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
Friday - December 24, 2010
From: Germantown, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Native wildflowers for Tennessee
Answered by: Marilyn Kircus and Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Can you suggest some native wildflowers for west Tennessee and a source for seeds?ANSWER:
I began answering your question by going to the Wildflower Center's website and clicking on Explore Plants. Then I selected the Recommended Species topic and chose the state of Tennessee from the map. Here is a list of over 120 species of native plants recommended for Tennessee. You can narrow the list down to wildflowers by choosing 'Herb' under GENERAL APPEARANCE in the side bar NARROW YOUR SEARCH option.
Here are some suggested ones from that list that grow from seeds:
Coreopsis tinctoria (golden tickseed) Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel) Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm) Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower) Liatris punctata (Dotted blazing star) Monarda didyma (Scarlet beebalm) Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed) Sources of seeds: You can go to our National Suppliers Directory where you will get a list of seed companies and nurseries that are registered as native plant sellers. I searched by Tennessee. Nashville Natives is listed as selling wildflower seeds but I can't see that they ship. You can contact them to learn if they do. Here is a link to American Meadows that sells southeastern wildflower seeds and Wildflower Farm sells Tennessee wildflower seeds. If you are just getting started you might enjoy reading the book, Gardening With the Native Plants of Tennessee, by Margie Hunter. Here are some photos from our Image Gallery:
More Wildflowers Questions
Reason for small winecup flowers (Callirhoe sp.)
May 25, 2007 - I purchased some winecup seeds from a wildflower seed company and planted them this past autumn. I live in the northcentral Texas area. This spring, several of the seeds sprouted but they had tiny lav...
view the full question and answer
Thinning and culling wildflower seed mix plants
May 11, 2015 - Wildflower garden in central Oklahoma
I sowed a (mostly) native wildflower mixture in early November here in my Zone 7A Edmond, OK garden. To my surprise, many of the seeds (I'm guessing annuals)...
view the full question and answer
Culture and location of native Stachys coccinea
May 10, 2006 - What are the soil, light, and water requirements for Texas betony (Stachys coccinea) and in what area(s) of Texas does it naturally occur?
view the full question and answer
Taking bluebonnets to Anchorage AK from Sealy TX
June 10, 2010 - Moving to Anchorage Alaska from Texas and I am bringing bluebonnet seeds to plant there. Will the moose eat these plants/flowers?
view the full question and answer
Greenhouse bluebonnets for July wedding from Denver CO
August 19, 2013 - Would it possible for my daughter's florist to get bluebonnets for her late July wedding? Are they propagated in greenhouses?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |