Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Friday - August 14, 2009

From: Crossville, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Plants for centerpieces that can be planted in a garden
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I want to purchase flowers in Crossville, Tennessee to use as centerpieces and then plant in my garden. What are the best suggestions to do so?

ANSWER:

You don't say when you want to use your plants as centerpieces—that will influence which plants you choose.  I am assuming that you want your plants to be blooming and I'll also assume that you are looking for something to use in the very near future.  Here is how you can look for plants yourself.  On the Recommended Species page click on Tennessee on the map or the pull-down menu.  This will give you a list of commercially available native plants that are recommended for landscaping in Tennessee.  From that list you can used the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option and choose 'Herb' from GENERAL APPEARANCE and 'August' and 'September' from BLOOM TIME.  This will give you a list of about 20 plants that meet these criteria.  Probably the next step after choosing a plant for your centerpieces is to find nurseries in your area that specialize in native plants.  You can visit our National Suppliers Directory to find such businesses. Many have web pages with online catalogs.  All of them should have telephone numbers listed that you can call to check on availability of the plants. Here are a few suggestions from that list:

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)

Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)

Liatris punctata (dotted blazing star)

Monarda didyma (scarlet beebalm)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)


Achillea millefolium

Conoclinium coelestinum

Echinacea purpurea

Liatris punctata

Monarda didyma

Monarda fistulosa

Rudbeckia hirta

 

 

More Seed and Plant Sources Questions

Searching for nursery with yellow nutsedge in NC
January 27, 2014 - I'd like to plant yellow nut sedge as a cover to stop erosion in a lot. Where can I buy yellow nut sedge plants near Kinston, North Carolina? Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Gathering seeds of Indian Blanket from Duncanville TX
June 09, 2012 - We have a field full of Indian Blanket that are blooming now and would like to share some seeds with our friends! Where is the seed on them and I take it we wait till they are done blooming to get the...
view the full question and answer

Fragrant native vine for Logan UT
January 08, 2011 - So as a general question for the Utah climate, (Logan to be precise) is there any kind of climbing vines that would take the place of a jasmine even if deciduous in nature? I read the article about th...
view the full question and answer

Source for wildflower seeds of milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae)
February 14, 2008 - I am a lifelong amateur botanist/horticulturist and am trying to find a source for wild flower seeds of the milkweed family (Asclepiadacea). Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Sources for Calyptocarpus vialis and Dalea greggii.
June 05, 2009 - What are sources for 4" horseherb and gregg dalea? I've tried nurseries listed with NPSOT. Also, would using the above and maybe wooly stemodia and/or frogfruit together become a problem?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.