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
Thursday - October 03, 2013
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Lists
Title: Native plants to grow with Earth Kind roses
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I garden on Blackland Prairie clay in Dallas. I am planning an Earth Kind rose bed. I am planning to add 3" of compost and 3" of expanded shale and to mulch with 3" of organic material, as recommended in the Earth Kind program. I would like to use native Texas plants as companions to my roses; could you recommend some appropriate choices?ANSWER:
Since I don't know exactly what kind of plants you are looking for—small herbaceous plants or larger woody shrubs—I am going to suggest that you visit our Texas–North Central Recommended page to find a list of more than 100 plants native to your area that are commercially available for landscaping. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to choose the criteria you want for Light Requirement, Soil Moisture, Bloom Time, Bloom Color and Height.
Here are a few suggestions from that list that might look nice growing under your roses:
Conoclinium coelestinum (Blue mistflower) grows in sun and part shade and attracts butterflies.
Engelmannia peristenia (Engelmann's daisy) grows best in full sun.
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena) grows to less than 1 foot tall in sun and part shade.
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy) also grows to less than 1 foot tall in sun and part shade.
Oenothera macrocarpa ssp. macrocarpa (Bigfruit evening-primrose) has large yellow blossoms and grows in sun and part shade.
Salvia farinacea (Mealy blue sage) grows in the sun and blooms from April through October.
There are many more possible choices for you on the list.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Lists Questions
Ants and garden plants for Austin
November 03, 2012 - I am needy of companion plants that compliment and work well with the Lantana, Mexican Heather , and in the new beds that I am preparing where I was thinking in part to have passion flower (though is ...
view the full question and answer
New Jersey Native Plants for a Raised Bed
April 15, 2015 - I want to plant some native plants in a raised bed in New Jersey along side a stucco wall that gets direct sun and is very dry due to an overhang. Any suggestions?
view the full question and answer
Perennials for flowerbed in Texas Panhandle
October 19, 2012 - I have a flowerbed in a partially shaded area and want some perennials. I live in the Texas Panhandle, soil is sandy, loamy. Hardiness zone is 6-B.
view the full question and answer
List of native plants found in South Texas counties
August 22, 2015 - Does the LBJ Wildflower Ctr. have a place on its site where lists of native plants found in each Texas county can be accessed? I am working on a comparative database of commonly used sources (e.g., La...
view the full question and answer
Perennials in the Family Solanaceae (Potato or Nightshade Family)
August 15, 2015 - Hello,
What plants, in the Night shade (Solanaceae) family, are Perennials? Thank you!
Kristy.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |