Native Plants

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Sunday - February 12, 2012

From: Galveston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Lists, Drought Tolerant, Grasses or Grass-like, Wildflowers
Title: Native Plants for Galveston
Answered by: Brigid & Larry Larson

QUESTION:

I'm looking for low maintenance, drought tolerant plants for Galveston, on the bay side, in a well drained area with morning sun. I was thinking of Phlox, Muhly grass, Lantana.....and I am looking for suggestions. Thank you.

ANSWER:

Your area is a great area for native plants! The set of plants that you are thinking of will do well. I would only add that you should look for the specific native species that are well adapted to your area. From comparing your list with ours, I found Phlox drummondii (Annual phlox), Phlox glabriflora (Rio grande phlox), Muhlenbergia capillaris (Gulf muhly), and Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana).

When I search for suggestions, I like to use the Recommended Species page on the Wildflower Center website. There is a specific collection that covers Galveston, the Gulf Marshes & Prairies collection. This is a big list! It appears that many of the Texas natives like Galveston also. Three that I found that you might want to consider are Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena), Sisyrinchium langloisii (Roadside blue-eyed grass) and Salvia azurea (Pitcher sage). Of course, your preferences may differ!

Finally, I also checked previous Mr Smarty Plants questions. Have you considered a Wildlife Garden? That question was asked last summer and contains another good list of plant suggestions.

Hope this gives you a little to think about! Enjoy your planting.