My friend Rebekah and I have been lamenting the short-lived nature of so many of our favorite Texas natives in meadows. Urban micro prairies are becoming super popular and as maintenance gardeners we have had some issues with their long-term success. Verbena, coneflower, gaura, coreopsis, winecups seem to fade after a few years and you have to rely on them reseeding for long term success. Also some meadows only look great in the spring. In addition, starting plants from seed has its own challenges, especially in an urban landscape- tracking seedlings of desirable plants, controlling invasive species that colonize alongside our wildflowers and living with less than pretty wildflowers after they go to seed are all huge bummers. If you mulch between the plants to prevent weeds then you will inhibit the wildflowers from reseeding. But if you don’t mulch empty spaces then you will end up weeding for the rest of your life. Not to mention depending on rain for germination and struggles with erosion. So I decided to start a list of plants that I think might make a nice meadow that are available as larger nursery plants and are long lived but could also withstand being mowed once or twice per year and are aggressive growers to block out weeds. This list is off the top of my dome, just getting me and you thinking about the concept. I think mowing in early July and early February would fit the bill for this group but I never did it IRL.

All mistflowers- especially greggs, salvia greggii (can we mow it?) fall aster, pink evening primrose (not often available as plants but easy to transplant and fast growing), mexican hat, henry duleberg sage, cenizo (i have seen it mowed), sedges, bushy bluestem, inland sea oats, globe mallow, pink rock rose (maybe would be more long lived if mowed), rain lilies, zexmenia, texas lantana (Will it bloom if mowed?) Four o’ clocks (not available as plants but could be started from seed in pots and transplanted). Any other ideas? Email me at colleen@redwheelbarrowplants.com.