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 - February 28, 2006
From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Plants for winter color in native wildflower meadow backyard
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
I am establishing a wildflower meadow in my backyard (150'x50'). it will have native Texas wildflowers, Buffalo Grass and Blue Gramma grass. Is there any plant that you can recommend for winter interest amongst the 'resting' wildflowers and grasses? Thanks very much!ANSWER:
There aren't too many things that bloom in the wintertime, but you might try some of the windflowers, such as Ten-petaled anemone (Anemone berlandieri). They often pop up in February after a winter rainy spell. Other possibilities are Four-nerve daisy (Tetraneuris scaposa) and Greenthread (Thelesperma filifolium), both of which can be found blooming in February. In some years I have seen Prairie verbena (Glandularia bipinnatifida) blooming in December, January and February, as well. You could also add a few Twisted-leaf yucca (Yucca rupicola) or Coral yucca Hesperaloe parviflora) to your meadow. Their foliage is always interesting to see.More Wildflowers Questions
Collecting native plants of Texas
March 06, 2009 - Where can I find native plants of Texas to collect? I am doing a project and I need native Texan flowers here in Austin or around here.
view the full question and answer
Butterfly Plants for Chicago
September 13, 2014 - I live near Chicago, IL and am interested in planting a butterfly garden. Not sure when to start, but I want all native plants that would attract butterflies. Can you please let me know which plants ...
view the full question and answer
What about the Bluebonnets at Muleshoe Bend Recreational Area in Spicewood, TX ?
April 27, 2015 - We had heard about vast field of bluebonnets out at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area - an LCRA park in Spicewood. We went out today and there are indeed vast fields . . . all where Lake Travis would be ...
view the full question and answer
Should I thin my bluebonnet seedlings in Austin, TX
October 20, 2009 - It is October, and we have hundreds, maybe thousands, of bluebonnets sprouting at Eilers Park. The seeds are from plants we installed last year. They look like they should be thinned. Should we thin t...
view the full question and answer
A bounty of options for planting natives in Hockley Texas
April 21, 2011 - I have about 1 acre of land in Hockley Texas, outside Houston, that we had cleared of shrubs and poison ivy. We kept the trees so there are some areas with mostly shade and some areas with partial su...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |