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
Friday - June 05, 2015
From: Leander, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Shrubs
Title: Foundation Plants for Leander, TX
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
Looking for suggestions for a narrow bed 2-3 ft. wide, 32 ft. long against my house. Full evening sun with morning shade. Considering Salvia greggii with some type of companion plants/grasses but unsure. Don't mind having something that needs to be trimmed to fit space needs. Prefer something evergreen to cover the foundation.ANSWER:
Either Gulf Muhly, Muhlenbergia capillaris, or Pine Muhly, Muhlenbergia dubia, would be good choices for grasses to plant in that bed. Dwarf yaupon, Ilex vomitoria, or one of the dwarf cultivars of Cenizo, Leucophyllum frutescens will work if you prefer to use shrubs. All of these plants can be found at many of the locally-owned nurseries in your area. Once established they will all provide yearround coverage of your foundation if spaced adequately.
More Shrubs Questions
Combining native shrubs for hedge in Austin
April 15, 2009 - Smarty,
Please tell me what the definitions are for all the various water, soil moisture, drainage and light requirements mean. Are the definitions global? I live in Central East Austin and inten...
view the full question and answer
Non-native daylilies and pachysandra in same area from New York City
April 07, 2012 - Will daylilies and pachysandra thrive if planted in the same
bed, or will they harm each other?
view the full question and answer
Plant identification and advice about moving it
March 10, 2010 - I have a plant (a thick stalk about 4 foot tall with yellow flowers on it) that blooms in the morning and the flowers fall off at night. I have searched for info on this plant and have come up short. ...
view the full question and answer
Identification of shrub looking like honeysuckle in Odessa TX
October 02, 2011 - Bought a shrub in Pecos, TX yesterday. It looks like honeysuckle but the brightest flat orange I have ever seen. Flower and greenery looked like honeysuckle but when I looked on the Internet under or...
view the full question and answer
Plant to cover retaining wall in Carlisle PA
August 01, 2010 - I have a block retaining wall in my back yard. I need to find a quick growing plant that will grow through late summer into fall and cover the wall with limited sunlight.
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |