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_00.gif)
Saturday - October 27, 2007
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: Small, flowering, evergreen plants for hillside in Austin.
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a steep, dry hillside measuring approximately 4 feet high by six feet wide. I want to plant low growing, evergreen, flowering plants across the bed that will flower as long as possible, and thrive in the given conditions. I live in Austin. The hillside receives part to full sun. There is irrigation for water. At the top of the bed there is yellow nandina, a crepe myrtle and rosemary shrubs. Do you have any suggestions, please?ANSWER:
Here are a few plants that bloom for long periods of time and are mostly evergreen; i.e., they stay green in milder winters, but may go dormant during very cold winters. The first four are a little larger and showier than the last two, but perhaps you could use a mixture.
Chrysactinia mexicana (damianita)
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
Wedelia texana (hairy wedelia)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Prairie verbena)
Calyptocarpus vialis (straggler daisy)
If you want something that will stay green all year long, but without showy blossoms, you could consider using one of the sedges. For example:
Carex planostachys (cedar sedge)
Carex blanda (eastern woodland sedge)
More Wildflowers Questions
Native Streambank Plants for SE Pennsylvania
July 18, 2013 - I help manage a nature preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Along the stream the banks have been beaten down by a large number of visitors for their educational activities such as stream studies. Th...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets for wedding centerpieces in Ft. Worth
April 14, 2009 - I am looking to purchase 25 live bluebonnet plants for my wedding centerpieces. I need them by May 15, 2009. Do you sell them?
view the full question and answer
Silphium Perfoliatum Seeds
October 06, 2014 - I am trying to identify which part of the seedhead is the actual seed of the cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum. It is hard to find images. Some show the outer, larger, flat part of the seedhead which ...
view the full question and answer
Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants from county roads in TX?
February 05, 2016 - Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants like bluebonnets from county roads in Texas?
view the full question and answer
Viewing times for wildflowers from Ouchitas to Austin
November 03, 2006 - I'm a geographer and wildflower enthusiast considering a spring visit to the Austin area and want to find out the best time to view wildflowers and farm crops around Austin and also on the drive from...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |