I'm trying to plan a shade garden in my back yard, heavily shaded by a huge tree in the neighbors yard. But it seems like all the usual shade plants I'm looking up don't grow in Houston (actually Sugar Land, SW Houston area) - either it's too hot / humid in the summer or too cold in the winter.
What have y'all have had luck with in the Houston area, in a close to full shade garden?
I would prefer perennials and bulbs that can stay in the ground. Not big on annuals - I don't like the idea of having to pull them up and replant every year! (I'm lazy)
Any suggestions?
Houston shade garden
I live in Dallas, but the following perennials have done really well for me in 80% shade. (I copied this from a previous post)
I have wild woodland strawberry in 80% shade. I bought six small plants and they have just about completely covered the area I planted them in one year (12ftX5ft). This plant loves mulch. The plant performs well in 100+ degree heat and looked great over the winter. Low maintenence, low water use, potentially invasive. I have mine in a contained/edged off bed.
I also have ardisia japonica, sweet violets, labrador violets, and 'metallica crispa' ajuga in the same 80% shade. They all have done well.
Are those the "Alpine" strawberries that make the little bitty berries? If so, I love those! I haven't seen those pop up as a shade plant.
I'll check all these out. Thanks!
I'll post a link on wild woodland strawberry.
I went back and searched some of my previous posts (from when I was planning my shade bed). Someone in Houston was doing the same. I'll get that link also.
Here is a copy of another post.
These plants grow in 9a watered partial shade.
1. Maidenhair fern-reported as a Texas native in plant files
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
2. Lily of the Nile
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
3. Southern wild ginger--acidic soil loving ground cover pH5-6
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
4. clivia
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
5. japanese iris---loves acidic soil
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
6. cup flower-- I really like this one It would be grown as an annual in Dallas; but, Houston might be perennial.
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
7. pratia--ground cover
[HYPERLINK@davesgarden.com]
8. Acanthus
Thanks! I tried searching "shade houston" but didn't find these. Guess I'm not patient enough!
Here is a link to wild woodland strawberry. They do produce small fruit and small flowers. The fruit and flower production is probably better in partial (40%) shade. They have thrived in 80% shade under a tree against my house at an east facing wall.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/1013/index.html
Here is one link to a thread started by a Houston shade gardener.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/698026/
There is another. Will get back soon,
Richard
Here's one from Fredericksburg
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/587362/
Found the other Houston shade link.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/639267/
Wow! Thanks Richard. That gives me lots of things to look at!
Enjoy your new shade garden.
Oh, I forgot, cilantro/coriander (annual) does really well for me in the same deep shade conditions. If you like cilantro, its worth a try---it grows really fast from the cheap seed packets (Wmart, Target, HDepot, Lowes, etc). Just sprinkle some seeds on the ground. Shake a bit of dirt over the seeds, and water in (no need to pamper with germination trays etc). Cilantro does prefer cooler temps. I've even grown it well over the winter in deep shade. I have some growing right now--soon to be harvested for Cinco de Mayo salsa and guacamole.
Mint is invasive everywhere, even in deep shade. I grow mine in a contained trough under a shady window.
Hi Digigirl!
I'm in SL, too. There are lot's of plants that will do well in the shade in our area. Richard has some great options up there. Here's some more:
Gingers, all kinds
Clematis, only a few varieties can tolerate our heat
Violets
Columbine
Hostas
Caladiums
Begonias
Coleus
Impatiens
Salvias
Lobelia
Nicotiana
Cornflower
Tons of options!
Have you visited Enchanted Forest? You're not far from there and they can guide you through their gardens and show you natives for shade. It's well worth the visit.
Good Luck!
Ooh, more fun things to look at! Great to hear some of those things will live here. It's hard to tell, sometimes, from just the official zone listings.
I have one Clematis in partial shade that I just planted. Doing well so far, but it's early in the season. What Clematis have you had luck in full sun with? I've got a couple of spots for that.
I haven't made it to all the smaller nurseries around, yet. I just found out about Caldwells and was planning to visit this weekend. I know it's not as close, but it looks like it has some cool stuff. I'll put Enchanted Gardens on the list too!
Thanks!
Ooohh...you'll like Caldwell's too. They're fun. I take a gardening course right down the street from them.
There's Enchanted Gardens and Enchanted Forest. One is off of 359 and the other, closer to Greatwood. They're both great. I always mix up the name of which one is where.
I don't have any clematis but my neighbor does and hers is thriving in the shade, although I don't know the variety. I don't think there are too many types that can withstand our sun and heat. I was looking into purchasing a few last February and had a list of what grew in our zone but I'll be darned if I can find the list. Let me see if I can find the website and post a link for you.
If you're looking for sun loving climbers/vines, try mexican flame vine, passion vine, trumpet vine, bougainvella, pipevine, orchid vine, snail vine, gosh...the list can go on and on.....