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
Wednesday - March 03, 2010
From: Utopia, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Native grasses for Uvalde Co., Texas
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I plan on seeding a new yard in the Utopia area in central Texas with a combination of Texas native grasses (Buffalograss, Blue Grama & Curly Mesquite). When can I broadcast the seeds..how warm should it be? ThanksANSWER:
Happily, we have some How-To Articles written by people that know more about these things than we do. The best one for your purposes is Native Lawns. That article deals with all three of the grasses you are considering, and refers you to some seed sources. Please note that these are all full sun grasses (6 or more hours of sun a day), and that they will need defense from weeds (pull them out) until the grasses are well established. Follow these links to our page on each grass for more information:
Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss)
Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama)
Hilaria belangeri (curly-mesquite) - pictures from Google
Native American Seeds has an online catalog in which, under "Grass Mixes," you will find a Native Sun Turf Mix that is 66% buffalograss and 34% blue grama. Some of our webpages have information saying that curly mesquite is not yet commercially available, but in the same Native American Seeds Online Catalog, there are curly mesquite seeds available in d-paks.
From our Native Plant Image Gallery:
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Grass for Charleston SC
August 13, 2010 - Hey Mr. Smarty Plants. I live in Charleston, SC and am having trouble with my grass. What is the best wear resistant grass to plant in my area and when is the best time to plant it?
view the full question and answer
Grasses for shady areas
November 24, 2013 - I would like to know which grasses would grow in mostly shady part of the house.
view the full question and answer
Plants for a Shady Woodland in MA
June 09, 2013 - Hello, I am looking for natives to plant in full shade or part shade. My house is in the mountain woodland area of Mt. Washington, MA. I am looking for grasses, flowers and shrubs. Also I am looking f...
view the full question and answer
Replacements for yuccas from Georgetown TX
August 07, 2013 - I have lost some softleaf and variegated yucca to a beetle grub destroying the root system - like the Agave snout beetle does. I have put an insecticidal drench on my remaining plants, but suspect wi...
view the full question and answer
Creating a wildflower meadow
May 18, 2013 - I have an area 1-6 acres worth that is currently grass that I would like to overseed with wildflower seed. The local native plant nursery says that would be a waste. I don't really want to kill gra...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |
