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
Tuesday - March 11, 2008
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Container Gardens
Title: Native plants for container gardens in Central Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: I moved to TX last year, for now living in an apartment with a good-size but shady deck; my garden in VA was full of VA native plants. What TX natives, if any, can I grow in containers on a shady deck? Besides prickly pear: already have babies growing from three fallen pads that I potted. Thank you.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants has some great information for you for beginning Container Gardening with Texas Native Plants and we even have a list of Native Plants for Container Gardens in Central Texas. You can Narrow Your Search in this list by growth habit, light requirement and other criteria to meet your situation.In addtion, the Wildflower Center is having our Spring Plant Sale in April where you can find the plants shown below and many more for sale.
Here are a few plants that are Mr. SP's favorites on that list (with a couple of additions to the list) that would do well in containers on your shady deck.
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
Phacelia congesta (blue curls)
Phlox drummondii (annual phlox)
Tradescantia gigantea (giant spiderwort)
Nolina texana (Texas sacahuista)
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Equisetum hyemale (scouringrush horsetail)
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (wax mallow)
More Container Gardens Questions
Plants for indoor container gardening from Lax Vegas NV
May 10, 2013 - What is an good flower to grow in a pot? I live in a apt., and like roses,tulips etc. if that helps any.
view the full question and answer
Growing bluebonnets in pot in Flower Mound TX
November 01, 2011 - We received a package of bluebonnet seeds along with the DVD Wildflowers: Seeds of History as a gift. In the film, Andrea DeLong mentions that bluebonnets did not grow well in a rich organic soil. W...
view the full question and answer
Care of lemon cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)
June 09, 2008 - How do I care for a Lemon Cypress tree? Does it require a lot of sun? How often should I water it? It is 18" high and I have it in a pot on my screen porch. Thank-you
view the full question and answer
Ants in outdoor plants in Austin
July 30, 2011 - Live in Austin. The problem is THIS. Ants have invaded our outside potted plants- mandevilla, begonia , lemon tree and violas. The colonies are devouring the roots it appears. Please give suggestions ...
view the full question and answer
Decline of indoor lemon cypress
June 25, 2008 - I received a lemon cypress as a gift. I have kept it indoors in bright light and tried to keep it moist. When I received the plant the foliage was soft and now it has become brittle and dry even tho...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |