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_43.gif)
Wednesday - May 13, 2009
From: Katy, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Herbs/Forbs
Title: Native plants for border in Katy, TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I live in Katy, TX. I am looking for a native plant for front of the border edging (approx 10 inches).ANSWER:
We assume you're looking for a perennial, low-growing plant, perhaps a blooming plant. You didn't say if you had sun (more than 6 hours of sun a day), part shade (2 to 6 hours of sun) or shade (less than 2 hours of sun). So, we will make some suggestions, and include the growing conditions they need and you can go from there. Because at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, we are committed to the use, care and propagation of plants native not only to North America but to the area in which they are being grown, we will go to Recommended Species, click on East Texas, and search on "herbs" (herbaceous blooming plants) under Habit, and "perennial" under duration. You can use the same technique to find other plants that suit your purposes better.
Callirhoe involucrata (purple poppymallow) - evergreen to 12 inches tall, blooms white, pink, purple March to June, medium water use, sun or part shade
Glandularia bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain) - deciduous to 12 inches tall, blooms purple, violet March to October, medium water use, part shade
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies) - semi-evergreen to 18 inches tall, blooms white, pink February to July, medium water use, sun
Phlox divaricata (wild blue phlox) - evergreen, to 18 inches tall, blooms white, red, pink, purple March to May, medium water use, part shade or shade
Phlox pilosa (downy phlox) - to 18 inches tall, blooms white, pink, purple March to May, low water use, sun or part shade
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Need Native Plants for Ditch Stabilization in Texarkana, Arkansas
September 14, 2010 - I live in Texarkana, Arkansas. I have a ditch near the street in my front yard that is approximately 90-100 ft. long. It gets full sun. There is a lot of clay and rocks in the ditch. I need to fin...
view the full question and answer
Ground cover for shade from Atlanta GA
May 28, 2012 - I am looking for recommendations for a ground cover. I live in the Atlanta, Georgia area and have a large shady slope on which I would like to use low maintenance/water native ground cover. What wou...
view the full question and answer
Flowering native perennials for St. Louis
August 09, 2007 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I'm trying to landscape a yard that sits on rocky clay soil in St. Louis, MO. The front yard has been difficult because of its brutal southern exposure - the afternoon sun ...
view the full question and answer
Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana
November 29, 2013 - What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South?
view the full question and answer
Cutting back of non-native Salvia Elegans in Portland OR
December 31, 2011 - I did not trim back my pineapple sage in the fall. It is now winter and the plants are bare sticks. Should I cut them back or leave them alone?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |