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

Friday - April 07, 2006

From: Plano, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Using Native Plants Database to determine flowering time in Austin
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

How can I access your data base to learn what plants are flowering in Austin during the months of October and early November?

ANSWER:

In the Native Plants Database there is an option (near the bottom of the page) to do a Combination Search. Click on "Narrow Your Search" and you can do a search using Plant Characteristics (including "Bloom Time"), Growing Conditions and Your State. You can find a list of plants blooming in October and November in Texas. Since Texas has so many different environmental regions, some of the plants listed may not grow in the Austin area.

You can do a search on the USDA Plants Database by counties for each state. You select "Advanced Search" from the sidebar menu and under Part A: Plants Core Data and "1. Distribution" pick "Texas:Travis" from the list. You have to scroll down to Part B: Characteristics Data and "3. Reproduction" to pick the "Bloom Period". You don't need to make selections from any other of the categories. They will use default settings. Below is the list I generated from such a search using "Texas:Travis" and "Fall". Please note that the list is definitely not all-inclusive, but reflects only the information contained within the USDA Plants Database. They do not have information for bloom period for all plants within their database.

Disc water-hysop (Bacopa rotundifolia)
Fall sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)
Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Yellow indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

The Kerrville Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas has a list of Native Plants for Landscaping in the Texas Hill Country that lists bloom periods.
 

More Wildflowers Questions

Smarty Plants on Germination
July 23, 2004 - I just planted wildflowers and I was wondering how long before I know if they will grow?
view the full question and answer

Will recent freezes delay wildflowers from Dripping Springs TX
February 15, 2011 - What effect will the recent freezing temperatures have on the Texas Hill Country Wildflowers? Will it delay blooming? Thank you!
view the full question and answer

East Texas Natives and Botanical History
May 05, 2011 - I am looking for flowers &/or flowering shrubs that are native to east Texas, especially that would have been in this area over 100 or more years ago.
view the full question and answer

Springbeauty in New Jersey and Dog Allergies
May 11, 2013 - Is Claytonia virginica in New Jersey and could my dog be allergic to it?
view the full question and answer

Flowering native plants for Evanston IL
July 12, 2009 - What flowering, native plants would be suitable for a backyard garden in Evanston Illinois?
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.