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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| Groundcover for sunny yard in New Jersey July 23, 2008 Hi. I'm looking for ground cover for a mostly sunny section of my yard. The ground we are looking to cover is next to a slight hill with in a few feet of an in ground pool. I would like something tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcovers for steep slope in East Texas July 15, 2008 I HAVE A LAKE LOT IN EAST TEXAS ON TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR IN HEMPHILL TEXAS. THE LAKE LOT IS BEAUTIFUL BUT VERY STEEP. IN SOME SPOTS IT IS ENTIRELY TOO STEEP TO MOW. IT WAS COMPLETELY GROWN UP WHEN WE ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Natural groundcovers beneath live oaks in Austin July 14, 2008 We are moving to a home in NW Austin set in a forest of live oaks (15 of them). What plants are the natural groundcovers? We want to replace the 'grass' completely. There is no sun so we don't b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance plants for crack in concrete July 01, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like to grow some very low maintenance weeds, mosses and flowers out of a crack in a slab of concrete. Can you recommend any species that would do well in this sort... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low plants to cover bank too steep to mow June 26, 2008 I have a bank along the road that is too steep to mow. This bank faces east and only gets 2 - 4 hours per day of sunlight. I'd like to try ground cover to prevent erosion, however visibility is a p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native groundcover for sun in East Texas June 09, 2008 I am hoping you can advise me on a native, flowering, fast growing groundcover that would thrive in full sun, with some shady areas under a couple camellia trees. I live in Nacogdoches and have sandy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for south-facing yard in Paris, TX June 09, 2008 We are moving to Paris, Tx. Our front yard faces south with 2 large sycamores shading it. Grass has a hard time growing here. I'd like to plant groundcover. Think it's sandy loam. Do you have a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Short or mowable plant for walkway June 03, 2008 I'd like a short and/or mowable plant to use as a walkway in and around a vegetable garden in upstate NY. I was planning on clover, but I want to use a native plant if possible. The native clovers ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low-growing plant for grave in boggy Newfoundland May 30, 2008 I am looking for any suggestions on what type of plant I can plant on a grave. It is very boggy (peat)land. I want something that is hardy & not too tall. We have about 8 weeks of summer, July & Augus... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen groundcover under pine tree in NY May 23, 2008 Hello! I live in upstate NY. I'm trying to find an evergreen ground cover to plant under a pine tree. I believe it's a white spruce (but I'm not postive). I've read conflicting information reg... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Information about ice plant (Carpobrotus edulis) May 06, 2008 I recently planted some Carpobrotus edulis, Ice plant, and wanted to know if I can mulch or put stones around the entire garden and plants. They are a ground cover plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for narrow strip between sidewalk and fence May 01, 2008 I have a strip of land about 5 inches wide and 30 feet long -- between the fence and the sidewalk -- that I would like to plant something that would look nice and wouldn't require the weedeater every... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native moss to fill in between flagstones April 21, 2008 I live in Houston and have a long, narrow flagstone path that runs along the east side of the house. I am looking for a native moss that can fill in between the flagstones and will tolerate morning su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pros and cons of Hydrocotyl bonariensis as lawn replacement March 22, 2008 Want to convert lawn TO dollar weed! My Garland TX yard has become so shady over the years that I have a hard time with grass. A few years ago I noticed dollar weed in the grass which seemed to cre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buffalo grass and other native grass for lawn in Central Texas March 17, 2008 Hi, I live in Cedar Park, TX - recently moved to into a newly built house. I wanted to put some native grass (like buffalo) in the back yard. - My back yard has slope (away from house) and front... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for memorial garden in Michigan March 04, 2008 I want to start a memorial garden for my daughter. I live in northern Michigan and the area has very tall white pines we have pruned them up about 15' so the area does get partial sun. Which plants w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native ground cover to replace grass in Florida. February 04, 2008 Where can I find a list of ground covers to replace my grass. I live in the south of Ocala Florida. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for trails in Northeast Texas January 09, 2008 I have several acres of wooded land in Northeast Texas, Southern Lamar County. Both sandy and black land. I have created trails through the woods and would like to plant a native ground cover or gras... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen groundcover or ornamental grass to plant under tree November 09, 2007 What can I plant under my tree as a groundcover? I would like an evergreen groundcover, how about ornamental grasses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant, possibly Justicia pilosella, for groundcover October 10, 2007 I'm newly relocated to Texas and find I have a yard with three major types of green growing. Close to the house (and mostly shaded) is St. Augustine. Furthest out front, (unshaded) is the Bermudagra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Marbleseed (Onosmodium sp.) propagation and use as groundcover for October 08, 2007 I am interested in any information, esp. propagation & suitability as a landscape plant, (possible ground cover?) for marble seed. I have found it growing in deep shade on stream banks. It has a 4--... