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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - May 09, 2008
From: Winter Garden, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: Container Gardens, Cacti and Succulents, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs
Title: Plants for pool area in Florida
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growing and small with not too much height. Can you please give us some ideas? Thank youANSWER:
There are a couple of ways to find recommended plants for Florida. First, you can go to our Florida Recommended page on the Wildflower Center web site to find a list of native plants that are commercially available for landscaping in Florida. Most species have photos with the text. The second source for recommended plants for Florida is the Florida Native Plant Society. In the Florida Native Plant Society's "Natives to Grow in Orange County" list it gives the name, the form of the plant (shrub, tree, etc.) and its tolerance for wet and dry soils, tolerance for salt and usefulness for butterflies and wildlife. There are no photos accompanying this list, but you can find photos for most of the ones on the list by searching in our Native Plant Database under the scientific name.
Here are a few choices from the two lists:
Ceratiola ericoides (sand heath) is a small sub-shrub that resembles rosemary.
Phlox nivalis (trailing phlox)
Rhexia mariana (Maryland meadowbeauty)
Amsonia ciliata (fringed bluestar)
Berlandiera subacaulis (Florida greeneyes)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Morella cerifera (wax myrtle). There are dwarf cultivars of this species.
Osmunda cinnamomea (cinnamon fern)
Phyla nodiflora (Texas frogfruit)
Rhapidophyllum hystrix (needle palm). Here is a photo and more information.
Rhynchospora colorata (starrush whitetop)
Woodwardia areolata (netted chainfern). Here is a photo and more information.
Yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle). Here is a photo and more information.
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Picking flowers of bulbs from Cloverdale CA
April 22, 2014 - Will picking the flowers of native bulb plants, such as Trillium, Blue Dicks, Fawn Lilies, kill the plant or keep it from reproducing? I do not condone this action but know people who do it.
view the full question and answer
Removal of thistles from Columbus TX
May 20, 2014 - I am sorry if you have an answer in FAQs but I could not find it.
We recently cleared property near Columbus Texas of many cedars (ash junipers). This spring we experienced a profusion of thistle -...
view the full question and answer
Short or mowable plant for walkway
June 03, 2008 - I'd like a short and/or mowable plant to use as a walkway in and around a vegetable garden in upstate NY. I was planning on clover, but I want to use a native plant if possible. The native clovers ...
view the full question and answer
Silver ponyfoot becoming invasive in College Station TX
May 08, 2013 - How can I control or get rid of an established Dichondra groundcover? I bought a few plants of D. argentea from your sale a few years ago, and in that time they've done really well in the area I plan...
view the full question and answer
Growing Plumeria in Ohio
July 15, 2008 - Can I grow plumeria in Ohio? We were in Hawaii this past week and I brought two plants home to try to grow. Thanks a bunch.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |