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
2 ratings

Monday - November 23, 2009

From: Cedar Creek, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: What happens to wildflower seeds planted before a heavy rain in Cedar Creek TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

I planted tx wildflower seeds yesterday--November 19th. It has rained all day with water standing in the places that I planted. Do you think that they will take? Am I going to have to plant more seeds? I sure hope not!

ANSWER:

Well, let's think this through. Generally, we recommend that wildflower seeds be planted at about the time the plants would be dropping their seeds in the ordinary chain of events. That usually is earlier than this, maybe mid-October. But who would think we would ever get the kind of rain we have been getting in Central Texas the last couple weeks? Or the kind of heat and drought we have had the last couple years? So, we're thinking that any seeds on the ground when that rain hit would be happy seeds, able to sprout right away instead of having to lie low for maybe years until it rained again. If you raked your seeds in as is instructed on seed packets, they may not have even moved. If they were just lying on the ground, they might have washed a little way off from where you intended they come up, but when they start seeding themselves, they are going to go where they wish and where they find optimum conditions anyway. Because of finally getting some Fall rains, we are expecting a nice crop of wildflowers in the Spring. Texas wildflower seeds are generally prepared to wait for better days and come up when the conditions are good. We think a lot of your seeds will germinate and you will begin to see the baby plants by the end of the year, while the rest wait and come up another year, along with the seeds from the ones you just planted. If you are a belt and suspenders person, you can always plant some more seeds, but we don't think it's going to be necessary in order for you to have a stand of beautiful Texas wildflowers.

 

 

More Wildflowers Questions

Native Texas Plants for SC
June 22, 2015 - I just visited your beautiful facility for the first time and loved it! I'm planning to move to Charleston, SC and would love to replicate some of the wildflower and walkway areas I saw. Would the fo...
view the full question and answer

Culture and location of native Stachys coccinea
May 10, 2006 - What are the soil, light, and water requirements for Texas betony (Stachys coccinea) and in what area(s) of Texas does it naturally occur?
view the full question and answer

Bluebonnets Emerging in December
December 21, 2014 - Bluebonnets Emerging in December. We've seen bluebonnets emerging all over our property in the last two weeks. I don't ever remember seeing them come up this early. What will be the impact on t...
view the full question and answer

Hardiness of bluebonnet seeds under water and white bluebonnets
April 30, 2007 - I was trying to find out more about the hardiness of bluebonnets. We own a lot on Lake Travis near Spicewood Texas. As you are probably aware, the lake was very low this spring due to a drought that ...
view the full question and answer

Where and when bloom; will they bloom in artificial light
November 06, 2005 - Do wildflowers grow through out the world, even in desert and Arctic regions? When do they bloom? Will they bloom in artificial light? What is the most interesting fact about wildflowers?
view the full question and answer

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