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

Saturday - May 12, 2007

From: Garland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens, Xeriscapes, Shrubs
Title: Recommendations for native plants for Dallas Co., TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Looking for a Recommendation: Can you suggest a plant that meets the following requirements? ENVIRONMENT -- - I live in Garland, in Dallas County, TX. - The soil is primarily clay. - Full sun in most locations. PLANT REQUIREMENTS -- - Needs to grow at least 6 feet tall on average. - The less water it needs, the better. (Xeriscape-grade.) - Must be 'productive'; bearing edible fruit or seeds. I'm trying to line a fence that faces a street. The "fuller" and "bushier" the plants, the better, for noise reduction.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants can think of three plants that fit your requirements: Morella cerifera (wax myrtle), Rhus virens (evergreen sumac, and Ilex vomitoria (yaupon.

All three are evergreen, relatively fast-growing, and once established, require little water. They have flowers that attract bees and butterflies and berries that attract birds. All three occur in, or adjacent to, Dallas County, Texas.

 

From the Image Gallery


Wax myrtle
Morella cerifera

Evergreen sumac
Rhus virens

Yaupon
Ilex vomitoria

More Shrubs Questions

Small shrub with thorns for Austin
February 08, 2010 - I'm looking for a shade-tolerant 2-3' shrub with thorns, native to Texas (ideally central Texas) - an alternative to Barberry? Does such a plant exist?
view the full question and answer

Shrub for Dallas Street
August 20, 2014 - I am looking for a native shrub for Dallas, Texas. It is full sun with a maximum height of 3 feet to border the street edge of a shopping center. It will get irrigated.
view the full question and answer

Problems with Indian Hawthorn in Richmond TX
February 19, 2010 - I have a lot of Indian Hawthorne plants. I have noticed over the last couple of years that sporadically one will develope a brown area that looks like it was burned or had gasoline poured on it. The...
view the full question and answer

Time for pruning wax myrtle in Texas
January 31, 2015 - We live in Houston. Can we prune back our southern wax myrtle now?
view the full question and answer

Is Crape Myrtle Native?
July 20, 2015 - Hello, I live in Frisco, TX. Can you tell me is there any Crape Myrtle which is native to Frisco, TX.
view the full question and answer

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