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

Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - February 23, 2005

From: Pound Ridge, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Source of Tridens flavus, purple-top grass
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Will you kindly refer me to a grower from whom I may purchase plugs of Tridens flavus, purple-top grass. for a meadow installation in zone 6.

ANSWER:

On the Wildflower Center web page you can search for plant suppliers over the United States that specialize in native plants. On the side bar choose Explore Plants, then Suppliers Directory. On that page you can choose Nurseries or Seed Companies and then search by state or region. I searched in Seed Companies in the Northeast Region and found Ernst Conservation Seeds in Meadville, Pennsylvania and in the Midwest Region I found Prairie Moon Nursery in Winona, Minnesota with seeds of purple-top for sale. I could find no place with plugs for sale, but you might search in other regions in our Seed Companies or Nurseries databases and locate someone who carries plugs.

You might also be interested in reading "Wildflower Meadow Gardening", a 2-page PDF article that you can download from our Native Plant Library.

From the Image Gallery

Purpletop tridens
Tridens flavus