Top 20 Native and Adapted Shade Plants for Austin

Of all the landscape designs I’ve created in last 20 years, shade gardens in Austin are by far the most challenging. I’ve compiled some of my favorite native and adapted shade plants for Austin. We have very little color for shade so it’s Important to use a lot of texture with a splash of color where you can find it.

1)Tropical Salvia 

From sun to shade, low to moderate water. Hummingbirds love it. 

2)Dwarf Ruellia 

Another great plan from sun to shade, low water, low maintenance.

3)Soft Caress Mahonia 

Low to moderate water needs, beautiful texture and yellow flowers.

4) Japanese Aurelia 

With low to moderate water needs, this interesting plant does beautifully in deep shade to part sun.

5) Possumhaw Holly Tree

Thriving in sun to shade, losing its leaves in the winter, exposing the bevy of berries for wildlife. 

6) Firebush

Deciduous and low water, this is a great way to attract butterflies and hummingbirds in the shade to part sun garden. 

7)American Beauty Berry

 

Wildlife love the berry buffet. Low maintenance and growing to 6’, it’s worth every foot and does great in deep shade to part sun.

8) Japanese Maple Tree

Japanese maple varieties for zone 8 can be super hardy in deep shade to part sun. Sporting interesting texture and fall color. 

9) Purple Oxalis 

Lovely purple leaves and lavender flowers cover this low mounding perennial. It’s short stature makes it a great border plant.

10) Blue Plumbago 

The bright green leaves and glow in the dark blue flowers are spectacular in shade to part sun. 

11) Jerusalem Sage

Yellow flowers, like crowns along the stems. With true sage colored leaves with silver undersides, this plant is an all around winner from sun to shade. 

12) Foxtail Fern

I love this funky plant in pots and the landscape from sun to shade which makes it an incredibly versatile plant. 

13) White Mistflower, Shrubby Boneset

Incredibly fragrant, with fuzzy white flowers and uniquely shaped leaves. It’s a great choice from part sun to shade. 

14) Flax Lily Dianella 

This variegated plant is striking as a border plant or in mass. Producing delicate orchid like flowers, it’s great from shade to part sun. 

15) Liguilaria, Leopard Plant

Loving a wetter soil, this deep shade plant is perfect for a low spot or where drainage is a challenge. 

16) Turks Cap

I love Turks cap for its ability to thrive in full sun to deep shade with little water and low maintenance. 

17) Dwarf Pittosporum 

Dwarf Pittosporum is an evergreen, low mounding shrub that has bright green, new growth with a deep green background. White fragrant flowers in the spring, low water, low maintenance. 

18) Mountain Laurel

Most people don’t realize how well Mountain Laurel do in the shade, but it’s true!

19) Giant Liriope

Unlike its wandering little cousin, the Giant Liriope is a superstar, low water beast in the shade. 

20) Twistleaf Yucca

Native, low water and light reflecting. 

These are just some of the many beautiful shade plants for Austin and the surrounding area. If you would like help with shade plant selections or a thoughtful landscape design for shade, contact me at lisalapaso@gmail.com!

Examples of My Shade Garden Designs

I hope you’re encouraged to try some of these great plants no to explore the many native and adopted options for our region.

Lisa LaPaso

Lisa’s Landscape and Design

”Saving the Planet One Yard at Time”