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.
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.
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Monday - February 23, 2009
From: Lufkin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Native roses and other flowering shrubs for Lufkin, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I would like to know some native blooming shrubs, and roses for my area. I have found that all of the old native plants have a greater success rate. I would like to find a white shrub rose for planting this spring.ANSWER:
The best native roses for your area would be Rosa carolina (Carolina rose), a spicy scented pink rose that deals well with humidty, and Rosa setigera (climbing rose), a climbing rose with sparse prickles and white or pink blossoms. Rosa foliolosa (white prairie rose), the one pure white Texas native rose, might do fine in the Piney Woods, but it is more suited to the climate and soils of North Central Texas. You can find a variety of other flowering shrubs for your area by going to our Recommended Species page and selecting 'East Texas' from the map or pulldown menu and then use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to select 'Shrub' under the Habit (general appearance) category. Here are several of Mr. Smarty Plants' favorites from that list:Erythrina herbacea (redcardinal)
Hydrangea quercifolia (oakleaf hydrangea)
Itea virginica (Virginia sweetspire)
Rhododendron canescens (mountain azalea)
Rhododendron oblongifolium (Texas azalea)
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