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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - June 14, 2007
From: Helena, AL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Herbs/Forbs
Title: Houston plants adaptable to Birmingham, AL
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
I have recently moved from Houston to Birmingham Al. I had a wildflower garden in my back yard. Would the same flowers work here as well? I would love to have the same beautiful colors here.ANSWER:
Some of the same flowers that grew in Houston will perform beautifully in Birmingham - others, not so much. The climate in Birmingham is slightly damper, but the winters are significantly colder than you enjoyed in Houston. The consequence of this is that most tropical and some subtropical plants that thrived without freeze protection in Houston will be imperiled in Birmingham during frequent hard, winter cold-snaps.
Happily, many plants native to Houston are also native to Birmingham. Since these species are naturally adapted to both areas, they would be the ideal choices for your garden.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Tropical Texas landscape from Houston
March 04, 2013 - Do you know of any public (or at least photographed) place in Texas that has been landscaped entirely with native "tropical-looking" (i.e. evergreen but NOT conifer and NOT succulent/arid) species? ...
view the full question and answer
Perennial poppies for Salt Lake City
January 21, 2010 - What are the best poppies, perennial if possible, to plant in Salt Lake City, Utah?
view the full question and answer
Trimming of penstemon after bloooming from Austin
April 30, 2012 - I planted a penstemon in my backyard last fall and it's doing great. Once the flowers have bloomed, do I cut the stalk back? It is about 2 ft tall and doesn't appear to be doing anything. I belie...
view the full question and answer
Landscaping on South Padre Island
June 07, 2008 - I'm in charge of landscaping at my beachfront condo in South Padre Island and find the wind, salt air, and heat challenging for growing almost anything. We would like to incorporate native plants, b...
view the full question and answer
Turk's Cap not returning from Plano TX
April 02, 2014 - My Turk's Cap has shown no signs of coming back this year as of March 31. I pruned to about 12 inches because it was so bushy last year and it was not mulched thru our harsh winter (10 degree low and...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |