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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Winter groundcover for shaded backyard in Austin January 10, 2013 I live in south Austin and have a shaded backyard. During the summer, the lawn died and the ground is now bare. I'd like to plant some kind of winter grass or ground cover that will hold the soil i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native Plants for Shaded North Slope in Ohio January 03, 2013 I have a shaded north hillside which needs erosion control plants. Mostly moss and very thin grass grows there now. Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for ground pine plants from Ligonier PA December 21, 2012 Where can I purchase "ground pine plants? I want to use them for erosion control. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacing St. Augustine with Horse herb in Austin, TX. December 12, 2012 I'm considering replacing my St. Augustine grass with a Horseherb/Straggler Daisy ground cover, but I've heard that it provides a mosquito breeding habitat, especially if you allow dead leaves to de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover under Spruces from West Chester PA December 06, 2012 Trying to get a native groundcover (or any grass/wildflower/fern) planting established under a small stand of spruces. Established stand (30+ years old), so lots of needles on ground. Just about tot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is dichondra repens native from Hillsboro, TX November 28, 2012 What about diachondra repens? Is it native? Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Dichondra from Hillsboro TX November 26, 2012 Where can I get dichondra and info about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers for hillside in Northern California November 19, 2012 I have read numerous posts on here, but I have not found my exact situation. I live in Northern California. I am looking for some type of ground cover to grow on a hillside. Directly above the hillsid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Want a ground cover instead of St. Augustine to fill in gaps in stone pathway. November 19, 2012 I'm considering using Silver Ponyfoot (instead of St. Augustine) to fill in the 6" gaps between my 24"x24" cut limestone blocks footpath and patio. Do they run long that may cover the blocks, whi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover to prevent erosion in Florida November 04, 2012 I live on a hill and put in a new side driveway and now I am seeing erosion along the driveway and can see the bottom of my concrete. Grass won't grow because its all shaded. What would be the best g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Destructive landscape crews in The Woodlands TX October 20, 2012 Hi. We need help. We recently moved to a house where landscape crews have been blowing away the leaf litter from the front yard for many years. The underbrush was also cleared long ago. The result... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover for Bonsall, CA October 17, 2012 I live in Bonsall, CA. (San Diego) I have 3 acres, flat and sloped that are graded dirt. (DG and sheep poop from previous owner). It is getting close to mud season and I'd like to plant winter cover... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers for Kingsland TX October 11, 2012 I am looking for a list of native ground covers and grasses(not lawn grass). View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover for rock garden under large oak October 02, 2012 I am planning a small rock garden under a large oak tree. I would like a spreading evergreen ground cover that will grow in the shade. Drought-tolerant would be preferred as I live in the high plains... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Splash-proof plants from Oakton VA October 01, 2012 Hi Mr Smarty Plants, Re: low, evergreen ground cover, Northern Virginia The bare soil around my freshly painted screen porch splashes up onto the white framing when it rains so I am looking for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removing St. Augustine for natives in Grapevine TX September 29, 2012 We have St Augustine in our yard and we hate it. It guzzles water, we have to cut it often, and it's thick and hard to work with. Anyway, we want to replace it with a combination of some kind of g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grasses for Erosion control in Iowa September 27, 2012 We have a sloping yard in the midwest that gets 2-4 hours of sun during the warm weather. When we have large rainfalls, the water just pours down the slope causing a lot of erosion to the surrounding ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer-resistant groundcovers for erosion control September 26, 2012 I need a ground cover (vine??) that will help me with erosion on a sloped front yard. It gets about 6-8 hours of sun and my main need is for something that the rats in our neighborhood will not destro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers for Murphy NC Clay August 24, 2012 I live on a ridge in Murphy NC. The property has trees so most of the land is in partial shade. The soil is good 'ole mountain red clay. I have some steep bankings in front of the house that I wou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado August 10, 2012 I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Low maintenance, shade tolerant groundcover for Pacific Northwest August 09, 2012 What's a good low maintenance, shade tolerant ground cover for the Pacific Northwest? It needs to have good erosion control, too. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover for clay soil in Southern California August 08, 2012 I live in Southern California and have hard packed clay soil in my yard. Could you recommend ground cover that would be green, low to the ground, require little water and survive in clay? I can't a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover for Orange County, California August 05, 2012 What ground cover do you suggest for an Orange Co., CA, backyard with a steep slope in 3-4 hours of sun? Needs to grow fast to beat the weeds. Something pretty would be nice! Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover for high traffic area in Pennsylvania August 01, 2012 I am wondering if there is a Pennsylvania native turf like grass/plant that can withstand a lot of foot traffic (public area with lots of children). This will be used in a formal setting so will need ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Will Habiturf thrive in Houston? July 31, 2012 Will Habiturf grow in partial sun? My lawn is surrounded by trees so that there is only about an hour each day with direct overhead sun. The rest of the day there is a light shade. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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