Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Wednesday - April 15, 2015

From: Glen Rose, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: Native Wildflowers and Grasses for Texas Acreage
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I recently purchased about 36 acres in Somervell County, Texas where cedar had been bulldozed and burned (many large spots). What would be the best native flowers or grasses to replant in that area? Land is recreational and not for grazing or farming. We would need something drought resistant.

ANSWER:

The best place to start your research is on the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database.  This will give you a large group of plants to start your list. Put in the following search criteria: State = Texas, habit = grass & grass-like, duration = perennial, light requirement = full sun, soil moisture = dry. This search will reveal over 60 native plants.  Next do the same search using habit = herb. Now there are an additional 197 native plants to consider.

To narrow down the large list to native plants that grow well in your region, contact the Prairie Rose Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas. They hold regular meetings the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm at the Somervell County Citizens Center, 209 SW Barnard in Glen Rose.

Another option is to contact the Somervell County Master Gardeners and ask to be connected with a member that grows native plants. Zack Davis is the Extension Agent for Somvervell County. ·  Zach Davis, CEA Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Service 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose, TX 76043 email, [email protected]

Phone: 254-897-2809

 

From the Image Gallery


Hedgehog pricklypoppy
Argemone squarrosa

Antelope-horns
Asclepias asperula

Butterflyweed
Asclepias tuberosa

Winecup
Callirhoe involucrata

Lindheimer's paintbrush
Castilleja purpurea var. lindheimeri

Lanceleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata

Eastern purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Engelmann's daisy
Engelmannia peristenia

Prairie verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida

Texas gayfeather
Liatris punctata var. mucronata

Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

Lindheimer's muhly
Muhlenbergia lindheimeri

More Wildflowers Questions

More on bluebonnets
April 06, 2007 - What role did Mrs. Johnson play in preserving the bluebonnet, our state flower?
view the full question and answer

Raising bluebonnets in Stanford CA
January 17, 2011 - I'm a Houston girl now living in Northern California (Stanford). I would like to know if I need to adjust my growing timing for lupinus texensis? Mostly, I want to know when I should actually put th...
view the full question and answer

Need information about broadcasting wildflower seeds in a pasture 70 miles east of Dallas, TX.
April 20, 2011 - We recently moved to upper east TX - 70 miles East of Dallas. I would like to broadcast wildflowers in our pasture. I'm assuming I'll need to wait until next fall, but not sure about that. Can you t...
view the full question and answer

Viability and storage of bluebonnet seeds past "use by" date
April 26, 2006 - I have several packets of Bluebonnet seeds and wildflower seeds which have "packed for 2006 use by 3/07". My questions: 1) will these seeds be good for the 2007 growing season?; 2) how should I ...
view the full question and answer

Plants for slopes in South Texas
October 05, 2009 - Can you provide a list of plants for use on slopes in S. Texas?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.