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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Thursday - June 18, 2015
From: Palm Springs, CA
Region: California
Topic: Pollinators, Drought Tolerant, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Pollinators for Palm Springs, CA
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
Just moved to Palm Springs, California. Hot and dry, desert region. What bee and pollinator-friendly plants would do well with full afternoon sun?ANSWER:
Boy – Did you ask the right question! The Wildflower Center has a list within its Special Collections for bees and such-like. It is the “California Pollinator Plant List” It has 21 California native plants that are recommended as highly attractive to pollinators such as native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.
As it seems just a bit too easy to just tag this list and as Palm Springs has such a desert-like climate, I also examined the USDA link, which shows where the plant is native right down to the county.
Here are a few that are listed as native to Riverside County [and thrive in a dry soil in the sun]:
Asclepias fascicularis (Mexican whorled milkweed)
Eriogonum fasciculatum (Eastern mojave buckwheat)
Eschscholzia californica (California poppy)
Helianthus annuus (Common sunflower)
From the Image Gallery
More Drought Tolerant Questions
Drought tolerant plants native to Plano, TX
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Deer resistant native plants for Eagle Scout project in Urbandale IA
April 27, 2013 - Mr. Smarty Plants, My son is planning his Eagle Scout Project doing some landscaping for the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary. The facility has asked him to use only plants native to Iowa. Can you su...
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Drought tolerant plants for MA
August 28, 2011 - We have some very very poor soil at our house on Cape Cod and are looking for plants that will take low water and sandy soil. Also we are high on a hill and quite exposed to the elements. The plot get...
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Drought-resistant ground cover for Massachusetts
July 11, 2012 - Mr Smarty Plants
I am looking for drought resistant,low maintenance ground cover for a LEED certified project in Florence MA.
Any suggestions?
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Non-native lambs ears wilting in heat from Fredericksburg TX
October 19, 2011 - 3 days ago I had professional landscaping done in an area with plants that tolerate heat & sun well. We planted 7 healthy, large lambs ear & mulched. Everything planted is doing well except the lambs ...
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