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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
rate this answer
Sunday - February 23, 2014
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation, Seeds and Seeding, Transplants, Wildflowers
Title: Starting wild plant seeds indoors from Dallas TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Is it possible to start some Phlox drummondii or other native wild flower from seed indoors, and then transplant to my garden? If so, can you suggest some?ANSWER:
The first thing you want to be sure of, before you go to all that trouble, is whether the wildflower is native to where you are gardening. According to this USDA Plant Profile Map, Phlox drummondii (Annual phlox) is native as close to Dallas County as Denton County, so we feel relatively sure it would thrive when you transplant it to your garden.
We just finished answering a question on planting wildflower seeds indoors and then planting them outside. It has several research references that should help you and to save ourselves the trouble of typing all that information again, here is a link to that previous answer.
From the Image Gallery
More Propagation Questions
Spanish Dagger plant interfering with walkway in Ingram TX
April 09, 2010 - I have a Spanish Dagger that is now 8 feet tall and about to fall over in a walkway. Due to the danger of these very sharp tips I need to either cut down the plant or try to root in and replant. If ...
view the full question and answer
Need care instructions for Cardiosperma halicacabum in Little Rock, AR>
May 11, 2012 - I'd like to find out how to cultivate & care for a balloon vine/heart seed vine/love in a puff vine which I found growing wild in my yard (in Little Rock, Arkansas). There seems to be very little in...
view the full question and answer
Saving frozen yuccas from North Carolina
February 23, 2013 - I live in NC and have 2 potted yucca plants on my deck. Every year I have brought them in for the winter. This year, someone told us that we could leave them out all winter. They began to die in the c...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting an immature Sweet Bay Magnolia
May 30, 2006 - Hi Mr. Smarty Pants:
I just found what I think is a Magnolia Sweet Bay growing wild next to an oak and a pine tree in my back wooded yard. It has blooms on it and is about 2 feet tall. There are tw...
view the full question and answer
Dividing blackeyed susans in Lake Ronkoko NY
July 06, 2009 - How are you supposed to divide blackeyed susan's? And when is the best time to do this?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |