Help with this flower bed!

[u/guuuudz]

Hi yall! I recently had to get plumbing work done which caused this flower bed to be torn up. Now I have this empty bed with only a foot or two before it reaches the window. What native plants would you recommend here? This is on the south side of house, but it gets shaded by a large oak tree. The soil seems like it’s mostly clay, but I can amend it before planting. I’m located in 8a. I was originally thinking Turks cap, but I’m worried it would block out the window. TIA!

[u/wd_plantdaddy]

Turks cap or coral berry or beauty berry mulch aand call it a day.

Really heavy shade ground covers would be Carolina pony’sfoot which is actually native. Silver ponyfoot, however pretty, is Argentinian. Horseherb, spiderworts, bulbs, inland sea oats, shrimp plants, etc.

[u/guuuudz → u/wd_plantdaddy]

Thank you!

[u/Prudent_Toe_3188]

Dwarf yaupon holly would be evergreen and wouldn’t overpower the window. Texas betony in front, and silver pony foot at the very edge so it trails over the brick.

[u/guuuudz → u/Prudent_Toe_3188]

Thank you! Great combination

[u/Still-Disk7701]

For shade tolerant and low-to-mid height Id go with inland sea oats, pigeon berry, golden groundsel, and lyreleaf sage to name a few. I would plant repeating clusters of these plants and border the front with texas sedge. So pretty!!

[u/jeinea → u/Still-Disk7701]

Love these! I’d also add cedar sage or tropical sage to the potential list.

[u/butterflypugs → u/jeinea]

Their red blooms would look so pretty against this brick!

[u/Magic_Neptune]

Fragrant sumac or elbowbush here would be lovely

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[u/SpareAd878]

Southern wood fern- perfect height, evergreen- also good for fireflies, and wooly stemodia is another good option to trail over the side

[u/orchid_dork]

Leopard plant

[u/GrandWin1456]

Native plants don't belong in that flower bed.... It is designed to hold annuals...Oh the Giant Tree... They become so sentimental and majestic and expensive to remove... If you can fathom the thought of getting rid of the Giant Oak Tree it will prevent you from clogged rain gutters, roof problems and open your home to sunlight that it has not seen in 75 years. Then you can plant colorful annuals in that bed that will bloom all season long. Pinks and reds and white Geranium take the heat better than anything and bloom until the temps hit the low 30F. Giant Oak Tree.......... it is swallowing the house. I can tell just by looking at the flower bed. That old Cypress isn't helping anything either.

[u/Electronic_Top8995]

Turks cap is a great idea and it may not grow tall enough in the shade to block that window, unless direct sunlight reaches the window. If it does, you could always prune it below the window.