Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Sunday - May 18, 2014
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Container Gardens, Cacti and Succulents, Ferns, Wildflowers
Title: Hanging plants for Austin, TX
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
I'm looking for a hanging potted flower suggestion for Austin. Most locations are shaded under a large tree, but some locations may have several hours of afternoon sun. I'd love to see some hummingbirds and/or butterflies enjoying these flowers. Kindest regardsANSWER:
You seem to have walked into a really popular topic! To start with, we suggest you read two of our How-To Articles: A Guide to Native Plant Gardening and Container Gardening with Native Plants. I went tripping through the Mr Smart Plants archives and found advice for wedding plants, for hanging plants, for the sun and for the shade! Here’s the whole list of them, but I’ll go ahead and summarize following this list.
Growing Texas wildflowers indoors for a March wedding from Austin
Living blooming plants for November wedding in Austin
Suitable container plants for Austin
Native plants for container gardens in Central Texas
Hanging container for west-facing house in Austin TX
Plants for hanging flower boxes from Austin
Container plants for part shade in Bee Cave TX
Texas native shade plants for metal troughs in Austin
Container plants for shade in Austin
Container plant for shade in Austin
Native plants for small pots in sun in Austin
Plants for big pots by pool in Austin
There are many recommendations above, it seems almost any native can be successfully grown in captivity – but here are some of the ones mentioned most frequently for the applications you mentioned:
Flowers: Salvia coccinea (Scarlet sage), Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis), Aquilegia canadensis (Eastern red columbine), Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita), Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot daisy)
Cactus: Coryphantha echinus (Rhinoceros cactus), Coryphantha sulcata (Nipple cactus), Echinocereus coccineus var. coccineus (Scarlet hedgehog cactus)
Sun: Salvia greggii (Autumn sage), Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena), Pavonia lasiopetala (Rock rose), Conoclinium coelestinum (Blue mistflower), Capsicum annuum (Chile pequin)
Shade[ferns]: Dryopteris ludoviciana (Southern woodfern), Osmunda cinnamomea (Cinnamon fern), Polystichum acrostichoides (Christmas fern
From the Image Gallery
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
Century plant leaves yellowing from Magnolia TX
July 04, 2013 - The leaves on my large Agave/Century plant are turning yellow. The bottom leaves, touching the ground are dying. Plant is 5.5" tall, 6" across & approx 10 yrs old. Recently we put red mulch around t...
view the full question and answer
Lesions on Agave Leaves in Spring Branch, Texas
January 14, 2011 - I have a giant Agave americana that was beautiful until recently. Several of the leaves have lesions, some of them quite drastic, on the last third of the leaf. What is causing this?
view the full question and answer
Will a cut back yucca grow back in Lockbourne OH?
October 28, 2009 - I live in Ohio and recently I cut back all my plants to prepare for winter. I am wondering if my Yuccas will grow back. I cut them to ground level so only a little bit of the leaf is showing. I was...
view the full question and answer
Dead leaves on yucca in Georgetown TX
October 18, 2010 - We have 2 6ft and 3 smaller soft leaf yuccas out back in a kidney shaped area with a wax myrtle and a mountain laurel. The yuccas have done great but now two of them have a large number of dead leaves...
view the full question and answer
Native plants of Taos and Los Alamos NM from Houston
April 07, 2012 - Hi, Mr. Smarty Plants, can you recommend a guidebook for the native plants of the Taos/Los Alamos region? (I'm most interested in forbs.) I'll be headed there in May--is there anything I should es...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |