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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

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.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

1 rating

Wednesday - April 15, 2015

From: Hopatcong, NJ
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Plant Lists, Drought Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: New Jersey Native Plants for a Raised Bed
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I want to plant some native plants in a raised bed in New Jersey along side a stucco wall that gets direct sun and is very dry due to an overhang. Any suggestions?

ANSWER:

Let’s start with a list of native plants for your area. Take a look at the Native Plant Database on the www.wildflower.org website and put in the following search criteria: State = New Jersey, habit = herb (for herbaceous), duration = perennial, light requirement = full sun, soil moisture = dry, height = 1-3 feet. This search will reveal 46 native plants to consider.

Some tough possibilities include ...

Achillea millefolium (Common yarrow)

Anaphalis margaritacea (Western pearly everlasting)

Asclepias tuberosa (butterflyweed)

Campanula rotundifolia (Bluebell bellflower)

Coreopsis verticillata (Treadleaf coreopsis)

Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower)

Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot)

Phlox pilosa (Downy phlox)

Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat)

Scutellaria incana (Hoary skullcap)

Symphyotrichum laeve var. laeve (Smooth blue aster)