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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - May 11, 2006
From: Flower Mound, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Wildflower seeds for trail for Eagle Scout project
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Andrea DeLong-Amaya
QUESTION:
I'm a boy scout with Troop 1202 in the Dallas, Texas area, planning an eagle project to benefit my local parks department. The project will be to plant native wildflowers (from seed) along a trail. I would like to plant purple coneflowers, but I've heard they are best planted in the fall and I only have until around July to complete my project. Would the coneflowers still turn out all right if I plant them between May and June? If so, would I need to take any special planting measures? Also, if it would not be good to plant the coneflowers, which of the following (if any) would be best planted during that time: Indian Blanket, Evening Primrose, or Lazy White Daisy? Thank you so much for your help.ANSWER:
For the majority of wildflowers fall is the recommended time to sow seeds. Of all the flowers you named, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is your best bet for planting in May to flower this summer. It will be most successful if you can water the area during the summer. Since fall planting is the best time for wildflowers, perhaps you can continue your project then so that you can increase the variety of wildflowers that you are sowing.In our Native Plant Library you can find several articles that might be useful to your project (e.g., "Large Scale Wildflower Planting" and "Wildflower Meadow Gardening"). You can check our National Suppliers Directory for seed companies in Texas that carry native wildflower seeds. In a preliminary search I found that Native American Seed in Junction and Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg have purple coneflower for sale. Also, you might check with a chapter in your area of the Native Plant Society of Texas for resources for native seeds and plants.
More Wildflowers Questions
Is Tropical Milkweed Harmful to Monarchs?
April 24, 2015 - I believe I recently read that the orange flowering Mexican milkweed carries a virus(?) or something that harms monarch butterflies. What are recommendations if I use this plant in my northern CA yar...
view the full question and answer
Possibility of replacing Bermudagrass with native grasses and wildflowers
November 24, 2008 - Are there any native grasses and wildflowers that can compete with bermuda grass to make a nativ-y wild area without removing the bermuda?
view the full question and answer
More on bluebonnets
August 26, 2004 - This year's strange summer weather has lead to a very unusual event. I have a second bloom on my Bluebonnet garden. I first noticed the blooms last week, and contacted my local nursery to confirm the...
view the full question and answer
Plants for winter color in native wildflower meadow backyard
February 28, 2006 - I am establishing a wildflower meadow in my backyard (150'x50'). it will have native Texas wildflowers, Buffalo Grass and Blue Gramma grass. Is there any plant that you can recommend for winter inte...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets emerging early after cool, wet spring
August 20, 2007 - Typically I see bluebonnet seedlings begin to erupt in the early Fall. But this year, I began to see seedlings almost immediately after my crop went to seed. In fact, it is now early August and I ha...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |