Well I'm pretty sure it dry but as far as the ph I'm not sure and I don't think she knows either. She lives south central.

There are many options. A lot of agaves grow well in dry shade. Some other drought tolerant plants that come to my mind are callicarpa, ruellia (invasive), nandina, columbine, loropetalum, variegated pittosporum, mountain laurel, Washington palm, windmill palm, Aristolochia fimbriata, sago palm, liriope, helleborus, sage, turk's cap, carex, dianella and abellia. She could also have a few big pots planted with plants that require regular watering but provide a lot of color like impatiens or begonias. Just ideas.

Omar

I am also in south central. We have a plant swap in San Antonio two times a year if she would like to consider attending. I grow firespike under my mesquite trees. So, it isn't deep shade, it's more bright shade, or filtered sun. I also have cast iron plant, holly fern, ginger, brugmansia, some bulbs such as amaryllis and narcissus, and some different salvias.

Thank you all for your help.

My Giant Green Liriope do well in the shade. So do the variegated ones.

Salvia roemeriana, Ajuga reptans, alstroemeria, Texas betony, heartleaf scuteleria, salvia regla, mexican salvia, salvia madrensis ( some sun), Garrya, evergreen sumac

baabaamilker, We should all have such friends :-)

FYI - There are a few exceptions, but soils in "south central" {tx} almost always lean alkaline.... and the replies have reflected that.

The TAE/COA plantguide for central Texas is another great resource for the area. It provides additional details on many of the plants already suggested.

Yea, but they can range from Clay to sand to caliche, to calcarious limestone. This can really effect the choices. I recommend Sally Wasowski's book , Native Texas Plants. That will open her eyes to many many possibilities and it has sections oriented to each region.

She said her soil leans more toward clay.

If you give us a city, we can be of better help.

Georgetown

Sounds like she is in the east side of Georgetown or down by the river. my guess is that she is Z 8a but barely almost 8b. It is one of those towns devided to the Balcones escarpment. Clay will need some amendment but is richer and will retain water in the summer. That is good. To the west of Georgetown , you get limestone and caliche. One ends up bringing soil in and building up beds if you want certain plants. "Gardening Success With Difficult Soils" by Scott Ogden is also a great book if the dirt needs dealing with. Their choices of plants are good but somewhat un imaginative and dated to what was available in the trade at the time of publication. So much more has happened in the search for conducive plants from Northern Mexico, China , Australia and OUR NATIVES since this book was written. It is still a good book for a gardener new to this area.

Thank you, you were very informative.