Native Plants
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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| topic | question | |
| Identification of groundcover plant in north Georgia mountains September 16, 2011 Was trail riding in N GA mountains - saw pretty ground cover plant ? vine - small green leaves with whitish borders almost look like clover leaves and has small bright red red berries - this was Aug 2... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought tolerant plants for IN August 23, 2011 What are some plants that would do well in an east facing area near my front door? I live in Indianapolis IN. I need something that is drought resistant and will fill in a 4x3 foot walled off area th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for a slope in MD August 04, 2011 Looking for a groundcover to hold a shady slope undercut with tree roots in Maryland and to prevent further erosion. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen ground cover for San Antonio August 03, 2011 Is there a short, evergreen, drought tolerant ground cover which will tolerate light traffic that can be used instead of grass? San Antonio, Texas View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mystery Ground Cover in WI July 11, 2011 I am trying to identify a ground cover plant that has started growing in my yard (I'm in central Wisconsin). It is very short, only about 1-2 inches tall and is very thick covering the ground. It h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for Plano, Texas July 06, 2011 Looking for perennial seeds, maximum height 6 inches. Basically, a ground cover. Flowering would be nice but not #1 on list. Medium to maximum sun. Don't have the best soil, but fertilizer, sprink... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for groundcover in between flagstones in patio in Sugarland, TX. July 05, 2011 We are looking for a ground cover to plant in between our flagstone on our courtyard patio. The courtyard is full sun and we currently have a crushed rock-like substance in between the pieces. I thou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Groundcover for Laredo Texas July 04, 2011 I am in Laredo, TX and no longer want to waste water on grass. I would like to pull it all out and plant native, drought resistant ground cover - low growing, between 6-12 inches, sun and partial sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low groundcovers for MA June 29, 2011 We are developing ground mounted solar installations in southeastern MA. We are seeking advice for native groundcover species for our various regions (coastal meadows, etc). Species like bearberry and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-invasive sun ground cover for Atlanta GA June 29, 2011 I would like to find a non-invasive ground cover for zone 7 (Atlanta, GA) in full sun. I had a bed of ivy with daylilies on a slight slope. I have pulled up the ivy but want something that is not as i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flower friends for roses in Tyler Texas June 24, 2011 I have planted some double red Knockout roses and am looking for plants to go with them to add blue, white, pink and yellow hues. I am interested in planting something that will act as a ground cover ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacing Weeds with Native Plants in Dallas Area May 29, 2011 I have a large oak tree in my front yard and lots and lots of miscellaneous weeds (clover, chickweed, stickers, etc.). I am wanting to grow grass in my front yard, that is shaded pretty much most of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| What to plant between patio flagstones in Austin, TX? May 16, 2011 I would like to plant something between my flagstones on the patio. Something that doesn't require a lot of water, low growing, and can stand a little to moderate traffic. It is in a shade to partly... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for a sunny location April 20, 2011 Looking for Native ground cover for sunny slope in LaRue TX… I would like something that will cover year-round and flower in Spring/Summer/Fall. If it has a berry in the fall for birds and attracts bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought resistant ground cover for Rancho Cucamonga CA April 16, 2011 I live in Southern California. Could you please recommend a low maintenance, drought resistant ground cover that does not attract rodents to create as their home (more than one suggestion would be GR... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What will grow in red clay in Conroe TX? April 10, 2011 We just built a new home and the foundation was poured on red clay which is what my flowerbed area is in. Could you please tell me what can be planted that will grow. I am looking for ground cover, fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-toxic Groundcover for North-Central Texas April 07, 2011 I need a creeping ground cover for shade that is non-toxic to dogs. I had planned on Swedish ivy until I read it was toxic. Is Asian jasmine toxic? Or, do you have any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for sun in Phenix City, AL April 04, 2011 I live in Phenix City, AL and am new to planting. I have a 60 x 15 feet slope that is just dirt. I am going to till it next week and want to plant some various ground cover plants (that will grow to c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground Cover for Austin March 18, 2011 What are some ground cover or low growing shrubs that will do well in afternoon sun only in the 78750 zip code? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low groundcover for Possum Kingdom March 02, 2011 I am seeking a very low ground cover (advised so snakes and rats won't take cover), that is drought resistant and grows on a rocky steep incline to the lake in full afternoon/evening sun at Possum ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for beachside planting in Florida March 02, 2011 What type of ground cover is best for beachside planting. Looking to replace lawn with salt tolerant, weed resistant, drought tolerant, little mowing, insect resistant ground cover. Any flowers are a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for Southern California near the beach February 27, 2011 I'm in Southern California near the beach (3 miles away). I am looking for a front lawn ground cover that can stand many hours of daily direct sunlight, but will also get cool breezes off the ocean a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for a sunny hillside in TX February 20, 2011 For many years I have had two beds of English Ivy under medium size pine trees. Home is on a hillside, moderately rocky. Last Spring my yardman persuaded me to severely trim lower limbs of the pines t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for under a maple tree in DE December 22, 2010 In my front yard in Newark, Delaware, I have a HUGE maple tree that shades the whole yard and most of its roots are visible and make the yard very "bumpy." Consequently, grass does not grow well the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for East Texas November 07, 2010 I live in the country of east Texas and wish to grow native ground covers around my house and property. I have no way to control this growth, as I have no fences or borders. I have sandy soil and th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover to withstand dog traffic in Michigan November 02, 2010 I need a soft ground cover that will grow in sand, and be able to take four big dogs that love to run in the yard. Grass just doesn't make it. Someone suggested that groundcover might work. Thanks... