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?

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
Not Yet Rated

Friday - May 09, 2008

From: Winter Garden, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Container Gardens, Cacti and Succulents, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for pool area in Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

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 growing and small with not too much height. Can you please give us some ideas? Thank you

ANSWER:

There are a couple of ways to find recommended plants for Florida. First, you can go to our Florida Recommended page on the Wildflower Center web site to find a list of native plants that are commercially available for landscaping in Florida. Most species have photos with the text. The second source for recommended plants for Florida is the Florida Native Plant Society. In the Florida Native Plant Society's "Natives to Grow in Orange County" list it gives the name, the form of the plant (shrub, tree, etc.) and its tolerance for wet and dry soils, tolerance for salt and usefulness for butterflies and wildlife. There are no photos accompanying this list, but you can find photos for most of the ones on the list by searching in our Native Plant Database under the scientific name.

Here are a few choices from the two lists:

Ceratiola ericoides (sand heath) is a small sub-shrub that resembles rosemary.

Phlox nivalis (trailing phlox)

Rhexia mariana (Maryland meadowbeauty)

Salvia coccinea (blood sage)

Amsonia ciliata (fringed bluestar)

Berlandiera subacaulis (Florida greeneyes)

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle). There are dwarf cultivars of this species.

Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)

Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)

Rhapidophyllum hystrix (needle palm). Here is a photo and more information.

Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop)

Woodwardia areolata (netted chainfern). Here is a photo and more information.

Yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle). Here is a photo and more information.


Ceratiola ericoides

Phlox nivalis

Rhexia mariana

Salvia coccinea

Amsonia ciliata

Berlandiera subacaulis

Conoclinium coelestinum

Morella cerifera

Osmunda cinnamomea

Phyla nodiflora

Rhynchospora colorata

 


 

 

More Herbs/Forbs Questions

New York City Native Perennials for a Long Growing Season
May 31, 2013 - Which native New York City perennials would be best for the longest growing season?
view the full question and answer

Is Evolvulus nuttallianus native to Central Texas and Deer Resistant?
June 11, 2015 - The website doesn't have much information about blue daze (Evolvulus nuttallianus. Is this plant native to Central Texas? Is it deer-resistant?
view the full question and answer

Effects of Hedysarum mackenzii from Pflugerville TX
May 08, 2013 - What are the effects of Hedysarum mackenzii?
view the full question and answer

Blossom fall after rain on Polystachys lutea, Shrimp Lollipop
July 17, 2008 - I live in San Antonio and had previously bought shrimp lollipop plants and after the rain we had recently all the blooms fell off. So my question is did it die or should I just leave it alone?
view the full question and answer

Native plants for city lot in Longview, TX
March 19, 2008 - Just bought a city lot in Longview, TX and want to put in some plants at the periphery even before the house is built. Can you recommend any that would be from your list of East TX plants that are pa...
view the full question and answer

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