Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_43.gif)
Monday - April 16, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Deer resistant, shade tolerant plants for Austin, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am looking for plants to put in my front yard--very shaded, and need to be deer resistant. I would love some things in the blue family. Also want blues in my back yard that is a combination of full sun and some areas would be under oak trees.ANSWER:
Although no plants can be considered to be deer proof, there are some that are deer resistant. This doesn't mean that in times of stress the deer won't find those deer resistant plants tasty as well. Many of those plants in the mint family (Family Lamianceae) such as the Salvia spp. and Stachys coccinea tend to be deer resistant since they usually are rather aromatic. Other plants not in the mint family also are deer resistant. Luckily, there are several choices for ones with blue flowers that do well in partial shade and ones that do well in mostly sun. Shade plants with blue flowers:
Salvia engelmannii (Engelmann's sage)
Shade plants with flowers other than blue:
Salvia roemeriana (cedar sage)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Tetraneuris scaposa (four-nerve daisy)
Stachys coccinea (scarlet hedgenettle)
Sun plants with blue flowers:
Salvia farinacea (mealycup sage)
Sun plants with flowers other than blue:
Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)
Chrysactinia mexicana (damianita)
More Shade Tolerant Questions
Low-growing plants for a slope in the shade
July 08, 2013 - Hello,
I'm looking for native plants to put in the shade (within the drip-line) of a well-established American Holly. The area gets deep shade; it is also on a very gentle north-exposure slope. We ...
view the full question and answer
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
Edible plants in shade in Enville TN
June 15, 2009 - I have a flower bed against the back of my house with nothing in it. We moved into this house late last year and I was planning on planting some tomato plants there until I discovered it never gets an...
view the full question and answer
Non-poisonous trees to shade horse pasture in Leesville SC
February 07, 2011 - Please list NON-poisonous trees for horses in South Carolina. I would live to plant a few trees along the fence of my horse pasture and in my horse pasture for shade.
view the full question and answer
Native groundcovers for bare, shady space in Oklahoma
August 22, 2008 - I have recently acquired a new residence that has very little lawn to speak of. The backyard is in an unfortunate position to catch significant amounts of rainwater from nearby yards, and is sloped. ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |