Ozark Garden Talk – Episode 5 – Listener Q&A & Plants That Work
- White River Nursery
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Ozark Garden Talk – Episode 5 – Listener Q&A & Plants That Work
White River NurseryMay 20 · 5 min read
Episode Summary
In this listener-driven episode of Ozark Garden Talk, Sarah McCue (Owner), Charity Cox (Plant Buyer & Events), and Alex Royce (General Manager) dive into your gardening questions and highlight their favorite foolproof plants—those that stand the test of Ozark heat, clay soil, and unpredictable moisture levels. They cover everything from native soil builders and fence line groundcovers to the top shrubs and perennials that thrive with minimal fuss.
In This Episode
Welcome & Listener Q&A Intro (0:00 – 1:00)Sarah, Charity, and Alex open with a thank-you to listeners who submitted questions via Facebook and Instagram.
Listener Question 1: Improving Bad Soil with Natives (1:00 – 10:00)
Q: What easy-to-grow native plants can improve soil in poor conditions without adding bagged compost?
Charity stresses the importance of knowing site details: clay vs. hardpan, sun/shade, and future use (vegetable garden vs. ornamental).
Alex suggests deep-rooted native grasses like Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) to aerate and enrich.
Charity recommends Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens) and Shrubby Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) for nitrogen fixation.
Other dynamic accumulators: Comfrey, Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata), Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia).
Techniques: Chop and drop, green manure, low-till composting with yard debris.
📌 Resources:
Listener Question 2: Plants for Moist Clay with Crayfish (10:00 – 13:30)
Q: What plants thrive in moist, dense clay soils?
Alex suggests improving drainage with organic matter.
Charity names moisture-loving natives like:
Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' (Goldenrod)
Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet)
Itea virginica (Sweetspire)
Cephalanthus occidentalis (Buttonbush)
🦐 Crayfish sighting = healthy ecosystem!
Listener Question 3: Groundcovers for Fence Lines (13:30 – 16:00)
Q: What native groundcovers work along fence lines where you don’t want grass?
Charity and Alex agree: there’s no magic bullet for Bermuda grass.
Possibilities with prep and maintenance:
Salvia lyrata (Lyreleaf Sage)
Rudbeckia hirta (Black-Eyed Susan)
Big Bluestem for open fence lines
Emphasis on patience, site testing, and phased planting.
Main Topic: Plants That Work (16:00 – 45:00)
What are “Plants That Work”? Tough, long-lived, low-maintenance performers suited for Ozark conditions.
1. Physocarpus opulifolius (Ninebark) – 17:00
Cultivars: Summer Wine, Amber Jubilee, Lemon Candy, Tiny Wine, Gum Drop
Gorgeous foliage, exfoliating bark, drought-tolerant
Full sun to part shade; native straight species best with some afternoon shade
2. Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ – 23:00
Black-eyed Susan cultivar
Hardy, spreads gently, long bloom time
Thrives in sun or part shade
3. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) – 24:30
Self-seeds, wildlife-friendly
Needs a strong start, but becomes very resilient
Purple Coneflower
4. Spirea – 26:00
Blue Kazoo, Double Play, Goldthread, Candy Corn
Full sun, drought-tolerant, minimal pruning
Pollinator-friendly with long bloom season
Charity's Blue Kazoo Spirea with Ninebark in the back
5. Amsonia hubrichtii (Arkansas Bluestar) – 30:00
Native to AR/OK, soft feathery foliage, starry blue blooms
Fabulous fall color
Long-lived
Amsonia in display bed - not yet in full bloom
6. Itea virginica (Sweetspire) – 35:00
Native, adaptable, beautiful fall color
Good for part sun to shade; likes moisture
Suckers gently, long bloom time
Little Henry Itea from Alex's front bed
7. Salvia ‘Caradonna’ – 40:30
Not native but drought-tolerant and deer resistant
Stunning purple stems and long bloom time
Pollinators love it
Caradonna Salvia with Nana Coreopsis in the front
Wrap-Up (44:30 – end)
The trio encourages listeners to keep sending questions for future Q&A episodes and promises to share their own garden photos on the website.
Key Takeaways
Match Plant to Purpose: Think about your end goal (veggie garden, pollinator patch, ornamental bed) before choosing soil improvers.
Ozark-Adapted Plants: Look for tough, drought-tolerant, and shade-tolerant natives when possible.
Stay Connected
🌱 Visit White River Nursery for plant availability and expert advice📸 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube💬 Questions? Comments? Drop us a message or tag us with your garden pics!
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