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Texas Gardening

Plant for part shade area. Want 2-4 ft tall w /white flowers

14 years ago

I need a suggestion for a plant for a partly shaded area. Looking for a tall(2-4 ft) perennial with light colored (such as white) flowers.

I like the look of bletilla striata( white ) and Neomarica caerulea (white/light colored). Are there any other plants that have the same size shape that would work well? I do not want anything that is a daylily or lily because they spread very quickly.

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Comments (9)

debndal
14 years ago
Chocolate eupatorium has dark brownish leaves and white flowers in fall. I cut to ground in winter and it regrows to about 3' every year.
Texas Mock Orange (hard to find) grows to about 4 feet. It is a woody shrub, deciduous, white flowers in mid-late spring. Brazilian rock rose (reseeds freely) looks similar to pavonia but flowers are white with a maroon center. Deciduous.
bjb817
14 years ago
While all mine are in full sun, supposedly Salvia Greggi can handl part shade. They're available in white. They're evergreen with at least some blooms in all but the coldest months. They get about 2-3' high and wide.

I cut ours back to about 6" in the early spring to keep them from getting leggy, but that's just a personal preference.

For overall appearance and toughness, they're one of my favorite Texas plants hands down.
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plantmaven
14 years ago
My white spirea is beautiful right now.
cynthianovak
14 years ago
I thought of you. Finally got time to read the garden section of today's Dallas Morning News. They have two. Both are said to be avilable at HD and Lowes. I have not heard of either. They are new.

You can find the article online. Title "New Arrivals..." sometimes they change the title from the actual paper.

Emeral Snow Loropetalum. Green leaves(yes green!) with white flowers. Big bloom in spring. Sporadic bloom through summer and fall. 3 ft tall 4 ft wide. For sun or shade

Jubilation gardenia. Compact reblooming, same blooming habit as above.

Garden Glow dogwood. A deciduous shrub. 2-3 ft tall. White flower clusters followed by pale blue berries in summer. Bright red twigs in winter. (looks nothing like a dogwood!)
juneroses Z9a Cntrl Fl
14 years ago
One of my favorite white bloomers is cat's whiskers (orthosiphon aristatus). Mine gets morning shade and afternoon sun. I checked at Dave's Forum and see that several of your fellow Texans think its beautiful in their gardens also. It's easily rooted from cuttings so if you can find one plant (or a fellow gardener who can share a cutting) you can grow many plants if you need them. It also comes in a pale lavender - which I've also grown - but I prefer the white one. The flowers remind me of bursting fireworks.
cynthianovak
14 years ago
juneroses
thank you for reminding me about this plant! I had it several years ago and seeing yours I miss it.

I have become enamored with that garden glow "dogwood" too. c
hitexplanter
14 years ago
Another option would be the white form of plumbago. It blooms reasonably well in a part shade situation. The kitty whiskers is a fun and fast growing choice and yes the white would pop more in a shadier area.
Happy Growing David
betty_joanne
Original Author
14 years ago
I love the orthosiphon aristatus. What an interesting plant. Thank you for all the ideas.
random_harvest
14 years ago
I highly recommend hellebores. They make a handsome
broadleaf plant that looks good year round, even when not in bloom.

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