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.
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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.
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Tuesday - June 02, 2009
From: Wichita, KS
Region: Midwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Colorful shrubs for Kansas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I would like to plant some bushes or shrubs on the front side of our house which faces east. I would like them to grow 5' tall and provide beautiful color or blooms. What would be best for my location in Wichita, KS?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants suggest that you visit our Recommended Species page and select Kansas from the map or pulldown menu. This will give you a list of commercially available native plants that are suitable for landscaping in Kansas. Your can NARROW YOUR SEARCH in this list by selecting 'Shrub' under the General Appearance characteristic. Here are 5 possibilities from that list that are near the size you are seeking. The maximum height for the smooth sumac is a little higher than you want, but you should be able to keep it pruned to a more desirable size.Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo)
Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac)
Spiraea alba (white meadowsweet)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
More Shrubs Questions
Shrubs to block dust from dirt road
May 01, 2011 - I live on a dirt road in Northwest Missouri. Could you recommend a fast growing, low maintenance shrub/bush that will form a barrier to block the dust from the dirt road?
Thank you
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Rust spots on non-native red tip photinia
July 10, 2008 - I live in Oklahoma and my red tips have rust spots on leaves and some plants are losing leaves. This is a clay soil; can you give me any info. on how to solve this problem?
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September 10, 2009 - dI planted 3 Blackberry bushes and 4 Red Raspberry bushes 4 years ago. This would be the 3rd year for productivity. My Raspberry bushes are dual bearing and started producing fall of the same year we ...
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Erosion tolerant plants for shade from Kerrville TX
August 06, 2013 - We have just cleared a lot of cedar out of a small draw and would like to know the best groundcovers, shrubs, etc. to plant to hold the soil. Deep shade most of the day.
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Decreasing the Height of Smooth Sumac
December 09, 2015 - I have a 9-10 ft. Smooth Sumac that I purchased from an LJWC plant sale several years ago. It has a main trunk and one branch about halfway up. I have read that these sumacs can be pruned down to almo...
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