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
Saturday - June 12, 2010
From: Springfield, KY
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Groundcovers, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for pool area in Kentucky
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We live in central Kentucky and have a backyard pool that desperately needs some landscaping. I would like plants that don't drop a lot of leaves or "trash". I'd like a list of great poolside plants, ground cover, shrubs for this area. Many thanks!ANSWER:
You can find a list of commercially available native plants suitable for landscaping on the Kentucky Recommended page. I've picked a few from that list and added a few others that would do nicely near your pool. Since I don't know the exact growing conditions at your site (e.g., available sun and moisture) you should read the GROWING CONDITIONS section on each species page to be sure that they fit those of your site.
LOW-GROWING PLANTS/GROUNDCOVERS:
Glandularia bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry)
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies)
Phyla nodiflora (turkey tangle fogfruit)
TALLER HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS:
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox)
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinalflower)
SHRUBS:
Comptonia peregrina (sweet fern)
Hypericum prolificum (shrubby St. Johnswort)
Hydrangea arborescens (wild hydrangea)
Kalmia latifolia (mountain laurel)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
How to grow milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) for monarch butterflies
March 31, 2010 - I tried and tried and tried to grow Asclepias viridis, A. asperula and even A. oenotheroides from seeds and even tubers for fourteen years! Do you have advice for growing these and other milkweed plan...
view the full question and answer
Turk's Cap not returning from Plano TX
April 02, 2014 - My Turk's Cap has shown no signs of coming back this year as of March 31. I pruned to about 12 inches because it was so bushy last year and it was not mulched thru our harsh winter (10 degree low and...
view the full question and answer
Plant Suggestions for Shady Site under Trees in Alabama
April 03, 2014 - I live in Montgomery, AL and have a bare area (20' x 5’) that's shady and soil erosion is a problem. Grass stops growing at the drip line of the trees here. Do you have any suggestions for growing s...
view the full question and answer
Annual plants for weed control in Pflugerville,TX?
September 14, 2010 - Can you suggest an annual or summer-dormant plant to mix with Dalea frutescens? The object is to discourage the spring-emerging weeds that precede the leafing out of the Dalea, so it should finish bl...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for southwest side of house in Birmingham, AL
April 18, 2009 - I would like to know what I can plant on the southwest side of my house where there is a brick foundation and is really hot in the summer. I've tried irises and day lilies-not good. Suggestions?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |