Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Questions From Near You

Rochelle, VA
Bulk seed purchases for naturalizing area in Rochelle VA
I am planning on naturalizing an area, ~ 7 acres, with wildflowers. I am spending quite a bit preparing the acreage and find I am falling short on funds for the bulk purchase of wildflower seeds. Ca...
view the full question and answer

Earlysville, VA
Identification of small mint-like plant in Virginia
I am looking for a mint plant my mother use to have but we didn't plant. It grew in Earlysville, Virginia in red clay soil. The cat loved it but it was neither catnip nor catmint. It was under six in...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Non-native impatiens from Charlottesville VA
Question about type of impatiens. My Alabama mother grew these and called them touch-me-not. They grow about 2 feet tall and blooms grow UNDER the leaf canopy up the stem. Colors I have are pale pink ...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
A tree for fall color in VA
I need a small to medium-sized tree for enclosure/privacy screening. I'm looking for a fast-growing, deciduous tap-rooted tree for a lawn area about 30-40' away from an existing mature Linden, and ...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Plants for a bank too steep to mow
Like the inquiry made in late June of 2008, mine involves a bank that is too steep to mow. However, ours is facing south. I am looking for a native grass, plant or groundcover. Any suggestions? ...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Sources for Paronychia virginica in Virginia
Greetings, I noticed that you have Paronychia virginica for sale in your spring plant sale. Despite the plant sharing the name of my fair state, I've been unable to find a source for it. Given...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Plant to hang over and cover a wall
HI! this is a stumper for me! I have a 6 foot wall bracing a hill on one side and a lawn on the other. It is currently cement and I would like to find something to cover it --evergreen would be the...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Riverbank retention in VA
I need some groundcover/bank retention for a Virginia riverbank in mixed sun and shade. I want to plant something native to VA. the area is out of the water but subject to occasional (4-5 times per y...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Would Habiturf or buffalograss work in Charlottesville VA
Hello, I am looking for an alternative to traditional turf grasses. I stumbled upon some information on your site about buffalo grass and LBJWC's 'Habiturf' mix and would like to know if this w...
view the full question and answer

Charlottesville, VA
Edible Plants for a Virginia Rain Garden
Can you recommend edible plants that would be appropriate for use in a rain garden? I'm located in Charlottesville, VA, but this can be in general as well.
view the full question and answer

Louisa, VA
Plant identification from Virginia
We found lots of asparagus like stalks growing randomly in our field here in central Virginia. But, instead of an asparagus head it has a tight cluster of leaves that are small and roundish. Any idea...
view the full question and answer

Troy, VA
What kind of native Junipers will grow in zone 7?
What kinds of native Juniper will grow in zone 7 ? (besides Juniperus scopulorum and J.virginiana).
view the full question and answer

Troy, VA
What is the growth rate of the table mountain pine in zone 6 & 7?
How fast growing is the table mountain pine in Zones 6 and 7 in the Appalachians? What is the growth rate?
view the full question and answer

Castleton, VA
Plants for swan food
Dear Mr Smarty Pants, I have a farm in VA with a large pond or lake fenced in. I am rescuing a pair of swan and want to grow plants around the fence and pond that they can eat. Could you suggest an...
view the full question and answer

Crozet, VA
Short evergreen shrub for Virginia
I have been looking everywhere for an evergreen shrub that is 3-4 ft. in height, non-poisonous to humans, and that thrives in zone 7 to no avail. Please help!
view the full question and answer

Kents Store, VA
Balancing bloom in beds in Kents Store VA
Our beds along a walkway in rural Central VA have replanted themselves - oenethera speciosa and dwarf yarrow have abandoned the north bed and are flourishing in the south bed. Sedums, lavender and can...
view the full question and answer

Waynesboro, VA
Plants for birds in Virginia
Hi there, I would like to plant some bird-friendly shrubs in my backyard, here in the Shenandoah Valley. I have read that birds like winterberries, and I think they are gorgeous. But, this is mid-Fe...
view the full question and answer

Waynesboro, VA
Could hickory leaves be used as seasoning from Waynesboro VA
I have a hickory tree. If I pull a leaf off and rip it then smell, there is a strong wonderful scent of hickory much like when I rip a mint leaf there is a strong smell of mint. So my question is, can...
view the full question and answer

Spotsylvania, VA
Care for non-native ice plant in Virginia
Regarding the ice plant in Virginia - do you cut it back or just trim or just leave it alone before winter?
view the full question and answer

Woodstock, VA
Stabilizing a shale slope in Virginia
I have family members who recently built a new home in Virginia. The site required extensive excavation resulting in a large 30 foot, nearly vertical, shale wall behind the house. They now want to r...
view the full question and answer

Fredericksburg, VA
Plants for pots outdoors in winter in Virginia
Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I was wondering what plants would be best to grow outdoors, in pots, in Virginia, in the winter? This is a lot of restrictions but we just need 2-3 plants for our office pati...
view the full question and answer