petunia)

Sisyrinchium langloisii (roadside blue-eyed grass)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Tradescantia subacaulis (stemless spiderwort)

Xanthisma texanum (Texas sleepydaisy)

 

Low shrubs:

Acacia angustissima (prairie acacia)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides (St. Andrew's cross)

 


Argemone albiflora

Argemone sanguinea

Callirhoe involucrata

Coreopsis tinctoria

Delphinium carolinianum

Echinacea angustifolia

Gaillardia pulchella

Ruellia nudiflora

Sisyrinchium langloisii

Solidago altissima

Tradescantia subacauli

Xanthisma texanum

Acacia angustissima

Amorpha canescens

Hypericum hypericoides ssp. hypericoides

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Evergreen shrub for East Texas
October 31, 2012 - I am looking for a small to medium evergreen shrub (native to east Texas) for a location that receives some sun in the morning but mostly shade. Something that blooms & attracts butterflys & hummingbi...
view the full question and answer

Deer resistant, shade tolerant trees for part shade in Highland MD
March 29, 2013 - Deer resistant privacy trees for partial shady area in Highland, MD.
view the full question and answer

Vine for shady planter from Cedar Park TX
April 19, 2014 - We bought a home in Central Texas and inherited several raised-bed planters. One of the planters is set up to grow a vine, but it's in a part of the yard that is mostly in the shade of a tree. Is t...
view the full question and answer

Shade tolerant plant for Rodeo, California
November 02, 2008 - I live in Rodeo, California and I need to know what is a good green plant I can get to place in a shady area
view the full question and answer

Shade-loving Grass for the Houston area
February 09, 2011 - I have an ash tree that completely shades the majority of our front yard and is not allowing the St. Augustine grass to grow. Is there a shade-loving grass good for the Houston area?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.