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.

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?

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

2 ratings

Thursday - April 03, 2008

From: staten island, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Suggestions for native perennials in Staten Island, NY
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

My back yard garden has a good base of evergreen shrubs and perennials all doing well in clayish soil and I am ready now to add color and texture in an area with partial sun. Can you suggest hardy perennial flowers that are are long lasting, tall and showy as well as some very tall ferns? Also, can you suggest a tree that is green all year, no leaves, that would survive the soil?

ANSWER:

Before we begin, can we do a little term-defining? You referred to a tree that is "green all year, no leaves.." We trust you mean not a deciduous tree that drops its leaves in the Fall. Any tree is going to have to have some kind of leaves, to take the sun's energy and convert it into food for the plant to exist. Nobody likes to rake leaves, but they're great for compost piles, if you're into that.

We found a number of perennials native to New York that can grow in a clay soil, and four ferns. The tree situation was not quite so easy. As far north as you are, there are not many trees, including the conifers, that will stay green all year and still take the clay soil. We found a couple, and are going to suggest that you check out this Cornell University Department of Horticulture website on Trees and Shrubs. We weren't sure what county Staten Island is in, but it appeared that it is in Kings County, and we found this Cornell University Extension website on New York City. On one of those sites you should be able either to find a better list of trees suited to your situation, or a contact that can give you information. Click below on the plant name links and get the information on the webpage from our Native Plant Database. If you still need more information on the plant, go all the way to the bottom of the webpage and click on "Search Google for (plant name)".

PERENNIAL FLOWERING PLANTS

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)

Desmodium canadense (showy ticktrefoil)

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)

Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Penstemon digitalis (talus slope penstemon)

Phacelia distans (distant phacelia)

Podophyllum peltatum (mayapple)

Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower)