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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| Shade tolerant plants for erosion from Austin May 03, 2014 I live in Austin and my house backs up to Shoal Creek. I am looking for a native creeping vine or something that will grow on the shaded bank to help prevent erosion. It should be able to tolerate the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants to grow under elm tree in Amarillo TX May 01, 2014 I have a large elm tree and I can't get seem to get anything to grow under it. I was wondering if there are any shade-loving groundcovers that you would recommend (have tried English Ivy, hostas, an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering Shrub for Houston, TX April 24, 2014 I live in Houston, Texas and would like to plant a flowering shrub 3-6 feet in height. It will get sun to part sun, 2-6 hours daily. I have had azaleas in this area and am now looking for something to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine for shady planter from Cedar Park TX April 19, 2014 We bought a home in Central Texas and inherited several raised-bed planters. One of the planters is set up to grow a vine, but it's in a part of the yard that is mostly in the shade of a tree. Is t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vine to cover fence from Haverhill MA April 17, 2014 Hello, I'm looking for a fast growing vine to cover a chain link fence. The area is sunny half of the day. I have 2 small children so I don't want something that attracts bees or could be dangerous ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Full Shade Plants for Muncy PA April 10, 2014 I need a suggestion for almost full shade plants for central Pennsylvania. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Disagreement with HOA on raised beds placed beneath mature oak from Tequesta FL April 05, 2014 I have mature 30 year old oak trees on my property and I put a raised bed under each with very good soil and I used pavers for retaining the soil about about 1.5 ft high. I planted a perennial begonia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a Narrow, Dry, Shaded Site in Georgia April 03, 2014 I am writing from Valdosta, GA. Could you please suggest three perennial shrubs and/or plants that flower at different times of the spring and summer? Also ones that can be planted in a 2 ft. wide s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama April 03, 2014 I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Recovering neglected garden space from Grapevine TX March 22, 2014 I live in Grapevine TX (Dallas). I just moved into a house where almost the entire large backyard is covered by oak trees that shed tons of leaves throughout our mild falls/winters. The yard has not... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tolerant evergreens for privacy shield in Louisville KY March 10, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Our property is adjacent to the highway for ~ 200ft. I'm looking for partial-to-full shade tolerant evergreens that will grow to be relatively tall. Our soil is clay and g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover to control erosion in Montgomery County, Texas February 24, 2014 I am looking for some kind of ground cover to control erosion on a north facing slope in Montgomery County, Texas. The area gets very little direct sunlight. I need something that will establish quick... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low Ground Cover for Steep, Shaded PA Site February 17, 2014 I am located in Downingtown, PA, right on the border between Zone 6 and 7. Please provide a recommendation of a native ground cover for the following conditions: steep slope (greater than 45%), full s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Low evergreen drought-resistant shrubs for area in partial shade January 03, 2014 I promised my mom to help her with some new plants for her house, so here goes. She lives near Waco on Blackland clay soil. The problem area is right in front of the house. It only receives a few hour... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Understory Shrubs for Pennsylvania Clay December 04, 2013 I want to replace three non-native Euonymus alatus with native shrubs that will serve as host plants for butterfly/moth species and/or attract bumblebees and other native bees. The shrubs I have are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana November 29, 2013 What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Grasses for shady areas November 24, 2013 I would like to know which grasses would grow in mostly shady part of the house. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant for total shade in Austin Texas November 18, 2013 Most of north wall of my house is in total shade. Is there a native that will grow there? The nonnative Cast Iron Plant is thriving and the soil is good. Your list of plants requiring 2 hours or less ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Habiturf for shady areas in San Antonio TX November 08, 2013 Will the Habiturf grass mentioned here do well in shady areas too? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative for sedges for turf-like lawn in shade October 25, 2013 When it comes to a turf-like lawn in shade, is it pretty much sedges or nothing among native options? By the way, I write from up north here in Iowa. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Habiturf lawn in Carson City, NV October 15, 2013 I planted habiturf just south of Reno NV May 5. First two months no or little germination because nite temps too cold. Now doing ok except battling purslane and redstem filaree.. SO, I notice bare/spa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identifying native sedges October 14, 2013 What's the best way to identify a specific sedge ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tolerant low shrub for Houston September 28, 2013 Please suggest a shade loving shrub that doesn't get more than 3' tall for a foundation planting along a front porch in Houston, TX. I prefer native, drought resistant if possible. No nursery person... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs for Shade in Annapolis MD September 12, 2013 Can you please recommend dense shade tolerant shrubs for Annapolis, Maryland. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Salt-tolerant groundcover for shade with no water supply September 11, 2013 We have a home in Neptune Beach (Jacksonville) Florida (NE Florida). We have a large area outside our ground floor master bedroom that is completely covered (there is a large solid deck above it). ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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