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 14, 2012
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Container Gardens, Cacti and Succulents, Shrubs
Title: Plants for big pots by pool in Austin
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Could you please suggest some plants to put in big pots out by my pool? They will get lots of heat and sun. Thanks.ANSWER:
I'm not sure how big "big" is. Are the pots 10 gallon pots, 50 gallon pots, 100 gallon pots? It is important that you match the size of the pot to the size of the plant you want to grow in it. You should read our How-to Article, CONTAINER GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS, for important advice on growing plants in containers. I also suggest that you read the answer to a previous question about plants for a 100-gallon pot by pool in Ft. Worth. Not only will the plants for your pots need to survive the heat and the sun in the summertime, but they will also need to withstand the winter cold temperatures. With these cautions in mind, here are several plants of various sizes that should fill the bill:
Hesperaloe parviflora (Red yucca) is evergreen and both heat and cold tolerant. The flower stalks are 5 feet tall.
Nolina texana (Texas sacahuista) is evergreen and both heat and cold tolerant. It is 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall.
Sabal minor (Dwarf palmetto) is evergreen and both heat and cold tolerant. It can grow 6 to 10 feet tall.
Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita) is a smaller (1 to 2 feet) evergreen plant that is very drought-tolerant.
Dasylirion texanum (Texas sotol) is evergreen and both heat and cold tolerant. It is 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall for leaf structure and the flower stalk can be 9 to 15 feet tall.
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) is evergreen and grows to 5 feet.
From the Image Gallery
More Container Gardens Questions
Container plants for deck in Maine
May 18, 2009 - I live on the ocean in Maine. Fourth floor deck. I want to plant containers and boxes with annuals that can withstand a lot of wind. We get mostly sun but some shade as well. Of course, there is the s...
view the full question and answer
Why do the leaves of my potted Esperanza plant look droopy?
August 13, 2009 - My Esperanza plant leaves look droopy. I have it in a big pot and have for 3 years.
view the full question and answer
Livestock Watering Tanks Used for Container Gardening at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
September 17, 2011 - We would like to use livestock watering tanks like the ones use the the Wildflower Center for plantings in our backyard in Plano, Texas. We have found some to purchase in McKinney, Texas. What do we n...
view the full question and answer
Huisaches in pots from Houston TX
May 20, 2012 - I have special (and probably weird) affinity to huisaches (acacia farnesiana). As a child I used to admire the three that elegantly guarded our backyard looking almost like fingers reaching for the s...
view the full question and answer
Making Ruellia nudiflora thicker in pot from Tucson AZ
June 25, 2012 - Can Ruellia Nudiflora be propagated in the same pot as the parent plant?
Can it be cut back to stimulate a denser plant?
I have plants in several pots and would like to 'thicken' the plant.
Tha...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |