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.
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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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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.
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I have some seeds purchased from seedsource.com about 2 years ago. I can...
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East Texas grasses for holding soils
September 17, 2008 - Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a question about the East Texas area: Specifically, which natvie grasses can be planted to hold the soil/new roads through the winter?
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August 06, 2011 - We've just bought a 1990 circa house in Dallas, Georgia. It sits on a .62 acre lot. One half of the lot is woods, the rest is lawn. The lawn is covered mostly with weeds and wild strawberries.
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