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 22, 2015
From: Driftwood, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Meadow Gardens, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Wildflowers to complement Mexican hat in Texas
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
We have 10 acres in Driftwood that has Mexican Hat pretty much everywhere that is not shaded. We are looking to add additional wildflowers to them in order to have color earlier and later in the season as well as to complement the Mexican Hats when they are in bloom. We know that Mexican Hat can push out other species so we want to be sure to select appropriate wildflowers. What do you recommend?ANSWER:
This website lists many wildflower species that grow in your area. I specifically suggest the following that will bloom before Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat): Castilleja purpurea var. lindheimeri (Lindheimer's paintbrush), Lupinus texensis (Texas bluebonnet), and Gaillardia pulchella (Firewheel) will shade out and help to prevent overgrowth of Mexican hat. The following species mature and bloom at the same time or later than Mexican hat: Monarda citriodora (Lemon beebalm), Coreopsis lanceolata (Lanceleaf coreopsis), Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains coreopsis) and Achillea millefolium (Common yarrow). All of these plants are robust and can hold their own with Mexican hat.
Mexican hat is a perennial. If you have too many of these in certain areas you may hoe up or plow to remove most of them. Then seed the plot with an annual such as Bluebonnet or Firewheel and these should take over.
This section of our website gives tips in starting a meadow garden. Wildflower seeds can be obtained from one of your local plant nurseries or from mail-order houses. I particularly recommend Native American Seed as a source of seed by mail. This is the time to plant wildflower seeds to bloom next spring. They will germinate with fall rains and grow slowly as rosettes over the winter before bolting in warmer spring weather.
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Deer resistant plants for area under grand fir (Abies grandis) in Idaho
July 08, 2010 - What can I plant on a slope under Grand Fir trees in North Idaho, zone 4 - anything deer resistant?
view the full question and answer
Plants for attracting butterflies in Austin
April 28, 2012 - My 9 year-old son is interested in finding butterfly eggs this Spring. His 3rd grade class is studying butterflies right now. I found a Wildflower Center article that lists several plants butterflie...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a mixed border in Houston
February 22, 2010 - I live in Houston and have a flowerbed I'd like to fill with plants that will look good year-round. The back is already lined with 6-foot shrubs so nothing like that. I'd like something with colorf...
view the full question and answer
Goldsturm Rudbeckia Stunted and Doesn't Bloom
April 16, 2015 - I have Goldsturm Rudbeckia that never flowers nor gets taller than 4 inches. Meanwhile, my phlox does fantastic in the same area. This area is sand top dressed with black dirt. Please help! Goldst...
view the full question and answer
Plants for hanging baskets in Austin
October 06, 2009 - Can you suggest some plants for winter hanging baskets in the Austin, TX area?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |