Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
1 rating

Tuesday - November 16, 2010

From: Edinburg , TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: April Wildflowers for South Texas
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

Can you tell me what wildflowers grow well in south Texas? I would like to plant in the fall for bloom in April. Is this possible?

ANSWER:

April is the best month for Texas wildflowers. Here's how to generate a list. Go to Wildflower.org and select the "Explore Plants" tab. Scroll down until you see the map of the United States and click on south Texas (twice). This will give you a list of all the of plants Mr. Smarty Plants recommends for south Texas. To narrow the list down, selct "herb" under General Appearance and check "April" under bloom time. Then click "Narrow Your Search." This results in a list of 22 flowers which is probably more than you want to plant.

Since south Texas can include any thing from semi-desert to semi-tropical some of these plants will not be appropriate to your site. So. you can narrow the list further by checking the boxes under "Light Requirement" and "Soil Moisture" that best reflect the conditions at your location. Then you can choose your favorite colors and the height of flower you would like. Click "Narrow Your Search" after you make your choices and you should get to a custom made list for your conditions and your preferences.

Here is an April blooming favorite of almost all Texans:


Lupinus texensis

 

 

More Wildflowers Questions

More on bluebonnets
April 05, 2007 - I live in Hereford, Texas, near Amarillo. What would be the closest area for us to see fields of bluebonnets and when? Is it Wichita Falls?
view the full question and answer

The most common wildflower in North America
January 16, 2008 - Hi Mr. Smartyplants, What the most common wildflower in North America? My friend thinks it's the oxeye daisy. Is this correct? I work for a puzzle publishing company, and am doing research for a them...
view the full question and answer

Small, flowering, evergreen plants for hillside in Austin.
October 27, 2007 - 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 thr...
view the full question and answer

Bluebonnets and Texas
March 20, 2004 - Can I plant Bluebonnets outside of Texas?
view the full question and answer

More on bluebonnets
April 01, 2003 - Is there such a thing as a red bluebonnet?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.