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)
Sunday - May 04, 2014
From: San Antonio, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs, Vines
Title: Evergreen vine for wall and long-blooming shrubs in San Antonio TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What is a good native vine that stays green all year to plant along a rock courtyard wall? Also what are native bushes that flower for the longest period of time? Thanks.ANSWER:
We will go to our Recommended Species section, click on Central Texas (on the map) to get this list of native plants recommended for Central Texas. Using the selection list on the left hand side of that page, we will select on "Vine" for HABIT. This selection list has no provision for choosing "evergreen" and you did not mention what amounts of sunlight are available where you want to plant the vines, so those two specifications you will have to learn by following each plant link to our webpage on that plant for information. We will use the same procedure for finding "shrub" under HABIT, again without knowing the sunlight available and looking at each selected shrub to see how long it blooms. You did not mentiion if you wanted evergreen shrubs, but more shrubs tend to be evergreen than do vines.
Evergreen vines for San Antonio: exactly one - Lonicera sempervirens (Coral honeysuckle). There were 11 on the list of vines, but all the rest are deciduous.
Long-blooming shrubs for San Antonio: 28 on the list; for "long-blooming," we chose only those that were shown to bloom 5 months or more, of which there were 9
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Flame acanthus) - blooms June to October
Chrysactinia mexicana (Damianita) - April to September
Erythrina herbacea (Coralbean) - March to November
Eysenhardtia texana (Texas kidneywood) - May to October
Lantana urticoides (Texas lantana) - April to October
Leucophyllum frutescens (Cenizo) - January to December, depending on rainfall
Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii (Turk's cap or turkscap) - May to November
Pavonia lasiopetala (Rock rose) - April to November
Salvia greggii (Autumn sage) - March to November
From the Image Gallery
More Shrubs Questions
Picture in newspaper from Austin
June 02, 2012 - Your gardening story for the Jan 21,2012 in the Austin American Statesman pictured a pale green bush with purple flowers, however the plant was not identified. Can you tell me what it is?
Thanks
view the full question and answer
Need plants to replace cedars on a 40 degree slope in Boerne, TX.
August 28, 2012 - My backyard is a roughly 40 degree slope that is covered with cedars. The slope is basically all rock, what can I grow here to replace the cedar which drink too much water. I would still like the area...
view the full question and answer
Shade tolerant plants for privacy from Larchmont NY
April 19, 2014 - Love your site! We have a 4'x4'x50' stone wall, full sun, with a planting bed 30"H by 24"D. We're looking for privacy, so a hedge with pruning is needed. We have looked at Ilex Crenata (8'),...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a Shaded Slope in Philadelphia
April 17, 2015 - I have a small slope along the North side of my house in a suburb of Philadelphia. A small maple tree grows there but most of it gets no sun at all (a large segment is under the tree). I had the soil ...
view the full question and answer
Salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas
September 16, 2009 - Do you have any suggestions for salt-tolerant plants in Central Texas? Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |