Texas has a variety of hardiness zones so what may work well in one location may not in another. Try Googling "Texas, plants for shade" to give you a selection of listings that might be appropriate. Otherwise, search for shade plants under your specific hardiness zone. There are just many, many plants that could work.

Other options are to post the same question on the Texas Gardening forum or visit your local library for texts on shade gardening. A couple I like are The Complete Shade Gardener by George Schenk, The Natural Shade Garden by Ken Druse and The Encyclopedia of Shade Perennials by W. George Schmidt.

It is also good to distinguish if those hours of sun are in the morning (very good) or in the afternoon (harsh sun). That can make a difference in what you choose.

I have a shady garden under tall oaks in north central Texas. I have good success with my Turk's Cap, ferns, butterfly ginger, Texas Gold Columbine, caladiums and brugmansias with just am sun.

i have always wanted to grow ferns. are they easy to care for or are they more for master gardeners?

The ones I have tried are very easy. I grow autumn fern, Dryopteris erythrosora and lady fern, Athyrium felix-femina that I picked up at Lowes. I do water them well in our dry summer because the trees will take the moisture that they need from the soil, but I have found those two to be very carefree.

Pam

I saw some ferns at walmart today and they come in a relatively small bowl. about a cup size. how big of a container do they need?

What type of ferns? I would put them in the garden when it's past the last frost date for your area. Did you lift the plant from the container and see if it seems rootbound? If not, it might be fine to keep it in the container it's in for the next 4 to 6 weeks (depending on your hardiness zone).