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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - December 29, 2009
From: Lake Charles, LA
Region: Southeast
Topic: Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for southwest Louisiana courtyard
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Hi, I live in southwest Louisiana,very close to Texas. I would like to remove the grass in my townhome backyard (east sun exposure) and create a courtyard by adding pavers. However I am planning on keeping a few areas unpaved. I am looking for plants requiring low/no maintenance, having vertical roots, resistant to the humid heat and finally having a little bit of volume, airy. Thanks.ANSWER:
First of all, I'm not sure what size/type plants you are looking for—shrubs? trees? herbaceous perennials? grasses?—so, I am suggesting several plants of various sizes that grow in Calcasieu Parish.
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle). This shrub/small tree survives well under many conditions and there are dwarf varieties available.
Asplenium platyneuron (ebony spleenwort)
Iris brevicaulis (zigzag iris)
Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire)
Sambucus nigra ssp. canadensis (common elderberry)
Cercis canadensis (eastern redbud)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Muhlenbergia capillaris (hairawn muhly)
If none of these strikes your fancy, you can find a list of Recommended Louisiana species to choose from on our Recommended Species page.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Propagation of Chandler's craglily from San Marcos TX
December 16, 2012 - Can you please advise me on collecting and propagating seed from Chandler’s craglily -Echeandia chandleri. I have 2 plants that came from the wildflower center. They never seem to multiply, but they d...
view the full question and answer
Fiber and dye plants at the Wildflower Center from Round Rock TX
May 24, 2012 - When I visited the Wildflower Center recently I noticed a garden labeled as containing fiber and dye plants, but the individual plants and their uses were not all labeled. I would be very interested ...
view the full question and answer
Trimming of Flame acanthus from Bastrop TX
February 17, 2012 - My flame acanthus never lost leaves off the bottom tier of branches this winter. With the brief warm weather and rain we've had, the top and middle tier of branches have all re-leafed. It is very l...
view the full question and answer
California plants poisonous to dogs from Sacramento
July 01, 2012 - Found dodonea viscosa purple. Is it poisonous to dogs? Also Gold Star Potentilla.
Going drought tolerant and need small trees, shrubs and plants not poisonous to dogs for sun and partial sun.
view the full question and answer
Ground cover that won't hide snakes from Asheville NC
June 29, 2012 - I have an unusual situation: several bare areas in an otherwise wooded area, which receive partial sun, and are not near water -- it rains here frequently, but the soil can become quite dry at times.
...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |