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
Monday - May 01, 2006
From: Pflugerville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Wildlife uses of wildflowers in Central Texas
Answered by: Dean Garrett
QUESTION:
How are wildflowers in Central Texas used by wildlife?ANSWER:
Wildlife use Central Texas wildflowers in a variety of ways. Insects and hummingbirds may use the flowers for nectar, deer may consume the foliage, and some birds may eat the seeds.Here's a list of some common Central Texas wildflowers from our Native Plant Information Network. If you'll click on the Benefits link on each species page, you'll be taken to a summary of the plant's usefulness to wildlife and humans.
Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja indivisa)
Mexican Hat (Ratibida columnifera)
Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)
Horsemint (Monarda citriodora)
Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium)
Foxglove Penstemon (Penstemon cobaea)
Narrowleaf Coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia)
More Wildflowers Questions
Weeds from neighbor's yard are a problem.
May 11, 2015 - Our neighbor has let his front yard go wild. Many of these native wild plants are very invasive. How can I stop their spreading into our yard? There are too many to try & keep up with pulling them as ...
view the full question and answer
Native flowers for September wedding in Kittanning PA
October 27, 2010 - I am planting flowers for a wedding on September 17th 2010. What flowers bloom best. Looking for blues,whites and pinks.
view the full question and answer
Curling, Red Leaves on Gaura
July 18, 2013 - My gaura had most of its lower leaves turn red and then fall off. It is July now, I bought and planted it in May where it seemed to do really well growing several more inches tall and blooming nicely....
view the full question and answer
Earliest spring wildflower from Richardson TX
September 29, 2009 - What spring wildflower is consistently among the first to bloom in North Texas?"
view the full question and answer
Native flowers versus non-natives
June 30, 2014 - Native flowers versus non-natives. What guidelines do use for identification. I come across flowers in different habitats and can't identify them as natives.
Also, how do you attach a image to a ...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |