Native Plants
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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.
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Wednesday - September 16, 2009
From: Denton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Small shrubs for flower bed in Denton, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a small flowerbed that faces south on the front of my house. What small shrubs would be best in that situation?ANSWER:
Visit our Texas-North Central Recommended list for commercially available native plants for landscapes in North Central Texas. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to limit the list by choosing 'Shrub' from the General Appearance category. You can also choose other characteristics that match your site (e.g., from Light Requirement and/or Soil Moisture). Here are a few choices from that list:Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)
Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coralberry)
Rhus aromatica (fragrant sumac) can be pruned to maintain a smaller shrub.
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Wright's desert honeysuckle)
Here is another possibility recommended in the Wasowskis' book Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region:
Dalea frutescens (black prairie clover)
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