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.
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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.
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Monday - November 07, 2011
From: Leander, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native, full-sun, 4-in. evergreen grasses for Leander TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Help! I need a native Texas evergreen sedge/grass/ground cover for full-sun/hot/dry area between sidewalk and street. The plants will need to be kept about 4" high, if growth is higher it must be mowed. Soil can be amended to meet plant needs. I searched the Q & A and plant description pages and did not find a plant that would live in the specified conditions.ANSWER:
Gee, who doesn't? We can help you with several of your requirements, but not all of them. Allow us to introduce you to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's research on grasses well suited to drought, heat and sun. What we cannot do is offer you anything evergreen. Some of these grasses even go dormant and turn brown when it is very dry, but will persevere. Please read these articles about the grasses that have been developed:
How-To Article - Native Lawns: Buffalograss
How-To Article - Native Lawns: Multi-Species introducing Habiturf
Native Lawns - including comparisons on weed resistance
From the Image Gallery
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
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Will buffalograss thrive in Ada OK?
May 08, 2013 - Would buffalo grass thrive in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, where my sandy loamie soil struggles with summer droughts?
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When to plant grasses on Long Island, NY
December 06, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants;
Are there any grass seeds that I can plant NOW, early December, on Long Island, NY? The planting environment is on and near a sandy bluff on a bayshore, where it can be windy ...
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Plants native to Galveston that would survive in Austin
December 01, 2008 - What plants are native to the Galveston, Texas region? Can any of those plants survive in the Austin area?
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