Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - November 03, 2007
From: West End, NC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Plants for a Zen garden in North Carolina
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am looking for plants that would be suitable for a ZEN style garden in North CarolinaANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants believes that you are looking for simple, graceful plants with a somewhat ordered shape that will lend an air of serenity to your Zen garden.GRASSES:
There are several bunch grasses that have this quality of grace and simplicity that would be suitable.
Eragrostis intermedia (plains lovegrass)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly)
Deschampsia cespitosa (Tufted hair grass)
Elymus histrix (Bottle-brush grass)
Spartina pectinata (Prairie cord grass)
SEDGES:
Sedges are another possibility. They look very much like the grasses, but have the advantage of most of them being evergreen.
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
Carex pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge)
Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop)
SHRUBS AND SMALL TREES:
Paronychia virginica (yellow nailwort)
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle)
LARGER TREES:
Juniperus communis (common juniper)
Tsuga canadensis (Eastern hemlock). The fine texture of this tree makes it very attractive. Although it can grow to be a large tree (80 feet tall and 40 feet wide), it can be trimmed into a shrub. There is one variety, Sargentii, that has weeping branches that would be very attractive in a Zen garden setting.
You can see other lists of recommended native plants for your garden (not necessarily a Zen garden) on our "Recommended Species" page and on the North Carolina Botanical Garden web page.
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Grasses for a prairie in southeast Texas
September 30, 2013 - We have a small place (about 100 acres) in Colorado County, Texas, on the Colorado River north of the town of Weimar. We are gradually clearing (bulldozing) the woods of cedars. One particular spot ...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for Road Frontage in NC
March 12, 2015 - I need a fast growing ground cover or perennial flower for 1,000 feet of road frontage about one acre that will choke out weeds. I do not want to do much ground prep or any ground prep. I do not want...
view the full question and answer
Removal of non-native zoysia grass from Burgettstown PA
September 12, 2013 - What is the most effective method of killing zoysia grass? We bought a house that sits in the center of four acres of mature zoysia. It looks beautiful, however, despite our best efforts at "weeding...
view the full question and answer
Replacing St. Augustine grass with native grasses in Georgetown TX
October 28, 2009 - I have a St Augustine yard around my house. I would like to introduce or replace this type of grass with some of the Buffalo, Blue Gamma and or Curly Mesquite. Can I plant some of the native seed in...
view the full question and answer
Native Indiangrass as a hedge
December 13, 2009 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I would like to create a grass hedge as a foundation planting for a portion of our garden. One side of the planting is a concrete sidewalk to our garden shed, the other side wil...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |