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)
Monday - June 10, 2013
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Red selection of Coreopsis Tinctoria from Austin
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Red tall plains coreopsis is being sold @ Eden Bros. THey note it is a native, can grow to zone 10, but they say it is "not heat or drought toleranr". Cannot find verification or rebuttal anywhere. i come to Mr S P for wisdom. this is a TALL (allegedly 40-60") annual. Need to know before I buy a pound for my E Austin property. thanks from a Center Member!ANSWER:
We just answered a question about a red bluebonnet (an oxymoron if we ever heard one. So, let us give you a couple lines from that question:
"The color showed up in the wild and growers have continued to breed for the color. If the flowers accidentally cross breed with the original blue flowers, the red ones may revert to the blue."
In your case, of course, it would be the all red Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains coreopsis) reverting to the yellow flower with the red center. This is called a selection, and can be the results of years of interbreeding flowers that are all red. That would still be counted as a native flower, but whether you would still have all red flowers next year cannot be guaranteed.
Here is the Eden Bros. ad that you mentioned. From our Image Gallery (below) we found one that was red all over and two that had expanding red areas from the center.
From the Image Gallery
More Wildflowers Questions
Drought Tolerant Shrubs and Perennials in San Jose, CA
July 18, 2013 - Hello I am a SLT home owner in San Jose, Ca. and want to plant drought tolerant shrubs and perennials. We don't have irrigation but plan to put a timer on a nozzle and run some lines. At least I am t...
view the full question and answer
Preparation for wildflower meadow at elementary school
August 04, 2007 - I am a Scout working on starting a wildflower meadow at an Elementary school. How should I prepare the ground and what types of seeds do well in zipcode area 76092? I would also like so add some nat...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets and wildflowers for Nashville TN
March 10, 2009 - I have several packets individually of both bluebonnets and of wildflowers, and want to plant them on 2 hills that we have around our home. We live near Nashville, and aren't even sure if the bluebo...
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets planted in late spring bloom, will they bloom again?
February 06, 2008 - New to South Texas & we decided to plant bluebonnets around our house. The seeds were planted in late spring & we were delighted to watch them start their initial growth-cycle. They ultimately produc...
view the full question and answer
Wildflowers planted in Pittsfield, IL to bloom the first of October
July 01, 2010 - If I plant my wildflower seeds now in Illinois, is it possible they will bloom in three months (by the very beginning of October)?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |