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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - March 03, 2014
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Container Gardens
Title: Hanging container for west-facing house in Austin TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I'd like to put a hanging container in front of my house. The front of my house faces west and gets very hot in the summer time, with full sun in the afternoon/evening. What native Texan plants could I put in a hanging planter that won't mind being baked and dried out?ANSWER:
First, let me recommend that you read Container Gardening with Native Plants. Next, I recommend that you look at the list in Native Plants for Container Gardens in Central Texas. We also have a list of Drought Resistant Plants for Texas and Beyond. Comparing the two lists should give several choices for your hanging container. Here are a few that I think would do well:
Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita)
Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann's daisy)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena)
Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)
Pavonia lasiopetala (Rock rose)
Even though these plants love the sun and are drought resistant and heat tolerant, you are still going to need to water them. How often? It will depend on the temperature and the natural rainfall. You will have to judge that for yourself.
From the Image Gallery
More Container Gardens Questions
Screening Planter Recommendations for Lakeway TX
May 16, 2012 - I live in Lakeway in a townhome. The parking lot is directly in front of my unit so I always see headlights and cars. The HOA has agreed to build a planter about 4 feet high to help hide the cars. W...
view the full question and answer
Making Ruellia nudiflora thicker in pot from Tucson AZ
June 25, 2012 - Can Ruellia Nudiflora be propagated in the same pot as the parent plant?
Can it be cut back to stimulate a denser plant?
I have plants in several pots and would like to 'thicken' the plant.
Tha...
view the full question and answer
Possibility of invasiveness of blackberry bush
March 27, 2008 - I bought a blackberry bush from Home Depot last year. My sister said if I planted it in the ground it would take over my lawn. So I put it in a big planter up against my fence, but I'd like to put it...
view the full question and answer
Container Plants for Lubbock, Texas
June 22, 2015 - Hello! I am looking for plants suitable for container gardening for a west facing porch in Lubbock. Plants need to be super tough to endure the baking sun, constant wind, dry air, extreme temperatures...
view the full question and answer
Plectranthus (native of South Africa) winter care and insects
September 26, 2007 - I was recently given a beautiful plant which is now in a pot in my yard. I live in Rochester, NY and need to know what to do with this plant in the fall.
The plant is 'Mona Lavender' Plectranthus p...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |