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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - January 08, 2008
From: Brownsville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Turf
Title: Buffalograss (Bouteloua dactyloides) for Brownsville, Texas lawn
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I inherited a house 2 miles from Boca Beach near Brownsville, Tx. Water has to be trucked in 30 miles from Brownsville so a conventional lawn is out of the question. Now the yard is only weeds. Always looks awful. I saw the article in Saturday's paper and would like to know if buffalograss or the mixture would grow in a sandy, silty area with lots of sun and hot temperatures throughout the year. Also, since i'm visiting my daughter in Austin this week, do you have the buffalograss for sale at the Wildflower Center? Thanks.ANSWER:
Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) does occur naturally in Cameron County so it shouldn't be a problem to grow on your property since you have plenty of sunshine. You might like to read "Native Lawns" in our How to Articles for tips on how to get started with your lawn.You might also consider some other hardy, drought-tolerant plants that can be grown as attractive groundcovers. Here are a few possibilities:
Stemodia lanata (gray-woolly twintip)
Tephrosia lindheimeri (Lindheimer's hoarypea)
Wedelia texana (hairy wedelia)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy)
Tidestromia lanuginosa (woolly tidestromia)
The Wildflower Center has two plant sales a year—a Spring Sale (usually in April) and a Fall Sale (usually in October), but we don't generally have plants for sale during the remainder of the year. We do, however, have our National Suppliers Directory where you can search for nurseries and seed companies that specialize in native plants in your area.
More Turf Questions
Erosion control in lawn in Tulsa, Oklahoma
April 03, 2008 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I have an erosion control question. I have a growing problem with erosion on one side of my house. The soil from the side of my house slopes down about 8" in about 3 feet to ...
view the full question and answer
killing grass on 1 acre before planting Habiturf
March 04, 2012 - I have an acre of full sun lawn on a slight slope in Dallas - would the habiturf be appropriate & if so, how do I go about killing off the existing weeds/crab grass before installing? Removing 3 in o...
view the full question and answer
Need name of company with experience in Habiturf installation in Round Rock, TX.
January 24, 2012 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I read the article about "NATIVE LAWNS: HABITURF™ A MULTI-SPECIES MIX FOR NORTH, WEST AND CENTRAL TEXAS"
Do you know any landscape companies/groups in Austin - Round Ro...
view the full question and answer
Native grass for Round Rock, Texas lawn
November 12, 2008 - Hello, I just moved into a new place and the grass in the back yard is very spotty. I would like to know the best seed to put down to cure this problem. Thank you.
view the full question and answer
Native turf grasses for shady lawn
May 25, 2011 - I am interested in planting a native lawn using the grasses discussed on the website (2lb of buffalograss, 1½ lb of bluegrama and at least 4 oz of curly mesquite). My front yard is relatively small w...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |