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
1 rating

Tuesday - November 16, 2010

From: Edinburg , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: April Wildflowers for South Texas
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

Can you tell me what wildflowers grow well in south Texas? I would like to plant in the fall for bloom in April. Is this possible?

ANSWER:

April is the best month for Texas wildflowers. Here's how to generate a list. Go to Wildflower.org and select the "Explore Plants" tab. Scroll down until you see the map of the United States and click on south Texas (twice). This will give you a list of all the of plants Mr. Smarty Plants recommends for south Texas. To narrow the list down, selct "herb" under General Appearance and check "April" under bloom time. Then click "Narrow Your Search." This results in a list of 22 flowers which is probably more than you want to plant.

Since south Texas can include any thing from semi-desert to semi-tropical some of these plants will not be appropriate to your site. So. you can narrow the list further by checking the boxes under "Light Requirement" and "Soil Moisture" that best reflect the conditions at your location. Then you can choose your favorite colors and the height of flower you would like. Click "Narrow Your Search" after you make your choices and you should get to a custom made list for your conditions and your preferences.

Here is an April blooming favorite of almost all Texans:


Lupinus texensis

 

 

More Wildflowers Questions

Planting wildflower seeds in Texas in February
February 04, 2010 - I would like to plant some wildflowers this month - February. I have planted some bluebonnets and they will "bloom" in March/April. Would there be any wildflowers that would also bloom in Marc...
view the full question and answer

Peak time for bluebonnets to bloom in 2009
June 12, 2008 - Any idea when we can look for the bluebonnets to appear in 2009? Trying to have a reunion and want to see bluebonnets for the out of staters!!
view the full question and answer

Native plants for restoring a North Carolina pond site
April 12, 2011 - I reconstructed the dam to a 50 year old cattle pond at our high-end residential development in Charlotte, NC. There are many large mature trees around the pond but also some good sun exposure at two ...
view the full question and answer

Souce for Houstonia caerulea in Massachusetts
April 25, 2013 - I am looking for bluet (Houstonia caerulea or H. serpyllifolia). I can't find them anywhere. The two sites listed under possible distributors under H. caerulea have not gotten back to me. I read that...
view the full question and answer

Maintenance of wildflower beds
January 21, 2010 - I need to know what to do with my wildflower beds in my front yard. I created the beds last spring, put in an underground soaker/hose sprinkler system and planted a Tx/Ok seed mix from American Meado...
view the full question and answer

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