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
1 rating

Thursday - April 30, 2009

From: Ashburn, VA
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Compost and Mulch, Planting, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Low maintenance replacement garden in Ashburn , VA
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We live in Ashburn, VA (Northern VA). Our house is 10 years old and the contractor grade plants have died. We are planning on digging everything up and re-doing the landscaping in our front yard - right in front of the home. We do not have green thumbs and don't have a lot of time to care for the garden due to kids. So, we would like to know which plants/shrubs are best to plant in this area. The old plants were azaleas and evergreen shrubs but the azaleas never bloomed. We would like low height shrubs and some plants that would provide color year-round, if possible. Also, is there a dwarf tree that would be good as an anchor on the end of the garden? Thanks.

ANSWER:

This is a great opportunity, since you are digging the old plants out anyway. Before you do anything else, get some compost (you can buy it in sacks at commercial nurseries), spread it over the existing soil, and then dig it in. Compost in the soil helps with drainage, assists the roots in getting nutrients from the soil that they need, and has nutrients in it, too. You almost can't put on too much. When the time comes to dig holes for your plants, it will be much easier. We will recommend plants native not only to North America but to your area. Plants that have been living in an area for millions of years will be accustomed to the climate, soil and rainfall; thus, requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance. If you are unfamiliar with the use of native plants, you might start by reading our How-To Articles Using Native Plants and A Guide to Native Plant Gardening

You didn't say what your soil is (you may not know), but, again, natives to your area will like that soil, whatever it is. You also didn't say how much sun or shade your garden area has. We consider "sun" to be 6 or more hours of sun daily, "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun, and "shade," less than 2 hours. When we list plants we are suggesting, we will detail what kind of light requirements each plant has, and you can make your decisions accordingly. We will go to our Recommended Species section, click on Virginia on the map, and from there select on "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants) under Habit. We will repeat that search on "shrubs" and "trees." You can duplicate this search, making your own selections by specifying bloom time and color, soil moisture and so forth. These plants are all commercially available, and if you have difficulty locating your selections, go to our Native Plant Suppliers section, type in your town and state in the "Enter Search Location" box and you will get a list of native plant nurseries, seed companies and landscape and environment consultants in your general area. They have contact information and maps, so you can check with them first before you make a shopping trip. Follow each plant link on our list to get more information, including (if you wish) going down to the bottom of the webpage on each individual plant to a link to Google on that plant.

Herbaceous flowering plants for Northern Virginia

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) - perennial, to 3 ft. tall, blooms white, pink April to September, medium water use, sun, part shade

Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine) - perennial to 2 ft. tall, blooms red, pink, yellow February to July,low water use, paart shade, shade

Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed) - perennial to 2-1/2 ft. tall, blooms orange, yellow May to September, low water use, sun, part shade

Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower) -perennial to 3 ft., blooms blue, purple July to November, medium water use,  sun, part shade

Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial to 2-1/2 ft., blooms yellow April to June, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower) - perennial to 6 ft., blooms red May to July, low water use, sun, part shade

Penstemon digitalis (talus slope penstemon) - perennial, 2 t 5 ft. tall, blooms white May to July, sun, part shade

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster) - perennial to 6 ft. tall, blooming pink, purple, August to October

Shrubs

Lindera benzoin (northern spicebush) - deciduous, 6 to 12 ft., blooms white, yellow in April, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Morella cerifera (wax myrtle) - evergreen, 6 to 12 ft., blooms green March and April, high water use, sun, part shade (can also be trained up to the small tree you requested)

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry) - deciduous to 4 ft., blooms white, green April to July, medium water use, part shade, shade

Viburnum prunifolium (blackhaw) - deciduous 12 to 15 feet, blooms white April to May, medium water use, part shade (another possibility for the small tree)

Small trees

Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud) -deciduous 15 to 30 ft., blooms pink March to May, low water use, part shade, shade

Chionanthus virginicus (white fringetree) - deciduous, 15 to 30 ft., blooms white April to May, high water use, part shade

Prunus americana (American plum) - deciduous to 35 ft., blooms white April, May, medium water use, sun, part shade, shade

Magnolia virginiana (sweetbay) - semi-evergreen, 12 to 20 ft. tall, blooms white April to July, high water use, part shade


Achillea millefolium

Aquilegia canadensis

Asclepias tuberosa

Conoclinium coelestinum

Coreopsis lanceolata

Lobelia cardinalis

Penstemon digitalis

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Lindera benzoin

Morella cerifera

Symphoricarpos orbiculatus

Viburnum prunifolium

Cercis canadensis

Chionanthus virginicus

Prunus americana

Magnolia virginiana

 

 

 

More Shrubs Questions

Reason for die-back of native Mahonia repens
April 01, 2008 - I have several mahonia repens plants planted on my property. This is the third spring for them and I have noticed that they look like they might be dying out. The leaves have turned brown and are cu...
view the full question and answer

Native plants with little sun and northern exposure for New York
April 26, 2006 - I live in a co-op and want to fix up the backyard. The backyard area has a west area to plant with a northern exposure and little sun and I am looking to plant something to cover the area. I would lik...
view the full question and answer

Pruning Texas Mountain Laurel
September 04, 2014 - I've had a Texas mountain laurel for 4 years that's being trained into a tree. I think it was a 3-year old tree when I purchased it. Unfortunately, it has suffered from overwatering, and the two mai...
view the full question and answer

Pride of Barbados seed for Ft. Worth TX
February 07, 2013 - When can you plant the Pride of Barbados plant seeds and how to go about it in Fort Worth Texas?
view the full question and answer

Evergreen privacy screen in California
February 18, 2015 - Hello, My family and I just bought a house in Paradise CA. I want to.plant privacy plants that are native to northern California. I would like the plant to be green all year but drought resistant if...
view the full question and answer

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