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of bramble under live oaks and replacing with groundcover September 26, 2007 We have several large live oaks on the front of our 12 acre property in Hockley, Texas. Under and around each oak is an extensive amount of bramble which we would like to remove so that we can enjoy ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for cover June 18, 2007 I live iin Schaumburg, IL and have a difficult spot (extreme sun and heat in summer (South Side of house). I'm looking for a very short ground cover - < or + to 6 inchees. Does Arabis hirsuta fit t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia as replacement for Asiatic jasmine June 14, 2007 The deer have stripped the Asiatic jasmine groundcover under my clusters of live oak trees in Southwest Austin. This year the bare areas of ground are covered in Virginia creeper seedlings. I have b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Coexistence of rubus trivialis and American beautyberry May 28, 2007 I'm growing some rubus trivialis in a 1-gal. pot and plan to plant it this fall. Will this dewberry coexist with American beautyberry, or must it have its own space entirely? If it needs its own sp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native groundcovers to replace non-native St. Augustine May 24, 2007 I live in west Travis County just south of Lake Austin. My backyard is very shady and does not drain well. I want to spend some time and effort landscaping it. I have thought about Amerishade St. A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers for Denton, Texas May 17, 2007 Hi, I live in "The Colony", Texas. I want to have a garden that is evergreen and colorful and low maintenance. Also looking for ground covers as do not have time to remove weeds growing in the flow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Understory plants for Tuolumne Co., CA May 14, 2007 My driveway is lined with purple plum trees. I would like to grow something underneath them. What can I grow that will not harm the root system/health of the trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oxalis drummondii as ground cover May 11, 2007 We live in Austin, Texas. A sunny, dry swath of grass (originally St. Augustine) has been invaded by pink wood-sorrel (a large-leafed, mounding kind). I love the wood-sorrel, and would like to use it ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for heavy clay soil in east Austin May 02, 2007 I live in East Austin and have very thick clay soil on my property. I also have a lot of shade and partial sun/shade. Can you suggest some native plant varieties that are well-adapted to these condi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers for play area in Plano, TX April 14, 2007 Is there a ground cover that would work under and around a swing in our front yard in Plano, Texas. It would get morning sun and dappled shade from a trimmed live oak in the afternoon. It would need t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternatives to invasive, non-native Vinca minor as ground cover April 05, 2007 I live in Central Austin. I want to plant a large area of Vinca minor since it is fast growing and offers attractive ground cover. I assume it requires little care with the rain being sufficient for i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Phyla nodiflora as a ground cover March 23, 2007 I'm considering using frogfruit in my lawn and between stepping stones. However, I'm concerned about it being invasive. The tree is in the front lawn and don't want it to take over the Bermuda law... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for partly sunny, wet area in Cypress, TX March 19, 2007 I am in need of a ground cover to plant in an area close to our entryway. The area is shady to partly sunny, holds water in rainy weather, and has a shrub border. We are in Texas. Any ideas? Thank... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance, attractive ground cover for yard in Snyder, TX February 25, 2007 I live in West Texas, I just bought a couple of lots that have had nothing grown on them in about 45 years, except what looks like small clumps of weed /grass, not sure. I would like to have my front... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative to grass as groundcover in area used by dog January 05, 2007 I am looking for a beautiful groundcover to use instead of grass which need to be soft and animal friendly. My dog is in the yard a lot and she's 10 yrs old. I am looking for a groundcover which wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers to enrich soil over winter in Austin September 03, 2006 I am about to have a baby so will not be working my vegetable garden from about now (September) through the winter or spring. Is there something (a grass, maybe?) that I can plant now that will benefi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible ground covers under pine trees in Illinois April 18, 2006 Have pine trees in front of house. No luck with the lawn around them....was told it's because of ground acidity. Any tips on how to get a lawn to grow there? If not, can you suggest some ground cover... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covers for sandy hill in New York April 12, 2006 We have just built a new home and a sandy fill was needed around the house. It sits on a hill and the fill is very sandy. We would like to plant something to stabilize the bank that is native to the a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bare feet-friendly native groundcovers for New York April 14, 2005 We own land at elevation 1600', near Sherburn, NY. We want to walk barefoot around the tipi area, but don't want to plant grass (mowing grass). What native ground cover would be kind to bare feet ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance, native plants for sloping drive near Philadelphia October 20, 2004 My cabin is located in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia. I am looking for low maintenance plants that would look good on the sides of a driveway that slopes upward. This is a potential project fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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