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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

Harmony, NC
Possible source for seeds of American beautyberry and Eastern sweetshrub
I have a nursery growing native plants in North Carolina. I would like to find a source to purchase seed for the white berried American beauty berry and Calycanthus floridus athens, can you suggest a ...
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Harmony, NC
Source for seeds of Aniscanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
I am Kevin Campbell of Campbell Family Nursery. I wish to try some of your native flame acanthus or wrights desert honeysuckle. Aniscanthus quadrifilus wrightii Ii believe. Do you know of a seed sourc...
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Harmony, NC
Seed for Kosteletzkya virginica, salt marsh mallow
I have a nursery in North Carolina. We are looking for a reliable seed source for kosteletzkya virginica salt marsh mallow. We are www.campbellfamilynursery.com
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Harmony, NC
Looking for seeds for Styrax americanus.
I am looking for a source I can purchase Styrax americanus seed, preferably wholesale but if not a retail source. Can you suggest a place. thank you
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Statesville, NC
Evergreen groundcover for full sun in North Carolina
I have an area that is in full sun and I need to know the best low growing evergreen that possibly flowers to help cover where a ditch/water drainage pipe is below the planting area.
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Statesville, NC
Plant identification
I have a plant that came up in a flower pot.I wonder if you could hep me.The plant has six leaves to a stem and the leaves close up at night
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North Wilkesboro, NC
Plant identification
On our farm we found a plant that we had never seen before. It has long stems coming from center ground level and is about 3 feet tall, looks like a fern from far off. The leaves (length of finger) ...
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Salisbury, NC
Identification of non-native Nothoscordum borbonicum in Louisiana
There were some small white flowers that grow everywhere in Shreveport and probably elsewhere. Mother called them Crows Feet. I see them if I am home in the Springtime, smell them too. Is Crow's foot...
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Mooresville, NC
Plants for wet soils in North Carolina
I'm looking for evergreen plants (shrubs or ground cover)that will tolerate wet conditions for the zone 8 area of North Carolina. The local garden centers here do not stock these types of plants, eve...
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Mooresville, NC
Native water plants for bio-retention pond in North Carolina
I am looking for North Carolina native plants that can take part shade and very wet conditions (bioretention pond environment). Any suggestions?
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Lexington, NC
Hibiscus to grow in partial shade in North Carolina
What variety of hibiscus can I plant in Lexington, NC? Are there any variaties that tolerate partial shade?
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Lexington, NC
Dying non-native red tip photinias in Lexington NC
Large Red Tip bushes, what can I do to keep them alive? I have a few and they are dying. What can I do to save them?
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Winston-Salem, NC
Live Oak Leaf Drop in North Carolina
We planted a 15 foot, approx. 3" caliber live oak tree last summer and it seemed very healthy throughout our unusually cold winter in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. (Winston-Salem). Now it's ...
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Winston-Salem, NC
Privacy Screening of House Next Door in NC
Hello, I live in the house my parents bought in 1971 in Winston-Salem, NC. The house beside me is an eyesore and for sale at a very low price. I am afraid the condition of the house and yard next door...
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Winston-Salem, NC
Plants to stop creek bank erosion in North Carolina
Hi: I live in NC where most of the dirt is clay based. I have a small creek behind my house that is eroding. The creek overflows when there is a heavy rain and as a result, gradual erosion. My g...
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Winston-Salem, NC
Can I Divide Rudbeckia in July in NC.
How do I transplant Blackeyed Susans so I can add them to other parts of the bed. I started with one and it is crowding out other plants, so I would like to transplant to other parts of the yard.
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Winston-Salem, NC
Replacing non-native Paulonia tomentosa in North Carolina
What could I plant in my Winston-Salem, N.C., yard in place of the paulownia tomentosa which is there now (it was NOT something I put there; I only figured out what it was a couple of years ago -- I g...
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Winston-Salem, NC
Need a tree with a tap root for a small flower bed in Winston-Salem, NC..
Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I am looking for a tree 6-10', somewhat spreading, could flower (not essential) to serve as a focal point in a small bed with small shrubs and perennials. I need a tree with ...
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Winston-Salem, NC
Control of invasive vine in North Carolina
Hi, I live in Piedmont NC, have vines that twine around my shrubbery and are impossible to pull out of the ground w/o breaking because they are so thin/delicate. The leaves are maple-like (3 lobes), ...
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King, NC
What is white sticky substance in the Mandevilla vine?
When I was watering my Mandevilla one of the vines broke and there was a white, sticky substance that came out of the vine. I was just curious as to what that is.
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Denver, NC
Pruning a non-native Hinoki cypress from Denver NC
Hi! Our painters have asked that we trim the Golden Hinoki Cypress back from the house. The tree is about 20' tall, beautiful and healthy. Since it is July and therefore, HOT! I'm wondering how t...
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