Explore Plants

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
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - October 18, 2008

From: Wallace, SC
Region: Southeast
Topic: Wildflower Center
Title: Purchase of herbs from Wildflower Center
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Can I purchase herbs from the Wildflower Center?

ANSWER:

If you are searching our Native Plant Database, and want to Narrow Your Search, the first qualification for the plant you are searching for is "Herb," which means herbaceous in habit, usually losing leaves and/or dying back to the ground in the Winter. In that sense, yes, you can purchase herbs from the Wildflower Center. The Fall Plant Sale is going on now, with a number of herbaceous plants for sale, and there is another Plant Sale in the Spring. During the rest of the year, a few plants are available at the Store, but other than the sales and those at the Store, we do not sell plants.

If, when you say "herb," you mean plants like rosemary, lavender, sage, etc., then the answer is no, you cannot buy them at the Wildflower Center. They are all non-native to North America, and at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center we specialize in plants native to North America and to the area in which they are being grown. The reason for this is that plants adapted to an area by millennia of growing there will be more able to cope with the conditions, thus requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance. 

 

More Wildflower Center Questions

Stick with tried and true plants for a green roof in New York
May 12, 2013 - If I use Virginia creepers in a ground covered application for a green roof, how much soil should I provide depth wise?
view the full question and answer

Source for silver ponyfoot from Temple TX
March 19, 2013 - Where can I purchase dichondra argentea -- I live in Bell Co. but am willing to come to Austin if need be. Thank you.
view the full question and answer

Wheelchair access to the Wildflower Center from Converse TX
March 09, 2013 - Hi. I hope you can help. I've written two emails to the Contact Dept but to no avail in receiving a response. I wanted to know if wheelchairs can access the flower fields and the trails? I get the fe...
view the full question and answer

Ways to learn more about native plants of region
March 20, 2004 - How can I learn more about the native plants of my region?
view the full question and answer

Wildflower blooming in Austin in mid-March from Laceys Spring AL
February 27, 2013 - Hi I will be at and around the center the weekend of March 9 & 10 to exhibit in the Art and Artisan's Festival and plan to stay a few extra days to "wildflower" either before or after. What is you...
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.