Shade Plants in Deer Country: Trisha Shirey & Barbara Wise | Central Texas Gardener

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Shade Plants in Deer Country: Trisha Shirey & Barbara Wise

Trisha Shirey and Barbara Wise shade plants Central Texas Gardener

Shrubs/small trees
American beautyberry (deciduous)
• Attracts pollinators to flowers; birds to fall berries
• Cut back in late winter
American beautyberry purple berries native Texas plant Central Texas Gardener
White mistflower (Ageratina havanensis)
• Fall bloom and sometimes spring; attracts countless pollinator
• Cut back in late winter
native white mistflower Central Texas Gardener
Turk’s cap
• Attracts butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
• Cut back in late winter
Turks cap near cat perch
Mahonia aquifolium (evergreen)
Mahonia for shade and texture Central Texas Gardener
Cestrum ‘Orange Zest’ (evergreen)
• Attracts hummingbirds
Orange Zest cestrum Central Texas Gardener
Orange Zest cestrum hummingbird flowers Central Texas Gardener

Evergreen groundcover
Sedges
Sedge dappled light groundcover Central Texas Gardener
Variegated Japanese sedge
variegated Japanese sedge shade garden Central Texas Gardener
Mexican feather grass (browns in winter)
mexican feathergrass Nasella tenuissima
Holly fern
Aspidistra (cast iron plant)

Ferns
River fern
Wavy scaly cloakfern
Wavy Cloak fern Central Texas Gardener

Perennials

Salvia greggii
Salvia guaranitica (dies to ground in winter)
Salvia coccinea (usually annual but re-seeds)
• All attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Rock rose (Pavonia lasiopetala)

Mexican honeysuckle (usually dies to ground in winter)
Mexican honeysuckle and blue plumbago part sun Central Texas Gardener

Bulbs
Narcissus, crinum lily, Society garlic, spiderwort

Watch now for more ideas!

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December To Do List

Plant: ornamental & wildlife

Hardy perennials, shrubs
Trees
Roses (best time!)
Winter annuals, including calendula, snapdragon, pansy, viola, dusty miller, ornamental kale and cabbage, alyssum, stock, cyclamen, dusty miller, flowering kale and cabbage
Avoid planting cold tender plants like Pride of Barbardos, Esperanza, lantana, plumbago

Plant: herbs

Perennials thyme, oregano
Avoid planting rosemary
Cilantro transplants, parsley, dill, fennel , chervil, summer savory, borage, rue, chives
Be prepared to cover in case of deep freeze

Plant: food crops

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Vegetable Planting Guides (Central Texas) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/home-landscape/edible-gardens/growing-vegetables/

Prune

Prune freeze damaged plants or not? Best to leave seeds on plants for birds and protect root system. If picky relatives coming, okay to prune
Avoid pruning shrubs right now unless you see damage
Do not prune oak trees unless you have damage: paint wound immediately
Okay to prune trees other than red oaks and live oaks

Divide/Move

Shrubs, roses, trees, evergreen spring-blooming perennials while dormant
Asters and other fall-bloomers which are dormant

Prep

Select spots where you want fruit trees, grapes, or berries to plant in January; for now, prep with compost
Mulch cold tender plants like gingers, Esperanza and semi-tropicals
Keep that row cover ready! Do not protect plants with plastic!

Lawn

Pluck out early weeds.

Other tasks

Rake leaves into beds to mulch over winter and return nutrients to the soil
Mow leaves on grass (if not raking to beds or compost) to break them down
Collect leaves from neighbors to add to compost pile!
Deeply water new plants; keep new seedlings moist but not drenched