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)
Monday - May 14, 2007
From: Sonora, CA
Region: California
Topic: Groundcovers, Ferns, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Understory plants for Tuolumne Co., CA
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My driveway is lined with purple plum trees. I would like to grow something underneath them. What can I grow that will not harm the root system/health of the trees?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants isn't sure whether you want a groundcover, wildflowers or shrubs; but here are a variety of plants that are native to Tuolumne County California, should work well in your area and should not harm your plum trees. The only harm that could come to your plums by planting beneath them is the actual act of digging the holes which will disturb the roots. Try not to cut major roots (those thicker than your thumb) in the process of underplanting your trees.
Grasses
Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue)
Ferns
Pellaea mucronata (birdfoot cliffbrake) or Polystichum imbricans (narrowleaf swordfern)
Groundcover Plants (<1 ft.)
Fragaria vesca (woodland strawberry) or Fragaria virginiana (Virginia strawberry)
Dudleya cymosa (canyon liveforever)
Sedum lanceolatum (spearleaf stonecrop)
Eriogonum ovalifolium (cushion buckwheat)
Perennials (>1 ft.)
Eriogonum umbellatum (sulphur-flower buckwheat) or Eriogonum wrightii (bastardsage)
Lupinus albifrons (silver lupine), Lupinus bicolor (miniature lupine), Lupinus grayi (Sierra lupine) or Lupinus latifolius (broadleaf lupine)
Penstemon davidsonii (Davidson's penstemon), Penstemon newberryi (mountain pride) or Penstemon rostriflorus (Bridge penstemon)
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Non-native daylilies for steep hill in Manassas VA
April 25, 2013 - Would like to plant steep hill w perennial flowering plants like daylily. The daylily farm said this would work great but not sure if we should lay landscaping fabric and poke through holes to plant ...
view the full question and answer
Is Canna glauca invasive?
June 10, 2015 - How aggressive is Canna glauca? I'm interested in planting one near a gutter downspout, but I'm afraid it will crowd out groundcovers (heartleaf skullcap and fall obedient plant) in the two location...
view the full question and answer
Native plants for morning sun in Pembroke MA
October 07, 2009 - Could you please suggest native groundcover,plants/shrubs/grasses for eastern facing slope which gets morning sun? It is my front yard which slopes down toward driveway so it would be a major focal po...
view the full question and answer
Optimum planting time for perennials and trees
November 02, 2007 - Our group is running out of fall workdays. Is it OK to plant native perennials and small trees in Central Texas during the winter months? Or should we wait now until the spring?
view the full question and answer
What are the grey-green plants on oak trees in San Marcos, TX?
March 12, 2011 - The oak trees in the neighborhood in San Marcos, TX, are covered with clumps, or balls, of gray/green fluffy-looking plants. they remind me of bromeliads. You can pull and knock them off; after wind ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |