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
Tuesday - March 13, 2007
From: Rye, NY
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Texas wildflowers for April wedding
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
A friend of mine is getting married in Texas in April and wanted to decorate the event with flowers native to that state. In my experience wildflowers do not last long out of the ground or in cut form. Is this correct? Rather than cut flowers are there potted flowering plants that she might use?ANSWER:
Many wildflowers work very well as cut flowers. We have a wonderful crew of volunteers who very successfully use cut flowers from the Wildflower Center grounds to decorate offices and meeting rooms at the Center. However, living plants as decoration would be very nice and could be given as favors if used to decorate tables at a reception dinner. Your friend will need to find a supplier that can furnish the number and kinds of plants that she wants. You can find nurseries that specialize in native plants in our National Suppliers Directory. Another organization, PlantNative, also has a list of nurseries specializing in native plants.Some possibilities for decorative potted flowering plants native to Texas that might be available in nurseries in April are:
Lupinus texensis (Texas lupine) or bluebonnet
Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (western yarrow)
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Aquilegia chrysantha var. hinckleyana (Hinckley's golden columbine)
Calylophus berlandieri (Berlandier's sundrops)
Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann's daisy)
Penstemon cobaea (cobaea beardtongue)
Salvia engelmannii (Engelmann's sage)
More Wildflowers Questions
Peak period for viewing Central Texas wildflowers
March 31, 2006 - My daughter lives in San Antonio now. I want to time my next visit with the peak period to blue bonnets and other TX wildflowers. When do you recommend that I visit and come to the Center for the fi...
view the full question and answer
Native wildflowers for Missouri
September 06, 2006 - I live in the midwest, Wright City, Missouri. I have good dirt, not clay or sand. I love wildflowers. What kind of wildflowers can I grow here successfully?
view the full question and answer
Invasiveness of native Viola sororia
June 13, 2007 - I live in Warwick, RI and have a section of my backyard overgrown with common blue violets. My husband and I would like to relocate them to a more scenic location if possible. The advice the cooperat...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on showiest time for wildflower blooming
August 22, 2004 - I have been to Austin a few times, but never during wildflower season. Can you suggest to me what would be the ideal time to come?
view the full question and answer
A bounty of options for planting natives in Hockley Texas
April 21, 2011 - I have about 1 acre of land in Hockley Texas, outside Houston, that we had cleared of shrubs and poison ivy. We kept the trees so there are some areas with mostly shade and some areas with partial su...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |