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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.

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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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Friday - April 24, 2015

From: Norman, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Groundcovers, Herbs/Forbs, Wildflowers
Title: Groundcover Suggestion for OK
Answered by: Anne Van Nest

QUESTION:

I need your suggestion for a groundcover for a flower bed in the sun and in the shade in Oklahoma.

ANSWER:

There are lots of great native plants that will work as groundcovers for your flower bed. Let’s start first with compiling a list of native plants for your area. Take a look at the Native Plant Database on the www.wildflower.org website and put in the following search criteria: State = Oklahoma, habit = herb (for herbaceous) and then search for wildflowers, duration = perennial, light requirement = shade and full sun, plant height = 0-1 foot.  Most groundcovers are in the 0-1 foot category but there are some nice taller plants that will work too. This will generate a list of 72 herbaceous plants. You can further narrow the list by selecting a flower color or blooming time that you prefer. Some of the plants to consider are below. Click on the image to go to our webpage for each plant.

 

From the Image Gallery


Oppositeleaf spotflower
Acmella oppositifolia var. repens

Canadian wild ginger
Asarum canadense

Herb-of-grace
Bacopa monnieri

Winecup
Callirhoe involucrata

Lanceleaf coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata

Dutchman's breeches
Dicentra cucullaria

Plains fleabane
Erigeron modestus

Virginia strawberry
Fragaria virginiana

Fragrant bedstraw
Galium triflorum

Prairie verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida var. bipinnatifida

Hoary false goldenaster
Heterotheca canescens

Blackfoot daisy
Melampodium leucanthum

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June 28, 2012 - What are the best flowers or trees to buy since we are always in stage 2 and sometimes in stage 3 water conservation? I love flowers that are blue, preferably year around. THANK YOU
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Early spring wildflowers of Pennsylvania
September 30, 2011 - What native wildflower is the first to bloom in Weedville, Pa? (Jay township, Elk county) I am working on a research paper for my Environmental Problems class, and this would be very helpful. Thank y...
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Texas native shade plants for metal troughs in Austin
December 22, 2012 - Interested in finding Texas natives that would do well in metal troughs in the shade.
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Transplanting Trillium in Quebec.
May 13, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in the Laurentiens of Quebec where they are putting a HWY in my back yard. I have a lot of white trillium that I am wanting to transplant before they start the excava...
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Yucca blades damaged by weedeater in Hellertown PA
July 05, 2011 - Can I cut off the blades of a Yucca plant that have been eaten on the edges with a weed wacker and are very unsightly looking? Can they be cut back to the flower shaft?
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