Native Plants
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Wednesday - July 02, 2008
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Grasses and flowering plants for Dallas
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have an area of morning sun next to my house about ten feet deep. I would like to mix a fairly tall grass with two other plants, flowering. What are some of your suggestions?ANSWER:
In order to find some suggestions to make, we went to Recommended Species, clicked on North Central Texas on the map, and then narrowed our search by clicking on first grasses and then herbs (herbaceous perennials) for habit, perennial for duration and part sun (2 to 6 hours a day of sun). The flowers we chose are tall and sturdy so they can show up with the grasses, but of course, you can use the same methods to find others you like better. Be sure and read all the page links to the various plants in our Native Plant Database so you will know when and how they should be planted. To find native plant suppliers, go to Suppliers, type your town and name in the Enter Search Location box, and you will get the names, addresses, etc. of nurseries, seed companies and landscape professionals in your general area.
GRASSES
Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) - 4 to 8 ft. tall
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama) - 2 to 3 ft. tall
Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass) - 3 to 8 ft. tall
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats) - 2 to 4 ft. tall
HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower) - 2 to 5 ft. tall
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - 1 to 2 ft. tall
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - 1 to 6 ft. tall
Wedelia texana (hairy wedelia) - 1 to 3 ft. tall
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Planting of Habiturf from Smithville TX
March 25, 2012 - Are Habiturf and Thunderturf the same?
and, how late in the year can I plant Habiturf?
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Post freeze care for Texas native grasses
January 05, 2008 - Can you tell me the best post-freeze care for Tx native grasses in my garden: lindheimer muhly, gulf muhly, inland sea oats. Mexican feather grass. Do I cut them back? Burn them? Leave them alone?
T...
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Plants for seeping hillside and muddy bottom area
October 28, 2009 - We live on the north side of Lake Travis. About half acre of our property is currently planted with natives. The other half consists of a huge limestone ledge, a steep slope with little soil that seep...
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Habiturf installation after Take-All fungus
January 24, 2012 - Are other soil remedies needed (besides those listed in your Habiturf brochure) to install Habiturf on land which had a St. Augustine lawn which was decimated by take all patch.
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Grass identification books for Texas
July 17, 2010 - We live northwest of Austin, on Nameless Road. Have MANY types of native grasses--can you recommend a good book, with photos, to use in identifying? Also, what native grasses are good for attracting...
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