Native Plants
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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.
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Thursday - June 16, 2011
From: Birmingham, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Grass for sunny or shady slope in Birmingham AL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What kind of grass grows well in the shade or sun on a sloping landscape?ANSWER:
As we told you in our previous answer, using our Native Plant Database to search for the perfect plants for your garden will help you have a water conserving, suitable plant for your area. For the grasses, however, we are going to suggest that you search the database directly instead of the Recommended Species. For a number of states, we just don't have the information for Recommended Species on very many grasses native to those states, and you will get more choice this way.
Using the Combination Search on that page, you will select on Alabama and "grasses or grass-like plants" and be sure to indicate a Light Requirement on each search, as you say you have both sun and shade on your slope. Remember, these may not be turf grasses as for a lawn, but grasses with their long fibrous roots are the best way to stabilize a slope and prevent erosion.
Grass for sun - Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana (Silver beard grass) - perennial, sun, low water use.
Grass for shade -Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - perennial, medium water use, part shade or shade.
From the Image Gallery
More Shade Tolerant Questions
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July 02, 2010 - We live in Bastrop, 8 miles west of the Historical district. We have a small flower garden in a shady spot around 25 feet from the back patio of our home. We'd like to find out what native plants, f...
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October 22, 2007 - What wildflowers are best for the Dallas area both in sunny and semi shade locations? Are you able to purchase by mail?
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October 04, 2012 - I reside in central Florida. I have planted several lantana the orange,red,yellow type. I don't have proper species name. They have been in the ground 3 weeks with 2" of potting soil around root ba...
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Ground cover for shady slope in Illinois
May 31, 2010 - Dear Mr. Smarty:
I have a shady sloping area that I am trying to cover with low fast growing, perennials that will keep maintenance to the minimum and prevent erosion. Grass would be very difficul...
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Plants for wildlife and trees for shade.
September 29, 2007 - We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,...
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