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 - May 25, 2010
From: Plano, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers
Title: Evergreen ground covers and low plants for Dallas area
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Would like a list of low growing (24" or less) evergreen plants including ground covers, scrubs, etc-flowering and non-flowering that are hardy and require low maintenance in the Dallas area. So often plant lists tell if a plant is perennial, but not if it is evergreen! Thank you.ANSWER:
Here is a list of native low-growing evergreen plants for the Dallas area.
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy) grows 6 to 12 inches and is almost evergreen. It does go dormant in cold winters in Dallas.
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit) is evergreen in Dallas in mild winters and grows 3 to 4 inches tall.
Geum canadense (white avens) is evergreen and grows 4 to 18 inches high.
Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern) grows 1.5 to 2 feet and is evergreen.
Salvia lyrata (lyreleaf sage) grows 1 to 2 feet tall and is evergreen.
Packera obovata (roundleaf ragwort) grows 1 to 2 feet tall and is evergreen.
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge) normally grows to 6 inches and is evergreen.
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge) grows to 1 foot and here is more information.
Carex cherokeensis (Cherokee sedge) grows to 1 foot and here is more information.
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Groundcovers Questions
Groundcover for Boston MA
March 12, 2013 - We have a small back yard that gets great sun in spring before the leaves are fully back on the tall trees surrounding the perimeter, and then a lot of shade in summer. We have weird patchy grass and ...
view the full question and answer
Deer Resistant, Fast Growing Groundcover Suggestions for Georgia
April 20, 2013 - Our driveway is 1/4 mile in length and is steep on both sides (one side up one side down). It currently has grass that our contractor planted using seed when we built our house. We are unable to cut t...
view the full question and answer
Competition between Horseherb and Chickweed
July 04, 2014 - Ok, sorry I did it wrong the 1st time!? I live in Houston, and I have chickens! I also have mass amounts of Horseherb, and I want to buy some chickweed seeds and plant it for my chickens! My question ...
view the full question and answer
Plants to put between stepping stones in Virginia
June 07, 2009 - We are a public school in Northern Virginia and are looking for native plants that could be planted between heavily used stepping stones and could withstand some foot traffic (mostly in a sunny spot, ...
view the full question and answer
Groundcover for Austin yard
March 08, 2012 - My main goal is to cover my yard with a "grass" or groundcover that can handle the Texas heat, predicted long drought and some dog paw traffic (without going dormant/brown in the winter). I don't n...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |
