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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - February 04, 2009
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Wildflower mix for East Texas
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Hello! My boss is interested in planting a wild flower mix along his county road and the road that leads to his house. They live in between Athens and Palestine and have sandy loam soil .. which flowers would you recommend?ANSWER:
The first thing that we would recommend is that this planting not take place until late Fall. The best practice on seeding is to do it when the flowers do it; that is, when they have finished blooming and made and scattered their seeds, which in Texas is in the Fall. Hopefully, there will be Fall rains, the seeds will get some cold stratification from the Winter weather, and in early Spring will be ready to start popping up. Properly done, this process will be self-perpetuating. Not all the seeds will germinate the first year, some will wait for prime conditions for one, two or more years. In addition, the ones that do come up will do their own seed creating, and the area will become rich in Texas wildflowers.
Rather than make individual flower recommendations, let us refer you to some experts in Texas wildflower mixes, Native American Seed in Junction, Texas. They have an online catalog and do mail order. Each mix will detail the plants included and you can look them up in our Native Plant Database. We looked at some mixes and here are some of our favorites for your project.
Lady Bird's Legacy Wildflower Mix
Caddo Mix - great for East Texas
Hummers and Singers - attract the birds
Here are some of the selections from the Caddo Mix, follow the link to the database and find out more about the plant. You can, of course, add other plants by purchasing individual packets of seeds.
Dracopis amplexicaulis (clasping coneflower)
Monarda citriodora (lemon beebalm)
Gaillardia aristata (common gaillardia)
Chamaecrista fasciculata (partridge pea)
Coreopsis tinctoria (golden tickseed)
Rudbeckia fulgida (orange coneflower)
Phlox drummondii (annual phlox)
Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois bundleflower)
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies)
Physostegia intermedia (slender false dragonhead)
Aphanostephus skirrhobasis (Arkansas dozedaisy)
More Wildflowers Questions
Wildflowers for Murphy NC Clay
August 24, 2012 - I live on a ridge in Murphy NC. The property has trees so most of the land is in partial shade. The soil is good 'ole mountain red clay. I have some steep bankings in front of the house that I wou...
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants wildflower gardens
January 08, 2004 - I want to plant a wildflower garden but I live in NC And I want My garden to be in bloom all year what types of wildflowers will stay in bloom all year and do I have to import them?
view the full question and answer
Information about the bluebonnet
October 03, 2008 - What other plants live near a bluebonnet?
What problems does the plant face, such as people, weather, and insects?
view the full question and answer
Blooming time in Austin for wildflowers
March 12, 2007 - Hi Mr. Smarty Pants!! I am a wildflower artist coming for my first spring visit to Austin to exhibit in the Artisan's Festival. As a wildflower fanatic, I am hoping to see and photograph some of "...
view the full question and answer
Planting for wildlife in Union County, New Jersey.
September 23, 2010 - I would like to get rid of my front lawn, which is small, and replace with wildflowers or something that bees, birds, butterflies would like. Live in Union County, New Jersey, which is central-north....
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |