Many home gardens in the Tyler area have a lot of shade and homeowners are sometimes frustrated by the short list of plants that grow well in the shade.
To demonstrate the plants best suited to limited sunlight a shady location in the Camellia Garden area of the Tyler Rose Garden was first planted in April 1997 with a group of Hostas. The Hosta plant often does not grow well in the South and this planting was to find those which can survive the extreme heat of the summer, as well as the moderate winter of the area. For several years this group, which had over 25 varieties at one point, was evaluated regularly and a list of the best suited varieties was developed. Those remain growing in the shade garden, along with a long list of other shade loving plants, many of which are not often seen in home gardens. All are identified to help those who may want to try them in their gardens.
The IDEA Garden
The Sunshine Garden
This garden was designed and planted by Smith County Master Gardener class 16. It is a sunny yellow and white low maintenance garden planted mostly with perennial flowers, shrubs and and foliage plants including white Pope John Paul II roses; Grandma’s Yellow roses and a yellow climbing rose. While some annuals are planted for seasonal color, the perennials include plants and bulbs that flower from early spring through late fall including daffodils and irises; Shasta daisies and rudbeckia (black-eyed susans) and Mexican mint marigold as well as many other species.
Smith County Master Gardeners 


