Native Plants
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.
rate this answer
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 Shrubs Questions
Plants for curb appeal from Birmingham AL
June 16, 2011 - My front yard is on a down hill slope. Can you recommend some plants that would be good for creating curb appeal that will be planted up against the house? We need some that are short around 2 feet ...
view the full question and answer
Hanging Baskets for Batson, TX
May 23, 2014 - What plants can I put in hanging baskets for my shady porch?
view the full question and answer
Holes in leaves of wax myrtle from Austin
April 30, 2011 - I just purchased 4 of the 5 gallon Wax Myrtles at the last spring plant sale and after planting them, they are getting eaten by bugs leaving holes in the leaves. I can't find any of the bugs doing th...
view the full question and answer
Identification of evergreen bush with red berries
March 17, 2016 - I am a beekeeper and today I took some pictures of a bush about 8 ft. tall in my neighbors yard. My bees are all over the tiny white flowers. It appears to be an evergreen bush because it has foliag...
view the full question and answer
Is India Hawthorne a deer-resistant plant?
July 03, 2011 - Is India Hawthorne a deer resistant plant in Beaufort County South Carolina?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |