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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

Homestead, FL
Pollinator for Hymenocallis palmeri
Okay, Ms. Smarty Plants, let's see if I can stump you. I feel blessed to have seen an alligator lily (Hymenocallis palmeri) in the Everglades, while doing photopoints with my boss. Please tell me w...
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Homestead, FL
Native grasses for south Florida
I live in south Florida, south of Miami about 30 miles. I would like to get rid of my St. Augustine lawn and plant native grasses. Can you please suggest some plants I could use? Will buffalo grass...
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Coral Gables, FL
Pool-Side Plants for Miami
I am looking for plants, along the line of ti plant cordyline features, to plant around my chlorinated pool area with full South Miami sun. We have a dog therefore they must be non-toxic plants. The...
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Coral Gables, FL
Information about Melochia tomentosa
Hi, We have a plant in our garden that was received as Melochia tomentosa. It is a woody shrub, about 6' tall and 8' wide. According to the Institute for Regional Conservation, this species is no...
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Coral Gables, FL
Source of Berlandiera pumila seeds from Coral Gables FL
Where can I buy plants or seeds of Berlandiera pumila?
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Coral Gables, FL
Plants that smell like chocolate from Coral Gables FL
I am looking for plants that smell like chocolate. I live in south Florida. We are currently growing and testing Berlandiera lyrata. Do you know of other plants whose flowers smell like chocolate?
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Miami, FL
Problems with non-native Canary Date Palms from Miami FL
Hi: The fronts of my canary date palm, which I planted about 6 years ago, has been getting brown from the bottom of the tree and working itself towards the top for the past several months now. The b...
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Miami, FL
is the rainbow Eucalyptus poisonous to horses in FL?
Is the Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree poisonous to horses?
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Miami, FL
Purchase source for non-native Aerva Lanata plant
I am looking for a place where I could buy the Aerva Lanata Plant, would you happen to know?
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Miami, FL
Locating ruda plants in Florida
Where I can find or who sells Ruda plants? in the Miami, Florida area ?
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Miami, FL
Placement of lemon cypress tree in Miami, FL
Where is the best place to have a lemon cypress tree? indoors or out? Presently in south Miami climate, Scott's potting soil, clay pot, with good drainage.
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Miami, FL
Non-native Ruda plant drying up in Florida
I have a RUDA plant at work, but do not know if I am putting too much water on it, it is about 1 meter high but I think is drying up. How often do I water it? I'm in Miami Fl. Thank you.
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Miami, FL
Edible Plants of Florida
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants My name is Gabriel Bedoya; Im anthropologist, with large experience in research of traditional culinary, symbolic systems and native kitchens. Due to my experience in those s...
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Miami, FL
What is more important for plant growth; sunlight, water, soil or what?
What is more important for plant growth generally. Sunlight, water, good soil what ? please write back I need an answer I am 13 doing a science project.
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Miami, FL
Palm trees turning orange in Miami
Why are my palm trees turning orange?
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Miami, FL
Shriveling agave from Miami Florida
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Most upset - My beautiful agave (wish I could have submitted an image) has stared to misbehave. The once first liquid filled leaves, are starting to look more like the skin ...
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Miami, FL
Scientific name for non-native staghorn fern
What is the scientific name for the staghorn fern?
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Miami, FL
Information about non-native Night Blooming Jasmine (Cestrum nocturnum)
Hello, I have been trying to identify a shrub that has been in my backyard for many years, and I happened to come across your website. I was able to identify the plant as Night-Blooming Jasmine, but t...
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Miami, FL
Non-native ixora full of weeds in Miami FL
My Ixoras are full of weeds look like some kind of berry. Is there a way to get rid of them?
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Miami, FL
Removing leaves before transplanting from Miami
What is good idea to remove some leaves before transplanting a plant??
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Miami, FL
Groundcovers for Miami, FL
I live in Miami, Florida. I have a medium size Bismarck Palm in my front yard. What would be a good ground cover other than grass around this palm?
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