Native Plants
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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.
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Saturday - April 25, 2009
From: NYC, NY
Region: Northeast
Topic: Container Gardens
Title: Container plants for terrace in New York City
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What flowering plants would you recommend that will grow well on a 16th floor terrace ,with all day sun in NYC?ANSWER:
As we hope you already know, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the use and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown. We will select from our Native Plant Database herbaceous blooming plants that do well in full sun and are native to New York. First, we suggest you read our How-To Article, Container Gardens with Native Plants. Next, we will go to our Recommended Species, click on New York on the map, NARROW YOUR SEARCH and select on "herbs" (herbaceous flowering plants) for habit and "sun" for Light Requirements. We consider "sun" to be 6 hours or more of sun a day, "part shade" 2 to 6 hours of sun, and "shade" Less than 2 hours of sun. We will only be choosing a few examples, and you can go back, using the same method and select others that better suit your purposes. You can use the Narrow Your Search option to select for bloom times, colors, duration (perennial or annual) and even choose different habits, like "shrub" or "vine." Follow the plant links to the webpage on the individual plant and find out the expected size, water requirements, etc.
Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms white, pink April to September
Campanula rotundifolia (bluebell bellflower) - perennial, 4 to 15 inches tall, blooms blue, purple June to September, sun to shade
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms blue, purple July through November, sun, part shade
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms blue, purple July through November, sun, part shade
Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) - perennial, 2 to 3 ft. tall, blooms blue July to October, sun to shade
Penstemon hirsutus (hairy beardtongue) - perennial, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms pink, purple June and July
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan) - annual, 1 to 3 ft. tall, blooms yellow June to October, sun to shade
Rudbeckia laciniata (cutleaf coneflower) - perennial, 3 to 6 ft. talll, blooms yellow July to October, sun to shade
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