Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Your gift keeps resources like this database thriving!

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
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - April 17, 2007

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Native wildflowers tolerant of lower water and lots of sun
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in Austin Texas and have a small bed in the front of the house which faces the east with no shade. I am not much of a yard person so would like to plant some Native plants that don't need a lots of water or care. Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER:

Here are several native Texans that should do well with lots of sunshine and little water:

Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)

Ruellia nudiflora (violet wild petunia)

Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)

Muhlenbergia reverchonii (seep muhly)


Lantana urticoides

Coreopsis lanceolata

Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida

Ruellia nudiflora

Melampodium leucanthum

Muhlenbergia reverchonii

 

 

More Wildflowers Questions

Bees and Bulbs
April 20, 2015 - Are any of the Non-Native bulbs beneficial to bees of any kind? My Dutch hyacinths, and daffodils are so prolific; they are both single, but I can't find any information about them as sources of nect...
view the full question and answer

Native plants of Taos and Los Alamos NM from Houston
April 07, 2012 - Hi, Mr. Smarty Plants, can you recommend a guidebook for the native plants of the Taos/Los Alamos region? (I'm most interested in forbs.) I'll be headed there in May--is there anything I should es...
view the full question and answer

Planting wildflowers on roadsides in Dallas
July 23, 2011 - Am interested in leading Y Princess group in community effort to plant wildflowers along roads in Dallas area. Do you have any advice on how to approach the problem or sources for the seeds?
view the full question and answer

More on bluebonnets
January 09, 2007 - I have had an area in my yard where I have established bluebonnets. Since we had such a dismal showing in the spring of 2006 I was looking forward to a great show for 2007. Lo and behold I had about...
view the full question and answer

Optimum mowing time for acreage with spring wildflowers
November 17, 2003 - I have several acres where wildflowers grow in the spring, & would like to know when and how often to mow this field for optimum blooms?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.