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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - August 11, 2014
From: Houston, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pollinators, Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Soil Loosener/Pollinator Plants for Houston
Answered by: Larry Larson
QUESTION:
I am trying to establish a mostly-native pollinator way-station in a recently purchased lot in a 100 year old neighborhood in Houston. Much of the property has a thick layer of oyster shell four to six inches under the soil. It is also highly compacted, particularly in a section that was used as a driveway. Some spots have water standing for days after heavy rains. Are there native grasses (or other plants) with deep roots that would help to break up this man-made root barrier? (I am working with a limited budget.)ANSWER:
That sounds a great idea for your lot. The best treatment for your layer of oyster shell is to deeply turn in a good mixture of compost and other loosening agents such as decomposed granite. Expecting that this is a more of a major project than you’re looking for at the moment, here’s how I go about discovering the information stored within the Wildflower Center for helpful plants.
First, I check what has been already published on Mr. Smarty Plants. Here are a series of question/answer pairs regarding Groundcovers near Houston; they contain both plant suggestions and good advice.
Sources for ruellia from Houston
Looking for a native turf grass for the Houston area
How Can I Replace my Lawn with Natives in Houston, Texas
Native grass mix suitable for Houston
Indeed, you might check the "Native Groundcovers" list on the Houston Chapter of NPSOT's Native Plant Guide for possibilites of a groundcover or groundcovers to use on your lawn.
Similarly, here are a set of question/answer pairs when I looked for pollinators for South Texas:
Bee Plants for Victoria Texas
Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi
Will Salvia coccinea bloom in shade in Houston?
Clover for possible lawn area in The Woodlands, TX
The thought here is that several of these pollinator friendly plants also have deep root systems and can easily serve in the attempt to loosen the oyster shell, while you will also have pollinator friendly plants.
My second method to find suggestions is to just “do it myself”. If you call up the Wildflower Centers list of “recommended species”, you can search this list for plants with selected attributes. I selected the list for “Gulf marshes and prairies”. Then, looking at herbs that prefer full sun and can tolerate wet or moist soil, here is a selection of plants that should help the situation. [You have to read the “benefits” section for any comments about pollinators.]
Ceanothus americanus (New jersey tea) - - - Comments in the plant record: supports pollinators – lives in inhospitable conditions because of its massive deep roots [!!].
Chamaecrista fasciculata (Partridge pea) - - - supports pollinators
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf sage) - - - supports pollinators
And for grasses:
Poa arachnifera (Texas bluegrass)
Chasmanthium latifolium (Inland sea oats)
Carex texensis(Texas sedge)
From the Image Gallery
More Herbs/Forbs Questions
Low cost landscaping in Federicksburg VA
February 22, 2009 - Hello, I live in Fredericksburg Va and I rent a townhome with a small yard. My back yard is almost completely mud and my front yard has a hideous square shrub. So my question is do you have any plant ...
view the full question and answer
Shade loving plants with color for Irving, Texas
July 01, 2010 - Looking for shade loving perennials or annuals with color - native and low water. Live in Irving, Texas.
view the full question and answer
Propagation of Blackfoot daisy seed
July 21, 2015 - I have a three yr old Blackfoot daisy. How do you root Blackfoot daisy seeds? When is the best month to grow these seeds?
view the full question and answer
Non-toxic plants for dog yard from Freeport PA
June 24, 2012 - I'm looking for wildlife-friendly native plants that aren't toxic to dogs. I have a place for some small shrubs and/or flowers. And a climbing vine that I could train on a trellis would work espec...
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. |