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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

Dothan, AL
Elimination of Whitemouth dayflower in Dothan AL
I am infested with Widow's Tears in my yard. I would like to get rid of them. Can you tell me how?
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Dothan, AL
Wax myrtle in partial shade in Dothan AL
Will the Wax Myrtle do well in the 36303 area code in partial shade?
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Dothan, AL
Evergreen shrub with flowers Alabama
I am looking for an evergreen plant, shrub or the likeness that flowers in the spring that can handle hot afternoon sun in Southeast AL. Can you give me some suggestions, if there is such an animal.
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Dothan, AL
Apple trees for Dothan, AL
I would like to plant early, mid and late season apple trees in my area Dothan Al.What types can I plant that will help pollinate each other? I have plenty of room and planting some crabapples trees w...
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Wicksburg/Newton, AL
Low native groundcover for Wicksburg/Newton AL
I am laying a rather wide-set flagstone pathway in our back weeds (planning some native grass and wildflowers in the fall on either side of the path). I am looking for some very low native groundcover...
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Daleville, AL
Wildflowers for Daleville AL
What wildflowers will grow in Daleville AL, in almost all day sun ? Thank you.
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Ozark, AL
Tree without extensive root system in Ozark, AL
I would like to plant a tree (in full sun next to a brick house wall) that doesn't have an extensive root system. I have concerns about the roots and the water/septic lines, as well as the concrete h...
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Skipperville, AL
Need to plant something in the cracks in my patio in Skipperville, AL.
Mr. Smarty Pants, I have a cement patio full of cracks. I would like to grow some sort of plant or plants in the cracks. I live in lower Alabama, and my patio is in full sunlight. Do you have an...
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Enterprise, AL
Is cat palm (Chamaedorea cataractarum) poisonous?
I have a Cataractarum (Cat) Palm and am wondering if it is poisonous. I have a Cockatiel who likes to play in it. Thank you!
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Bonifay, FL
Should I purchase wax myrtle plants as liners or pots
I want to buy some wax myrtle over internet.Place has wax myrtle "liners" They look very thin. Will these bushes grow quickly or should I spend more $ for 1 gallon plants. Just need a hedge fairly q...
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Bonifay, FL
Liriope spicata for erosion and dust suppression from Bonifay FL
I want to plant Liriope 'spicata'. I know it can be aggressive and that's what I want. We live on dirt road and need something by road for help in erosion and it's also hard to mow this are...
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Ponce de Leon, FL
Identification of giant lilies
I have giant lilies that I can't identify. The bulbs are about 4" in diameter, the leaves are 4 ft long. The flowers of the pink emerge only in the early summer, the flowers of the red emerge in s...
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Troy, AL
Optimum viewing time for Texas wildflowers, bluebonnets
I will make a car trip from Alabama to Anson, Texas, in the next month or so. I would like to time my visit to see the Blue Bonnets and/or wildflowers blooming. Please advise me as to the best time t...
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Bainbridge, GA
No berries on dogwoods in GA
I have 4 native dogwood trees. I have owned the property for 4 years. They have never produced berries. Can you tell me why? are the trees male and female, and could I have all males?
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Bainbridge, GA
Georgia Monocots for Dodder Infested Location
I have a 12'x12' area where we planted carrots, and we got a surprise - dodder! Next year we planted corn - no dodder! This year we planted cosmos, and behold, we had dodder. I understand monocot...
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Bainbridge, GA
Native shrubs for wildlife and screening in Georgia
I live in Bainbridge, GA. I have 3 acres and want to plant for wildlife. I would like to plant fast growing native shrubs along the 400' of road that will benefit wildlife and shield us from the tr...
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Andalusia, AL
Plant identification of Indian Cane
I live in southern Alabama. We have a plant that is wild but I can not find any info on it. My grandmother called it Indian Cane. The stems are red and you can chew them, they have a sour taste
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Freeport, FL
Privacy screen for wet area in Florida
What are the best type of bushes/trees to plant in a low-lying area which is very wet--has sitting water after rainfall and drains slowly that is fast growing and serve as a good privacy border near f...
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Panama City, FL
Groundcover or grass for Panama City, Florida
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants I live in Panama City Florida and am having great difficulty growing a lawn. I would prefer no lawn as grass, it seems a pointless use of resources but my husband requires gr...
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Panama City, FL
Green fruit dropping from non-native navel orange tree
Hi, I have a seedless navel orange tree that is dropping the green fruit as of late and when I find the oranges laying there they have a large split in them that exposes the fruit. I don't think the...
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Panama City, FL
Bluebonnets and paintbrushes for Florida
Will bluebonnets and indian paintbrushes grow in the Florida panhandle?
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