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native ground cover for Fort Lauderdale, FL. November 02, 2010 I just moved into a duplex with a narrow back yard with dark sandy soil and no irrigation system. I travel and am looking for a hardy ground cover that can take heat, drought and limited sun between 1... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What habitat would my Antennaria solitaria like in Red Bank, TN? October 26, 2010 I want to know what habitat my mystery plant will like- sun, shade, dry or moist. I think it is an Antennaria solitaria or Little Pussytoes. I got it at a native plant sale here in Chattanooga. It has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for area under oaks in Lake Conroe, Texas October 17, 2010 I live just off Lake Conroe, and my backyard is more dirt than grass. It is under a number of oak trees, and the dirt is more of a silt than a sand. I need suggestions for a quick growing ground cover... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for East Texas October 05, 2010 Thank you for your response to (Hamelia), it was very helpful. I recently moved to East Texas and I live in a rural area at altitude 754ft with a sloping landscape with good drainage. My property is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Groundcover for High Activity Location in Austin, TX October 01, 2010 Howdy! We live in South Austin and have a smallish backyard that we're perennially working on. We have two young, very active dogs that spend a lot of time RUNNING and we never can keep ground cover ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need evergreen hedge and groundcover for shade in Carmel, Indiana September 27, 2010 Our property is bounded by a fencerow that is wooded and mostly shaded by mulberry and hackberry trees during the growing months. We'd like to create a 5'+ tall evergreen barrier on the property li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing groundcover for New York September 02, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I love your site! But I can't quite find this answer: can you recommend a fast-growing groundcover native to southern NY State (Dutchess County) that I can plant NOW (Augus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low growing groundcovers for pond banks in Brookville PA July 30, 2010 What are some good low growing ground cover plants for pond banks? Zone 5, mostly sun, preferably something I could start from seed? Hopefully low maintenance & non-evergreen. Perennial & hardy pre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for heavy dog traffic in Huntsville TX July 23, 2010 We have recently moved to Huntsville, TX where our backyard is very shady and has only a small patch of St. Augustine grass and the rest is a dry, sand-like soil. We also have 2 Great Danes and 2 Pugs... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for roadside in Elk Rapids MI July 13, 2010 Elk Rapids, MI (Lake Michigan, East Grand Traverse Bay) Greetings – We are looking for a native ground cover that will cover an area along a roadside, about 100 feet from the Lake Michigan shorelin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for difficult site in Jacksonville, TX July 07, 2010 East Texas (Cherokee County) red clay hillside, hard-packed, difficult to get to, 40' of it slopes 4' down in about 6'! Another 30' of it is flat. Between the hillside and the flat clay area is a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for area with impact from rain from roof June 25, 2010 The small garden on the side of my townhouse gets some hard rainfall during every storm. We've found ways of redirecting and using much of the rainfall (gutter and downspout to rain barrel, permeable... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pet-friendly plants for ground cover in Bastrop TX June 21, 2010 Any pet-friendly plants that can be used for ground-cover in Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pool area in Kentucky June 12, 2010 We live in central Kentucky and have a backyard pool that desperately needs some landscaping. I would like plants that don't drop a lot of leaves or "trash". I'd like a list of great poolside pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing non-native iceplant in El Cajon CA June 11, 2010 Help! We are clearing fungus dead iceplant on a massive steep bank. Should I avoid replacing it with more iceplant? Would myaporum prostrate be a better option? Fast growing, erosion resistant, zero m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Short flowering plant that will grow in sand in Black Creek WI June 03, 2010 I would like to know what kind of flowering plant would grow good in sand? A short plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen ground covers and low plants for Dallas area May 25, 2010 Would like a list of low growing (24" or less) evergreen plants including ground covers, scrubs, etc-flowering and non-flowering that are hardy and require low maintenance in the Dallas area. So ofte... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating straggler daisy from St. Augustine grass in Hochheim TX May 14, 2010 I have straggler daisy in my St. Augustine grass. What herbicides work well on straggler daisy and won't ding up the grass too bad? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for steep slope in Washington DC May 07, 2010 We have a steep slope in our garden in Washington DC which has sun from noon to sun set. Could you please recommend some low maintenance plants which would be a good ground cover and limit erosion? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for a clay/shale bank in PA April 06, 2010 We have a 200ft x 30ft bank in front of our house (PA) the soil is made up with clay and shale. what ground cover will grow fast View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcovers for a slope in MA April 04, 2010 We live in Eastern MA. We have a hill behind our house that was previously mulched. Slope is 45 degrees in direct sun, clay soil. We have another hill by the road side that is partially shaded with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for a slope in NY April 04, 2010 I live in New York State about 60 miles north of NYC. I have a very wide hill in the front of my house that I am just unable to keep up with. I can mow the bottom portion but using a weed trimmer fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low growing, flowering evergreen plants for Pflugerville TX March 30, 2010 I am wondering if you can suggest some low growing, flowering evergreen plants for my garden. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for shallow soil in hillside north of San Antonio March 27, 2010 I live in the Hill Country north of San Antonio. The yard around the house has very shallow soil and is sloped. Bermuda has a hard time maintaining. Are there any other low growing ground covers that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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