Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Southwick, MA
Identification of blue wildflower on roadsides in Massachusetts
What is the blue wildflower planted on roadsides and highways in Massachusetts?
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Westfield, MA
Identification of tree or shrub in Massachusetts
Good morning,
We are in Zone 5 and have a tree/shrub I cannot identify in the backyard of our new home. Tall (6')and growing, green stems,and when the stems are broken the branches smell of lemon o...
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East Granby, CT
Invasive native wild onions in East Granby CT
I have wild onions which have become extremely invasive. I have no idea how to get rid of them, and this year they seem to have taken over my entire flower bed. I tried pulling the bulbs out for sever...
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Springfield, MA
Plant identification from Springfield MA
We have a house next to us that is vacant. The lawn has not been mowed in months. a tall flower has grown amongst the grass and weeds. It is about 3 to 4 feet tall green stem and the flower is about 2...
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Springfield, MA
Locating Rosa rugosa for Massachusetts
There is a shrub that grows out on the Cape especially at the beach. I have always called it Beach Rose and I have heard other people call it a Beach Plum. However, the most recent picture of a Beac...
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Longmeadow, MA
Plants available for viewing in Wildflower Center in October
We are thinking of bringing a group to visit the Wildflower Center during the weekend of my son's wedding in Austin in early October. Will there be much to see at the garden at that time of year?
...
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Windsor Locks, CT
Is Echinacea poisonous to cats?
Is the echinacea plant poisonous to cats?
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Simsbury, CT
Is Rosa rugosa poisonous?
Are beach plums from a Rosa rogosa poisonous?
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Riverton, CT
Problems with redbud in CT
My Eastern redbud was planted 4 years ago and has been fine. This Spring it was beginning to pop out buds. Less than a week later, after returning from a trip all the buds were dead, never flowered, ...
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Florence, MA
Allelopathy in Sassafras albidum
Sassafras albidum description says
"Sassafras is allelopathic and can discourage the growth of certain other plants within its root zone."
My question is: WHICH plants are susce...
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West hartford, CT
Growth rate of the American beech tree from West Hartford CT
What is the growth rate of an American beech tree?
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West Hartford, CT
Native trees for privacy screen in Connecticut
I am looking to replace a row of white pine trees with something else along the border between our yard and neighbor's yard. We only get afternoon sun and we need something that will grow to around ...
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Hartford, CT
Learning to garden from Hartford CT
Hello, I just recently found an interest in gardening, and have discovered "cultivars." I am having trouble finding what exactly a cultivar is, and if they are bad or not. Can culltivars ever occur ...
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Hartford, CT
Recommendation for red raspberry species for Connecticut
Hello, I was wondering if you could recommend any red raspberries that I can grow in Connecticut. Thanks!
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Vernon, CT
Beans growing under artificial light from Vernon CT
What bean plant will grow the best under a flourescent,spot gro light,green transparent light,or Natural light and why.What caused it to grow like it did?
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Monterey, MA
Native plants for septic system in Massachusetts
What native plants can grow on a septic mound safely for the septic system?
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Monterey, MA
Getting rid of Japanese bindweed in Massachusetts
How do you get rid of Japanese Bindweed (mile-a-minute)?
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Belchertown, MA
Shallow Rooted Wildflowers for MA
Do you have any suggestions for wildflowers that would be safe to grow on a capped landfill site? They would need to have roots no deeper than 24 inches.
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Belchertown, MA
Trumpet creeper with ants in Belchertown MA
My Campsis Vine is having one of the maximum blossom years it gets after a good pruning. This year, I have black carpenter ants on the blossoms and the flowers are rotting from the edges down on some...
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amherst, MA
Drought-resistant ground cover for Massachusetts
Mr Smarty Plants
I am looking for drought resistant,low maintenance ground cover for a LEED certified project in Florence MA.
Any suggestions?
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Amherst, MA
Flower color in shooting stars (Dodecatheon meadia)
Shooting Stars (Dodecatheon meadia) come in the colors white, lavender and purple in the eastern U.S. Is this just genetic variability or does soil chemistry affect the flower color?
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