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 - August 03, 2010
From: Abington, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Herbs/Forbs
Title: Perennial for cemetery plot in Massachusetts
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What perennial would work well in a cemetery plot that has very dry sun?ANSWER:
First, you should check with the authorities that own or manage the cemetery to be sure what, if anything, you can plant. Then, if they do allow plants, it would be a good idea to read this page and see what can happen with plants that flourish and obscure the gravestone and spread to other graves. Now, after you've checked out these sources, here are a few suggestions for native plants for your gravesite in the sun in Massachusetts:
Herbaceous perennials
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Coreopsis lanceolata (lanceleaf tickseed)
Lupinus perennis (sundial lupine)
Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
Small Shrubs
Ceanothus herbaceus (Jersey tea)
Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda (shrubby cinquefoil)
Here are photos from our Image Gallery:
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
What is blooming in NJ in Late November?
November 27, 2015 - I am a beekeeper in Edison, NJ. My bees are still bringing pollen even this late in the season (Thanksgiving). What plants or trees are still blooming? The color of the pollen is a pale yellow.
view the full question and answer
Plants for shade, poor soil in Park Ridge NJ
June 17, 2010 - Hello! I live in far northeast New Jersey, by the New York state border. I am looking for plants for areas of my lawn that nothing currently grows in - due to shade and poor soil quality - very rocky,...
view the full question and answer
Butterflies attracted by Pink Evening Primrose from Burnet TX
July 30, 2012 - I see information on Pink Evening Primrose that says it attracts 'many butterflies'
Please tell me which butterflies and name them? I've looked everywhere and am just exhausted and frustrated with...
view the full question and answer
Drooping leaves on iris in Phenix City, AL
May 02, 2009 - I had a bed FULL of iris rhizomes so I thinned them out and made two beds. They flowered perfectly but some of the flower stalks and some of the leaves began drooping over. The flowering is over. The ...
view the full question and answer
Area under live oaks from Austin
October 08, 2012 - We have many live oaks in our mostly shaded half acre. While I have tried to plant mostly native plants, often beneath them, the plants are showered with leathery leaves, acorns and sap, while oak sp...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |
