Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - January 18, 2011

From: Athens, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees, Wildflowers
Title: What plants grow well in Athens, TX?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Athens, Texas, we have very sandy soil mixed with clay, what plants grow well here?

ANSWER:

Mr. Smarty Plants is going to suggest three avenues to approach this question. The first is to go out and look around Athens to see what is growing well. As someone once said, " You can see a lot by just looking around." Some of the plants that you see may not be familiar to you, so to get help with the names of plants, visit the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society there in Athens. You could also get information from the Native Plant Society of Texas. This link has contact information for the chapters located in East Texas as well as the whole state.

Another avenue is to check out our Native Plant Database. At this time, it is not searchable by soil type, but if you look in the Combination Search box, you see that the categories include general appearance, lifespan, light requirement, and soil moisture as well as bloom characteristics. By selecting "view the Recommended Species page" and clicking on East Texas, you will get a list of 133 commercially available native plant species suitable for planned landscapes in East Texas. Clicking on the name of each plant will pull up its NPIN page which contains information about the plant's characteristics and growth requirement along with images.

Hopefully this will introduce you to some plant friends in Athens.

 

 

 

 

 

More Shrubs Questions

Low-maintenance native plants for Arizona
March 12, 2009 - Will you please suggest some Native plants that can be left without care for the summer and survive - other than cactus?
view the full question and answer

Roses or other flowering plants for Coleman, Texas
March 10, 2009 - I want to plant native roses at a country home in Coleman Co., southern exposure, with well water, drip system,but ,hot, dry & windy! I know the Mutabilis does well in Austin, but, is it suitable for...
view the full question and answer

Need some help with my Mexican Bush Sage in Rockport, TX.
July 07, 2011 - My Mexican bush sage looks leggy,ratty and sparse. It's planted in full sun and was cut back to the ground in early spring. My soil is sand and I've watered it sparingly as we've had no rain. I'm...
view the full question and answer

Yellowing leaves on yaupon in Ft. Worth
April 23, 2009 - I planted a Pride of Houston Yaupon Holly in January in full sun. It is blooming little white flowers right now for spring, but a lot of leaves are turning yellow. Do you know what is causing this? ...
view the full question and answer

Plants for erosion control in Pittsburgh, PA
August 22, 2009 - I have a terraced high side lot(front of house). I currently have Yuccas growing, but they are too invasive. Can you suggest plants, shrubs, or ground covers that are not as invasive and will still ...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.