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
Friday - May 09, 2008
From: Winter Garden, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Container Gardens, Cacti and Succulents, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for pool area in Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growing and small with not too much height. Can you please give us some ideas? Thank youANSWER:
There are a couple of ways to find recommended plants for Florida. First, you can go to our Florida Recommended page on the Wildflower Center web site to find a list of native plants that are commercially available for landscaping in Florida. Most species have photos with the text. The second source for recommended plants for Florida is the Florida Native Plant Society. In the Florida Native Plant Society's "Natives to Grow in Orange County" list it gives the name, the form of the plant (shrub, tree, etc.) and its tolerance for wet and dry soils, tolerance for salt and usefulness for butterflies and wildlife. There are no photos accompanying this list, but you can find photos for most of the ones on the list by searching in our Native Plant Database under the scientific name.
Here are a few choices from the two lists:
Ceratiola ericoides (sand heath) is a small sub-shrub that resembles rosemary.
Phlox nivalis (trailing phlox)
Rhexia mariana (Maryland meadowbeauty)
Amsonia ciliata (fringed bluestar)
Berlandiera subacaulis (Florida greeneyes)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle). There are dwarf cultivars of this species.
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)
Rhapidophyllum hystrix (needle palm). Here is a photo and more information.
Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop)
Woodwardia areolata (netted chainfern). Here is a photo and more information.
Yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle). Here is a photo and more information.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Pictures and information on Scutellaris laterifolia, Blue Skullcap
June 19, 2006 - I am trying to find information on Scutellaria laterifolia (skullcap), of the plant family "labiatea".
Do you have any info or pictures?
Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Tropical Texas landscape from Houston
March 04, 2013 - Do you know of any public (or at least photographed) place in Texas that has been landscaped entirely with native "tropical-looking" (i.e. evergreen but NOT conifer and NOT succulent/arid) species? ...
view the full question and answer
Salvia, geum transplant shock symptoms
July 21, 2006 - I need some help. I transplanted 2 xeriscape plants and they are not doing
well. 1 is Pitcher Sage-sorry I don't know botanical name; the other is
White Avens. The've grown a lot but all the leave...
view the full question and answer
Milkweed species for Central Texas
February 11, 2015 - What milkweed should I plant in the flood plain behind my house on Brushy Creek.
view the full question and answer
Lily plants being chewed from Austin
June 20, 2013 - Something is chewing my lily plants to the ground. Any ideas what and do I stop them?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |