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
Not Yet Rated

Tuesday - June 10, 2008

From: Abilene, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Container Gardens, Herbs/Forbs, Vines
Title: Native plants for hanging baskets in Abilene
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I live in the DRY West Texas heat in Abilene. I'd like to put some hanging plants along my back fence. Preferably something that would attract butterflies. We have a pool in our back yard and almost no landscaping due to the direct sunlight, and jippy water well sprinkler system. All we have been able manage is a beautiful green yard and a few trees. I really need some ideas on some REALLY hardy plants and flowers that can hold upto these conditions. And by the way we also have 3 mini schnauzers so the plants, trees,

ANSWER:

These first four plants are tough plants that withstand the hot sun and bloom for a long period. You will have to water them occasionally, however, and provide them with enough soil so that they don't dry out too quickly.

Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)

Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)

Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)

Wedelia texana (hairy wedelia)

You might consider trying a vine in a hanging basket and letting it run along your fence. Here are 3 possibilities:

Clematis pitcheri (bluebill)

Lonicera albiflora (western white honeysuckle)

Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle)

You probably want to read Container Gardening with Native Plants on our How-to Articles web page since some of the information and suggestions in it will apply to what you are doing.


Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida

Lantana urticoides

Melampodium leucanthum

Wedelia texana

Clematis pitcheri

Lonicera albiflora

Lonicera sempervirens

 

 

More Vines Questions

Patio Privacy Screen Suggestions for Central Texas
March 17, 2013 - I have just built a patio and want to plant some small trees, bushes or shrubs to form a visual barrier (rather than to erect a fence)to the neighbors yard.
view the full question and answer

Perennial vine for full sun, Denton, TX
March 19, 2010 - I would like to grow a perennial vine that would tolerate full sun during the day. A flowering or non-flowering is fine. I do NOT want anything that is poisonous, i.e. Carolina jasmine, since this w...
view the full question and answer

Identity of a thorny vine in Florida
June 02, 2009 - Area: panhandle of FL Problem: thorny vine with large potato like roots, rapid growing and very invasive. grows in summer time. thanks
view the full question and answer

Plant identification--vine with spiny pods in California
July 05, 2010 - I came across a vine while hiking in Orange County, CA. It didn't have flowers on it but has 3 or 4 inch spiny pods. What is it? The vine itself looks similar to a Morning Glory vine.
view the full question and answer

Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA
August 22, 2011 - I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that?
view the full question and answer

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