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
Wednesday - November 03, 2004
From: Waco, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Native perennial winter plants for Waco, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I live in the Waco area, and would like to know winter plants that I could use that would come back each year, flowering or otherwise.ANSWER:
Not many plants native to your area will continue blooming throughout the winter. However, some will bloom well into fall until there is a frost. Many are evergreen and retain at least some foliage throughout the year. Among these are several yuccas that should do well around the Waco area. The pale-leaf yucca (Yucca pallida), the twist leaf yucca (Yucca rupicola) and the red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) should all do well. If you are looking for shrubs that will stay green in the winter, a good choice is the southern wax myrtle (Morella cerifera). For fall blooms and evergreen foliage autumn sage (Salvia greggii) and prairie verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida) should do well. Another plant whose yellow flowers should last till first frost and retain its green foliage is zexmenia (Wedelia texana).
You might contact the Brazos Valley Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas for other suggestions for winter/evergreen plants that do well in your area.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Foundation garden in shade in Durham, NC
April 29, 2009 - I'm trying to replant a 3'x8' garden near the foundation of our house in Durham, NC. This part of the yard gets little, if any, sun and is mostly clay. I've tried adding compost and soil conditi...
view the full question and answer
Plants for pool area in Florida
May 09, 2008 - My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growin...
view the full question and answer
Need ground cover plants to grow in the shade a large oak in San Antonio, TX
March 09, 2015 - We have a large backyard in San Antonio covered with live oak and red oak. Since grass does not do well in this shade / bright shade area I would like to plant a low growing ground cover and then add...
view the full question and answer
Blue mistflowers not blooming in Houston
June 09, 2012 - My blue mist flower plants are not blooming, but they did last summer. I have tried spreading manure, but it hasn't worked. What should I use to stimulate blooms. Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Is Phyla lanceolata (frogfruit) poisonous to dogs fromTitusville FL?
June 01, 2014 - Is Phyla lanceolata, also called Fogfruit, Lanceleaf Fogfruit, or Northern Fogfruit, toxic to dogs? We have it growing amongst our grass. I can't find it on any toxic plant list.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |