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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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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

West End, NC
Plants for a Zen garden in North Carolina
I am looking for plants that would be suitable for a ZEN style garden in North Carolina
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Seagrove, NC
Correction to question involving acid vs. alkaline soil
In a question about blueberries you said most blueberry web sites are in states with deciduous trees including pines. Not sure about your part of the world but here in NC the pine trees keep the need...
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Seagrove, NC
Further information on soil pH for growing blueberries
Thank you for your reponse to my question / comment. You were exactly right about soil pH. Here is what Clemson University Extension has to say about growing blueberries in North and South Carolina....
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Ramseur, NC
Non-native Ornithogalum longibracteatum (Pregnant Onion)
Dear Sir, I have a plant called a Pregnant Onion. It looks like an onion and it has babies develop on its body and the surface peals off like an onion. It's leaves grow to about a yard long and th...
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Wallace, SC
Purchase of herbs from Wildflower Center
Can I purchase herbs from the Wildflower Center?
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Fayetteville, NC
Comparison of native and non-native bulbs from Fayetteville NC
I am just a gardener seeking natives. As I could not find Crinum americanum bulbs/plants specifically, I checked further online. Here's an excerpt of what I found from the Louisiana Native Plant Soci...
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Bennettsville, SC
Yaupon sprouts from Bennettsville SC
I have Yaupons in a flower bed and they have too many shoots to pull up, can I spray them with roundup and not kill the bush and what strength should I use?
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Wade, NC
Need plants for privacy screening in a campground in Wade, NC.
Landscaping a campground tent area, need evergreen to grow to ground, narrow in width but will reach height for privacy. There is a wooded tree line along wall that produces shade during summer. Any...
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Buies Creek, NC
Why will my Plumbago not bloom in Buies Creek NC?
I purchased a plumbago about two weeks ago with w few old blooms. I pinched them off, and my plant has not bloomed since. I understand they bloom profusely, and have witnessed it myself. Why isn't...
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Fuquay-Varina, NC
Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC
I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni...
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mt.pleasant, NC
Need help growing plants in red dirt in Mount Pleasant, NC.
I live in N.C. and I have had the hardest time getting plants to grow;I have red dirt at my house. Can you suggest a few colorful plants that would do real well in red dirt? Thank You So Very Much!!!!...
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Angier, NC
Zinc tolerant plants for sunny area
I have a very high zinc soil in an all day sun area. Any suggestions as to what kind of flower can I grow successfully? Zone 8 Thank you
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Trinity, NC
Information on care and transplant of non-native Bamboo in North Carolina
I am considering transplanting some bamboo from my backyard to my side yard in Northern Randolph County, Central Piedmont, North Carolina. Could you offer me any pointers on a direct ground to gro...
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Pleasant Garden, NC
Carolina Jasmine failing to turn green in Pleasant Garden NC
We planted Carolina Jasmine last year and it did great. This Spring we only have about 2-3 small green leaves beginning on the vines. We did not cut them back in the Fall. Is it time for them to be tu...
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Archdale, NC
Planting non-native peach seed from Archdale NC
Planting and watering peach seeds. Can you give advice for my 12 year old who has recently planted some peach seeds in our yard in Archdale NC? Is the fall okay for planting? Watering instructions? I...
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Apex, NC
Plant ID from Apex NC
Can you identify this plant? It is growing in our backyard in Apex, North Carolina. Picture of plant is here: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ZLJzQZyqq0dkU2HJQe50A9MTjNZETYmyPJy0liipFm0?fea...
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Apex, NC
Wildlife Attracting Plants for a Shady Patio
We have a concrete patio that receives 2-3 hours of sunlight a day, so the only plants we will be able to grow will be in container. We are looking for plants that do well in shade, and containers and...
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Dunn, NC
Native plants for part shade in North Carolina
I'm thinking about planting a border in front of my house. It's on the north side, so it's fairly shady. One of the main problems with this is that I don't like many common shade plants, so it's ...
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Carrboro, NC
Propagation of non-native vitex
I am interested in propagating a beautiful big vitex tree. Can I do it from seeds or what is the best way? Thanks!
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Carrboro, NC
Plant ID from North Carolina
Hi Mr. Smartyplants, I know that you can identify blue cohash in a neat way: 3 stems which easy branch to 3 more stems which each branch into 3 more and then 3 leaves attached to each. Well, do you...
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Chapel Hill, NC
Life with Voles
Voles! We live next to a park and wildlife area: voles constantly invade our garden. We've tried, and cannot eliminate them: rather, hope to plant native forbs and shrubs they (might) avoid. Our site...
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