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
1 rating

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.


Bouteloua dactyloides

Stemodia lanata

Tephrosia lindheimeri

Wedelia texana

Phyla nodiflora

Calyptocarpus vialis

Tidestromia lanuginosa

 

 

More Turf Questions

Lawn care?
May 10, 2009 - I had red yucca planted in my garden last May. They were trimmed back by my lawn care people last winter and currently seem to be slowly growing back. However, the red flower stalk is not growing ba...
view the full question and answer

Low maintenance grass for shade in Conroe, TX
September 15, 2012 - What is the best low maintenance grass to plant in front lawn shaded, no traffic area?
view the full question and answer

Seeding an established buffalograss lawn to make it denser
May 13, 2010 - We have 5400 sq ft of existing Buffalo grass and would like to know if spreading Buffalo grass SEED would help the existing get more full? I can't seem to find the seed here or the Austin area? And, ...
view the full question and answer

Lawn Options for Saginaw, MI
April 09, 2015 - I'm looking for a low maintenance, high traffic lawn alternative. Will Texas Frogfruit handle the winter? My yard is small so covering it is an option.
view the full question and answer

Supplier for native lawn grass for South Texas
October 20, 2009 - Where would I buy native lawn grass for South Texas? Would it be sod or seed?
view the full question and answer

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