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 - March 26, 2012
From: charlotte , NC
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Planting, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Tall perennials for a sunny North Carolina border
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I need border plants for in front of a picket fence along front sidewalk. Space is only approx 1'6" wide and widening is not an option. So far I have daylilies, cannas, Mexican petunias, daisies, irises, and some spring flowering bulbs..the irises are the only ones that provide any winter interest as they don't lose the foliage. Any suggestions re other small sized plants, preferably evergreen (tall, ok, just not wide) that would look good in this space? area is mostly full sun.ANSWER:
I didn't find any truly evergreen native plants that seemed appropriate for your requirements, but there are many that are tall with a relatively small footprint. The first five do bloom in autumn, perhaps even into November and December, giving you some late color: Gentianopsis crinita (Greater fringed gentian), Liatris aspera (Tall blazing star), Liatris spicata (Dense blazing star), Phlox paniculata (Fall phlox), and a Mexican native Salvia elegans (Pineapple sage). These additional species should also do well in your area. Ipomopsis rubra (Standing cypress), Monarda fistulosa (Wild bergamot), Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed susan), Penstemon canescens (Eastern gray beardtongue), Penstemon australis (Eustis lake beardtongue),Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed), Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower), Penstemon digitalis (Mississippi penstemon), and Physostegia virginiana (Fall obedient plant). The Fall obedient plant, in particular, tends to spread quickly, but the new shoots can be easily pulled up.
You can find more possible species at the North Carolina Native Plant Society web site. A list of native plant suppliers in your area is found at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center web site.
Images of some of the plants mentioned above are shown below, courtesy of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Image Gallery.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Cutting back perennials from Austin
February 08, 2011 - When is it time to cut back native plants; salvia;copper canyon daisy; verbena, etc?
view the full question and answer
Hearty, bushy native plants for windowboxes in Abilene, TX
October 08, 2005 - I live in Abilene, Tx and am a horrible gardener. I would love to have window boxes with some sort of hearty bushy plant. Any suggestions, I'm at a total loss...? Thanks!
view the full question and answer
Native sedges for Texas
March 07, 2007 - What can you tell me about Texas Blue Sedge? What its true name and culture requirements?
view the full question and answer
Local native plant for grave marker in Washington
December 30, 2005 - Dear wildflower expert,
Our friend’s dog died, and is buried in western Washington, near the town of Monroe.
My wife is from central Texas, and thought a Texas perennial would be a nice marker.
...
view the full question and answer
Plants for hanging baskets in Austin
October 06, 2009 - Can you suggest some plants for winter hanging baskets in the Austin, TX area?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |