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
2 ratings

Monday - May 25, 2009

From: St Augustine, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Shade Tolerant
Title: Flowering plants for shade in St. Augustine FL
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I would like to know what flowering plants I can purchase that grow in a shaded area in St Augustine Florida

ANSWER:

From our Recommended Species for Florida, we have chosen 13 herbaceous blooming plants and 1 low shrub that will bloom in part shade or shade. We consider "sun" to be 6 hours or more of sun a day, "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun, and "shade" less than 2 hours. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center recommends only plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown. All of these plants are known to grow in or very near to St. John's County in Northeast Florida on the Atlantic coast. They are all commercially available and if you have difficulty locating them, go to our Suppliers section, type in your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape and environment specialists in your general area.

Blooming plants for shade in St. Augustine, FL

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - perennial, 2 ft tall, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, low water use, sun or part shade, blooms orange, yellow, May to September

Coreopsis nudata (Georgia tickseed) - perennial, 3 to 6 ft. tall, blooms pink April and May, high water use, part shade

Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel) - annual to 2 ft tall, blooms red, yellow, brown May to August, sun or part shade, medium water use

Ipomopsis rubra (standing-cypress) - biennial, to 4 ft tall, blooms red, orange, yellow May to July, medium water use, sun or part shade

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial to 6 ft tall, blooms red May to October, low water use, sun, part shade or shade

Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine) - perennial, to 3 ft tall, blooms blue, purple May and June, sun or part shade, medium water use

Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) - annual or short-lived perennial, to 2 ft tall, blooms yellow June to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade

Salvia coccinea (blood sage) - annual or perennial, blooms white, red, pink February to October, medium water use, sun, part shade or shade

Viola lanceolata (bog white violet) - perennial, blooms white April to June, medium water use, part shade or shade

Viola sororia (common blue violet) - annual, to 10 inches tall, blooms white, pink, blue, purple March to May, high water use, sun or part shade

Callicarpa americana (American beautyberry) - perennial, to 5 ft tall, blooms white, pink May to July, low water use, part shade


Asclepias tuberosa

Coreopsis nudata

Gaillardia pulchella

Ipomopsis rubra

Lobelia cardinalis

Lupinus perennis

Rudbeckia hirta

Salvia coccinea

Viola lanceolata

Viola sororia

Callicarpa americana

 

 

 

 

 

More Shade Tolerant Questions

Vines for a shady porch in Oregon
February 22, 2010 - My husband and I just bought our first home this fall in St. Johns, Portland. We would like to grow a vine on our front porch, but it is in full shade. It faces north east. We planted some jasmine vin...
view the full question and answer

Connecticut Plants for a Steep Slope
September 09, 2015 - I am looking for the best plants to retain a steep, dry, fully shaded slope in zone 5, Connecticut. It must be deer resistant. Plant height is not a factor.
view the full question and answer

Vines for shade in Central Texas
February 04, 2008 - We'd like to fill in our long expanse of yard fencing with climbing vines. We are limited by 40' live oaks that cut off the sun but surely something works in the shade and heat!
view the full question and answer

Drought and Shade tolerant plants for Wichita Falls, TX
July 24, 2015 - I can find lots of information about planting drought tolerant, sun loving native plants, a number of which I've planted over the years. But I can find very little information about drought tolerant ...
view the full question and answer

Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana
November 29, 2013 - What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South?
view the full question and answer

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