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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

Webster, FL
Plant identification
Could you please identify a plant with a scalloped elephant ear type leaf, wooden base with oval areas where old large wooden roots from above the ground have fallen off.
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Webster, FL
Failure to bloom of Magnolia in Webster FL
Do all Magnolias Bloom? I live in Central Florida - transplanted a Magnolia 7 1/2 years ago. It is a beautiful tree - very healthy - at least 10-12 ft. It has never had a bloom!! I have another li...
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Center Hill, FL
Hedgerow plants non-toxic to horses
What would be a good, fast growing, hedgerow plant that is NON-POISONOUS TO HORSES? Thank you.
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Clermont, FL
Tree or shrub for acoustical protection in Clermont FL
What type of tree or shrub would be best to lower the db level of freeway noise in Central Florida? I live about 3/4 of a mile from a freeway but due to the wind and hills it causes the noise to bounc...
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Brooksville, FL
Grass information for Brooksville FL
Do you have any suggestions of seeding rates,row spacing, or size of plugs for restoration of Panicum rigidulum or Panicum abscissum? Basically interested in a pasture planting with cutthroat gras...
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Inverness, FL
Care for non-native plumeria in Inverness FL
I have several plumeria plants that I planted in the ground this spring. I will soon need to dig them up and store them in the garage for the winter, as I left some last year that died with the frost...
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Inverness, FL
Wildflower gardening for Citrus Co., Florida
I live in Citrus County Florida, on the north central, west side of the state. I hope to start a wildflower meadow in my natural back yard. Can you recommend good wildflowers to grow, and where to g...
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Inverness, FL
Safely killing Paedeeria cruddasiana Prain (sewer vine)
Is there anyway to safely kill Paederia cruddasiana Prain (sewer vine)? Thank you!
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The Villages, FL
How to grow tulips and daffodils in Central Florida.
My question is how can you grow tulips and daffdoils in central Florida, just south of Ocala, a place called the Villages? I am from the Washington, DC area and truly miss these flowers, any help wou...
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The Villages , FL
Desert willow for Florida?
I, too, am interested in the desert willow tree. I reside in central Florida, 32162. However, Mountain States Nursery does not ship east of Texas. May I have a listing of other nurseries also. T...
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Summerfield, FL
Texas wild olive for Summerfield FL
I want to buy a Texas Wild Olive for my home in Summerfield, Fl. My landscaper brought me a regular olive tree saying he had never heard of a Texas Olive Tree in our area. I have looked on line withou...
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Hernando, FL
Plant identification of chenille-like plant in Florida
I live in Central Florida. I have a small, 8-10 inch plant that grows wild in the yard and has a 1 to 1-1/2 inch, bright red, feathery flower on it. I can't seem to find it on the internet and I'm ...
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Winter Garden, FL
Plants for pool area in Florida
My husband and I have a pool with 4 planters and are looking for plants that we can put into our screened in pool area. We live in Central Florida and looking for ideas of plants that are slow growin...
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Spring Hill, FL
Butterfly egg kit from Spring Hill FL
Could you please tell me all native plant(s) I can buy for my Sons Painted Lady Butterfly kit (eggs are going to hatch soon)and I don't know what to buy for the baby caterpillars to eat. I contacted ...
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Spring Hill, FL
Muhly grass slow to green up from Spring Hill FL
Have lots of muhly grass planted 3 yrs ago. This yr about 1/3 are VERY slow. Still look like hay stacks. No pattern in the bed. You mentioned pesticides being too close?
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Lecanto, FL
Goldenrod not blooming in Lecanto FL
My goldenrod(fireworks) grows only like a groundcover(3" tall) and does not flower. It is in full sun in my garden in Lecanto, Florida(zone 9A). What could be wrong? Thank you.
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Ocoee, FL
Plant identification for Florida
I am looking for the name of a plant that has long stalks and wispy long leaves with large round purple flowers on the end.
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Sorrento, FL
Identification of a plant with bumpy red fruit
I have a bush with red berry like pods on it. They are about 3/4 of an inch bumpy round with a big seed inside. The leaves are smooth and oval shape. Please let me know if it is poisonous or not, and...
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Wesley Chapel, FL
Transplant shock in non-native crape myrtle from Wesley Chapel, FL
I just bought a 12 ft. crape myrtle and planted it, giving it plenty of water I think. After 3 days the leaves are wilting and flowers are falling off.
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Wesley Chapel, FL
Ground cover for damp areas
I am looking for a cover ground plants that tolerate damp areas. Any suggestions?
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Citrus Springs, FL
Does the Dyschoriste oblongifolia attract snakes ?
Does the Dyschoriste oblongifolia (oblongleaf snakeherb)attract snakes?
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