Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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?

Share

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
5 ratings

Thursday - August 09, 2007

From: Ballwin, MO
Region: Midwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Flowering native perennials for St. Louis
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I'm trying to landscape a yard that sits on rocky clay soil in St. Louis, MO. The front yard has been difficult because of its brutal southern exposure - the afternoon sun cooks everything I've tried! I'm looking for flowering perennials with an emphasis on native species. Do you have any helpful suggestions? I appreciate your time.

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants found several plants native to St. Louis County, Missouri that meet your criteria. Mr. SP also has added a few annuals that should do well. Those species will reseed themselves if you will leave the seed heads until they have dropped their seeds. There are also a couple of grass/grass-like species in case you are just looking for "green" to put in your area.

Perennials

Artemisia ludoviciana (white sagebrush)

Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)

Ratibida columnifera (upright prairie coneflower)

Solidago nemoralis (gray goldenrod)

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (aromatic aster)

Grass or Grasslike

Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)

Carex texensis (Texas sedge)

Annuals

Gaillardia pulchella (firewheel)

Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm)

Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)


Artemisia ludoviciana

Callirhoe involucrata

Coreopsis lanceolata

Echinacea purpurea

Ratibida columnifera

Solidago nemoralis

Symphyotrichum oblongifolium

Bouteloua curtipendula

Carex texensis

Gaillardia pulchella

Monarda citriodora

Rudbeckia hirta

 

 

 

More Grasses or Grass-like Questions

Drought-Tolerant Plants for Arizona
July 16, 2015 - Slowly turning south-facing lawn to drought-tolerant plantings with gravel paths. Mature Ponderosa and several blue spruce and junipers surround area. Grass area I'm converting with a few larger tr...
view the full question and answer

Overwintering Juncus spiralis in a Container in PA
November 06, 2014 - I have been growing a Juncus 'Spiralis' in a self-watering container on my zone 7 patio in Pennsylvania happily all summer. I have read that this plant is native and should survive outdoors over the...
view the full question and answer

Use of hand-held seed spreader from Robstown TX
March 20, 2014 - I am planting native turf grass and prairie grasses as part of a backyard restoration on my 1.6 acre home site. My problem is good seed dispersal for the chaffey grass seeds. Have you have any luck...
view the full question and answer

Photos of Muhlenbergia rigida (purple muhly)
August 31, 2011 - I have some potential images of Muhlenbergia rigida / Purple Muhley, I would like to share. (at the suggestion of a fellow blogger). Let me know if that plant is needed - thanks!
view the full question and answer

Arguments for planting native grasses in College Station TX
April 09, 2010 - I hear big ads about putting zoysia grass on my urban lawn but I would rather plant native grass, like Texas Bluegrass (for shady areas) and Blue Grama and Buffalograss grasses. What arguments can I g...
view the full question and answer

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