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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Saturday - March 20, 2010
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Rain Gardens
Title: Rain garden plants for Austin
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
I have a 7'x1' shaded area in between my house and sidewalk where the downspout is, and would like to add plants for a more eco-friendly drainage solution. Which plants would be best? I know that they would need to be able to handle the occasional flood but also need to be drought tolerant. Help please.ANSWER:
You have the right idea, looking for plants that can tolerate both saturated soil and drought conditions.
The situation you are describing is considered to be a "rain garden" or "bioswale" which is an imaginative, attractive and functional method for slowing down stormwater to facilitate water infiltration into the soil, which in turn reduces pollution and erosion.
Because of the increased interest all over the country in this type of garden, we Green Gurus are in the process of compiling a Special Collection of Rain Garden plants, but it is not ready yet. In the meantime, if you visit our Native Plant Database and search our Recommended Species lists for Central Texas selecting both wet and dry conditions (and shade to part shade), it will yeild 78 species. You must then sort through them to see which plants will tolerate both extremes.
You will also find information and plant lists on the Texas A&M website that should be helpful (although not all their suggested plants are natives ... some are adapted aliens).
Here are a few favourites from our list. If you click on the link it will take you to the plant information page for a detailed description. There are also shrubs and trees that are suitable for those conditions that would be too large for your site.
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama)
Cooperia drummondii (evening rainlily)
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)
Gaillardia suavis (perfumeballs)
Ipomopsis rubra (standing-cypress)
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (wax mallow)
Melica nitens (threeflower melicgrass)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Passiflora incarnata (purple passionflower)
Panicum virgatum (switchgrass)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
More Rain Gardens Questions
Need suggestions for plants for bioswales in Philadelphia, PA
August 24, 2015 - Hello,
Are there a handful of species you would recommend for inclusion in bioswales throughout the US? I realize plants need to be selected based on climate, but I'm wondering if there are two or...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a bioswale or rain garden
January 06, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
What plants do you recommend for a bioswale or rain garden in Austin, Texas?
view the full question and answer
Bioswale for Indianapolis
September 13, 2009 - The city of Indianapolis has a very historic Central Canal, which was built in the 1830s. Due to erosion, the parent company of Indianapolis Water, Veolia, has proposed covering the banks with a type ...
view the full question and answer
Growing Texas star hibiscus in Central Texas
August 11, 2014 - Hi there,
I purchased a beautiful Texas Star Hibiscus that I want to plant in my yard. Unfortunately, my yard being in Travis Heights, I hit a lot of caliche when digging. To plant some other nativ...
view the full question and answer
Looking for native plants for a rain garden in Arlington, TX.
March 12, 2012 - I am looking for native Texas plants that would do well in rain gardens. Do you have any suggestions?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |