Native Plants
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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.
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Tuesday - October 13, 2009
From: Plano, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Grasses or Grass-like, Herbs/Forbs, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Plants for area around pool in Plano, Texas
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I just built an in ground pool in Plano, Texas and now want to landscape around it on my own. I am curious what plants/shrubs you recommend. There will be plants/shrubs on three sides of the pool. Thanks!ANSWER:
You can find a list of commercially available native plants for landscaping in your area in Texas-North Central Recommended on our Recommended Species page. You can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to specify General Appearance, Soil Moisture, Light Requirements, etc., for the plants you want. Here are a few from that list that should make an attractive area around your pool:
SHRUBS/SMALL TREES
Amorpha fruticosa (desert false indigo)
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii (Wright's desert honeysuckle)
Cercis canadensis var. texensis (Texas redbud)
Hesperaloe parviflora (redflower false yucca)
Lantana urticoides (West Indian shrubverbena)
HERBACEOUS PLANTS
Aquilegia canadensis (red columbine)
Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly milkweed)
Conoclinium coelestinum (blue mistflower)
Echinacea purpurea (eastern purple coneflower)
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida (Dakota mock vervain)
Melampodium leucanthum (plains blackfoot)
Oenothera speciosa (pinkladies)
Phlox drummondii (annual phlox)
Rudbeckia hirta (blackeyed Susan)
There are many more and you can find them in the list recommended above. You can match their characteristics to the requirements of your site by reading the "Growing Conditions" for each species.
Here are photos for some of the species above:
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Nimblewill grass for a shady area in Dallas
April 04, 2013 - i have a very shady backyard and reading some of your post I think Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) will survive.
Two questions:
Is it drought resistant?
Where can I buy the seeds?
view the full question and answer
Mowing Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss)
July 05, 2014 - Dear Mr or Ms Smarty Plants,
Although I see you have posted some information about mowing Buffalograss it doesn't seem to answer my question. Will it hurt to mow the buffalograss flags off? Will t...
view the full question and answer
Low plants to cover bank too steep to mow
June 26, 2008 - I have a bank along the road that is too steep to mow. This bank faces east and only gets 2 - 4 hours per day of sunlight. I'd like to try ground cover to prevent erosion, however visibility is a p...
view the full question and answer
Plants for a Narrow Fence Line in TN
February 03, 2015 - I have a very specific and difficult planting question. I have a narrow strip (about 2 feet at the widest) between my back privacy fence and a wire fence that marks the edge of my property. It is dire...
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Burning back Gulf Muhly instead of trimming from San Antonio
December 19, 2011 - A few years ago I noticed that the Center burned back its Gulf Muhly rather than cutting it back. Did that study result in any conclusions or recommendations?
view the full question and answer
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