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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

Questions From Near You

Pt. Richmond, CA
Drought-resistant plants for Paradise, California
We are moving to a new home in Paradise, CA. What drought resistant plants do well in Paradise ? Thank you !!
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kipling, SK
Apples, pears and geraniums in Kipling, Saskatchewan
My geranium's leaves became yellow - Why? Where can I buy a good nice apple tree? Will apples and pears grow in south Saskatchewan?
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Kenosee Lake, SK
Winterizing non-native sedum in Saskatchewan CA
What should be done to winterize a autumn joy (sedum)?
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Saskatoon, SK
Transplanting Virginia creeper
I have a large Virginia creeper plant approximately 15 feet in length. Is it possible to transplant the whole thing without killing it? If so how do I care for it after it has been moved? Thank yo...
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Carmichael, CA
Non-native creeping fig and non-native nutgrass in Carmichael CA
Will creeping fig choke out nut grass?
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Carmichael, CA
Legal to kill non-native invasive fig ivy in Carmichael CA
Is it legal to spray round-up on invasive fig ivy from my neighbor's yard? Will we be responsible for killing his plant? He refuses to install a barrier between us or discuss a remedy.
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Greeley, CO
Groundcovers for area under blue spruce in Colorado
I have a 40 ft blue spruce limbed up 6 ft in my yard on the west in Greeley, CO (50 mi N Denver, zone 4 or 5). It gets some sun underneath in the later afternoon and evening. Can you suggest 4 to 5 ...
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Paynton, SK
Hardiness of non-native Lycium barbarum for Saschatewan
Lycium barbarnum. What is its hardiness and where can it be grown?
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Lake Francis, MB
Plant with poisonous thorns
Is there a bush or tree out there that has thorns on it that can make you swell and cause you to feel like you can hardly move you're whole hand.
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Winnipeg, MB
Plant identification request for a vine
I would like to identify a wild vine that I have just discovered in our bush. It has leaves similar in shape to a maple leaf,approx.4"wide, has white flower spikes, and some kind of a fruit or pod t...
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petersfield, MB
Growing Indian Wild Rice
Could you tell me who has the Canadian rights to wild indian rice grass. It is a drought tolerant grass used in flour production for gluten free products. thanks
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Blumenort, MB
Identification of Monotropa uniflora
I found a peculiar flower in Nopoming Provincial Forest, Manitoba last weekend (August 4th). I found it growing in moss on top of rock (the Canadian shield). It was in shade. About 3 or 4 were clum...
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Coaldale , AB
Removal of honeysuckle bushes from Coaldale Alberta Canada
I have 2 honeysuckle bushes that I want to get rid of. I am wondering if Honeysuckle bushes have very deep roots (are they hard to dig out?) I am 70 years old and didn't know if I'd be able to dig ...
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Mclaughlin, SD
Information on medicinal plant uses by Dakota Indians
I would like to know what the plants were that were used for medicinal purposes by the plains Indians in the Dakotas. Is there a place/site that I can go to to research the data?
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COLD LAKE, AB
Plant Identification from Cold Lake AB
How can I send a picture for you to help me identify a plant that grows in my garden that no one can seem to identify? I have taken a picture of it but can't seem to be able to attach it to this que...
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Billings, MT
Possible fungus growing on mountain ash (Sorbus sp. or Fraxinus sp.)
We have a mountain ash with something growing several feet off the ground that looks like duckbills or mushrooms. Can you tell me what is wrong with it. We lost one mountain ash tree to something an...
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Billings, MT
Use of the word annual
Why is the word 'annual' used to describe plants with one grow season, when in all other cases it's used to describe things that reoccur year after year? i.e. Events, celebration, salary?
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Valley CIty, ND
North Dakota Riverbank Stabilization
Can you suggest plants to prevent and stabilize river bank erosion on Sheyenne River, ND? Must be tolerant to cold, varying level of salts and sulfates and water level (from drought to flooding)
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Hadashville, Manitoba
Propagation of cedar cuttings in Manitoba
How to propagate cedar cuttings to form a hedge?
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Browning, MT
Removal of Black Henbane from raised beds from Browning MT
I am working with youth to create raised beds of native plants. Unfortunately we had a run in with a crop of Black Henbane, last year. They were already flowering by the time we tried to cut, or pull ...
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Bridger, MT
Number of seeds per pound for Curvepod fumewort from Bridger MT
Do you know or where can I find the number of seeds per pound for Corydalis curvisiliqua-scrambled eggs?
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