Explore Plants
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.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Saturday - June 12, 2010
From: Springfield, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Groundcovers, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for pool area in Kentucky
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We live in central Kentucky and have a backyard pool that desperately needs some landscaping. I would like plants that don't drop a lot of leaves or "trash". I'd like a list of great poolside plants, ground cover, shrubs for this area. Many thanks!ANSWER:
You can find a list of commercially available native plants suitable for landscaping on the Kentucky Recommended page. I've picked a few from that list and added a few others that would do nicely near your pool. Since I don't know the exact growing conditions at your site (e.g., available sun and moisture) you should read the GROWING CONDITIONS section on each species page to be sure that they fit those of your site.
LOW-GROWING PLANTS/GROUNDCOVERS:
Glandularia bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry)
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
TALLER HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS:
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox)
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)
SHRUBS:
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort)
Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Accurate bloom time for Mistflower from Spring TX
July 25, 2012 - Regarding Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum): Your site lists July to November as blooming time, while Wildflowers of Texas (Agilvsgi, Shearer Publishing, 2003) and Native Texas Plants (Wasowski, Lo...
view the full question and answer
Failure to bloom of Turk's cap in Midland TX
September 08, 2009 - My turk's cap won't make flowers. It has daily watering via irrigation system, and soft amended soil. The plant is beautiful and thriving, but no flowers. What should I do?
view the full question and answer
Monocarpic plants for Indiana
October 06, 2005 - We were in Hawaii this summer and became acquainted with the Silversword. This plant (according to what we were told) blooms only once in it's lifetime (of 50-70 years). Are you aware of any other pl...
view the full question and answer
Native Species List for Ponca OK
June 24, 2011 - I planted daylilies in my Austin garden and did not do well. I moved these daylilies to my garden in Ponca City Oklahoma and have done outstanding relying only on mother nature's rain. My garden in ...
view the full question and answer
Perennials for mountain cabin in Southern California
July 26, 2010 - We have a mountain cabin at 7,000ft elevation in S. California. Please recommend native perennials. Thanks.
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
