Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Ask Mr. Smarty 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.

Support NPINHelp grow the Native Plant Information Network by giving to the Plant Database Fund or subcribing to Wildflower magazine.

Subscribe online now
Mr. Smarty Plants would give Wildflower magazine two thumbs up...if he had two thumbs.
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
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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

Pleasantville, NY
Native perennial roof garden plants for New York
I am looking for perennial roof gardens plants, sedum, hen and chickens, native plants. I am in zone six. They will have three inches of perilite, gravel, and compost. Can you give me a good local so...
view the full question and answer

Pleasantville, NY
Plants for elementary school grow lab in New York
What can we grow in a grow lab in our elementary school library from seed now that will bloom by June or what interesting looking established plants can we put in this grow lab that will have meaning ...
view the full question and answer

Westchester County, NY
Native Annual Plant Substitute for Impatiens
What can be used as an annual flowering plant to substitute for the diseased impatiens? Is Vinca one you would suggest?
view the full question and answer

Thornwood, NY
Overwintering Cardinal Flower in Thornwood NY
I have 6 Cardinal Flower plants in planters. They have mulch on top to keep them moist. Can they stay in the planters all winter? Do I cut the stalks before winter comes or leave as is?
view the full question and answer

Ossining, NY
Locating sources for bracken fern in New York
I am looking for bracken fern plants to plant in my garden. Where can I find them?
view the full question and answer

Valhalla, NY
Blooming of native swamp azalea in New York
I have a native swamp azalea, very healthy, but it has never bloomed. Do you know why or how I could get it to bloom?
view the full question and answer

Valhalla, NY
Native bulbs for the northeastern U. S.
What native bulbs could we plant in the Northeast? Can they only be planted in the fall as Dutch bulbs are?
view the full question and answer

Mount Kisco, NY
Privacy Screening Plant for New York Narrow Site
I need privacy screening on the side of my house in Mount Kisco, New York located 40 miles north of New York City. The area gets plenty of sun but is somewhat narrow. What evergreen bushes or trees ...
view the full question and answer

Tarrytown, NY
Need a vine to cover a chainlink fence in the shade in Tarrytown, NY.
Any advice for a vine to cover a chain link fence in shade
view the full question and answer

Tarrytown, NY
Difficult slope in Tarrytown NY
I hope you can help. Is there a way to plant some native shrubs and plants on a steep slope that is filled in some areas with rock without having to tier the slope? The section is approximately 50' w...
view the full question and answer

Tarrytown, NY
Student project on Hudson Valley, NY native plants and ecology
Mr. Smarty, Hi I am starting a project with a school group 4th-6th grade, that has a greenhouse. The goal is to teach children about native plants & ecology of the Hudson valley region in NY. We will ...
view the full question and answer

TARRYTOWN, NY
Growing Lupinus perennis in sandy soil.
I want to grow Lupinus perennis for the Karner butterfly. I know it won't grow in clay (my soil is wet clay). Can I plant the plant in a big (20" diameter x 17" tall) rubber pot, and fill the pot w...
view the full question and answer

White Plains, NY
What will grow under non-native, invasive Norway Maple in White Plains NY?
Is there anything that will grow under a Norway Maple? The soil is dry and the area is small hill next to my driveway. It is an eye sore! Thank you!
view the full question and answer

Irvington , NY
New York State Shrubs to Screen Home from Traffic
I am looking for a native New York bush/small tree which I can use along a road to screen my home from year-round car traffic. The area is not terribly wide and the soil is OK. I am willing to prune a...
view the full question and answer

Ardsley , NY
Restoring and propagating rhododendrons
I have 70+ year old native rhododendrons (16+ feet high) in my backyard. After all these years they are beginning to get dammaged by snow load and ice. Therefore I have 2 quesitons concerning these b...
view the full question and answer

Katonah, NY
Rain garden plants for Ketonah, NY
Rain garden plant selections for lower NY state
view the full question and answer

Sparkill, NY
Native fescues and sedges for turf in New York
Hello, Came across your contact info while googling and hoped you could help answer a question or direct me to another resource that can. I am looking to redo my entire landscaping with native NY ...
view the full question and answer

New City, NY
Suggestion for plants to replace grass in semi-shade in NY
I have an area that is in semi-shade but gets about 4-5 hours of sunlight in the summer. Instead of grass I would like to perhaps use wild flowers or even prairie type grasses. Any suggestions??
view the full question and answer

Hastings on Hudson, NY
Native plants for condo apartments in New York
Hello, and thank you for this wonderful source of help! We live in Hastings on Hudson, NY in a brick building of 7 condo apartments. Our corner unit has one narrow flower bed out front on the stre...
view the full question and answer

Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
Deer resistant plants for New York
My home is near the woods and so we get plenty of deer munching on everything but we also have shade and dappled light in the yard. I need to figure out plants that would thrive under these conditions...
view the full question and answer

Cortlandt Manor, NY
Native plants suitable for rock garden in New York
I'd like to start a rock garden. The area is very rocky, the soil is shallow and it's partially shaded. I'd like mostly perennials that flower from spring to fall. I hope to make some purchases fr...
view the full question and answer