Tough Texas Native Plants for Shade: Creating a Cool Haven BEFORE the Heat

When you think of Texas Gardening, images of scorching sun, and rugged landscapes with cacti, yucca and agave or cow skulls might come to mind. 😉

However, Texas is also home to a variety of softer, more lush and resilient native plants that thrive in shade– offering a cool respite from the relentless summer sun. Shade gardening not only provides relief from the heat, but can also help contribute to biodiversity and support local wildlife! Let’s explore some tough Texas native plants that are well-suited for shade gardens, each bringing its own unique beauty and benefits.

 

Each of the plants below IN STOCK NOW at Rooted In!

12804 Pelzel Rd. Pilot Point TX 76258

Open Tuesday-Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-5

 

Great for Full Shade (spots that get little to no sunlight)

Lyreleaf Sage (Salvia lyrata)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 12-18 inches tall and 12 inches wide

Bloom Color/Season: Blue to purple, spring to early summer

Water Needs: Low to moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.

 

Missouri Violet (Viola missouriensis)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 4-6 inches tall and 6-12 inches wide

Bloom Color/Season: Purple, spring to early summer

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Provides food for various butterfly species.

 

Turk’s Cap (Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii)

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade

Height/Width: 3-4 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Red, late spring, summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Nectar-rich flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

 

River Fern (Thelypteris kunthii)

Sunlight: Part shade to full shade

Height/Width: 1-3 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Offers shelter for small wildlife and supports biodiversity.

 

Texas Gold Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana)

Sunlight: Part shade to full shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

Bloom Color/Season: Yellow, spring to early summer

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Nectar source for hummingbirds and butterflies.

 

Southern Wood Fern (Dryopteris ludoviciana)

Sunlight: Part to full shade

Height/Width: 1-3 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Provides cover for small mammals and nesting sites for birds.

 

Horse Herb (Calyptocarpus vialis)

Sunlight: Part to full shade

Height/Width: 4-6 inches tall and spreading

Bloom Color/Season: Yellow, spring to fall

Water Needs: Low to moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts pollinators and provides cover for ground-dwelling wildlife.

 

Silver Falls Dichondra (Dichondra argentea)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 2-4 inches tall and spreading

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Ground cover for small insects and nesting material for birds.

 

Texas Sedge (Carex texensis)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 6-12 inches tall and spreading

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Provides habitat for small mammals and insects.

 

Webberville Sedge (Carex perdentata)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 1-2 feet tall and spreading

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Offers nesting material for birds and habitat for amphibians.

 

Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium)

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and spreading

Bloom Color/Season: Green, late summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Seeds are food for birds, and foliage provides cover for small mammals.

 

Coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus)

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Pink, summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Berries attract birds, providing food in late summer and fall.

 

American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana)

Sunlight: Part sun to full shade

Height/Width: 3-4.5 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Pink, summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Berries are a food source for birds and small mammals.

 

Dwarf Yaupon Holly (Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’)

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade

Height/Width: 3-4 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Non-flowering

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Provides cover and nesting sites for birds.

 

Native Plants for Part Shade (areas with only 3-4 hours of direct sun, or spots that get dappled sunlight through the trees)

 

White Mistflower (Ageratina havanensis)

Sunlight: Full sun to full shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: White, late summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and provides nectar in late season.

 

Gulf Coast Penstemon (Penstemon tenuis)

Sunlight: Full sun to Part shade

Height/Width: 1-2 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Pink, late spring to early summer

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and bees.

 

Tropical Sage (Salvia coccinea)

Sunlight: Part sun to part shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

Bloom Color/Season: Red, summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.

 

Gregg’s Mistflower (Conoclinium greggii)

Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

Height/Width: 2-3 feet tall and wide

Bloom Color/Season: Blue, summer to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and bees.

 

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

Height/Width: 1-2 feet tall and 1-1.5 feet wide

Bloom Color/Season: Yellow, spring to summer

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts butterflies and provides seeds for birds.

 

Texas Betony (Stachys coccinea)

Sunlight: Full sun to part shade

Height/Width: 1-2 feet tall and 1-2 feet wide

Bloom Color/Season: Red, spring to fall

Water Needs: Low to Moderate

Value to Wildlife: Attracts pollinators and provides nectar for hummingbirds.

 

Shade gardening in Texas offers not only relief from the scorching summer sun but also an opportunity to create diverse and vibrant ecosystems in your own backyard. By selecting tough native plants like those mentioned above, you can cultivate a beautiful and sustainable garden that supports local wildlife and thrives in the challenging Texas climate. So, embrace the shade, and let these resilient plants bring cool beauty to your outdoor spaces!