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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!

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Questions From Near You

Kaplan, LA
Corrells false dragonhead
I live in South Louisiana. I saw in a recent local paper a picture of Correll's false dragonhead and the small caption under the picture states that this flower is rare and hard to find. I took some...
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Broussard, LA
Plant identification
I am trying to identify a plant in Crocket County Texas. It looks similar to a small thistle. It has purple thorny bulbs on it, the stem and leaves also are thorny.
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Lafayette, LA
Dying non-native cleyera in Lafayette, LA
Thanks for all the information. One of my six year old cleyera shrubs turned completly brown within two weeks, it is dead. Another is beginning to do the same......do you think it was the recent dro...
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Lafayette, LA
Propagation of wax myrtle from Lafayette LA
Hello, I have a good portion of Wax Myrtle Seeds. How do I get them Started for planting? Have been told to put several seeds in a Jar lid in a very damp paper-towel & leave them there till they ...
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Lafayette, LA
Identifying gender of persimmon trees
How can you tell the difference between a male persimmon tree and a female persimmon tree? Also do you need both to bear the fruit? I live in Louisiana and never heard of this before. Thanks.
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Lafayette, LA
Hurricane resistant alternatives to crape myrtle
Are there any native small to medium trees (15-25 ft) to use instead of crapemyrtles (Lagerstroemia indica)? Crapemyrtles come in many colors and bend with hurricane winds instead of snapping or uproo...
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Lafayette, LA
Can I grow wild rice in green house conditions?
Can I grow Zizania aquatica (wild rice) in green house conditions?
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New Iberia, LA
Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground
I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou...
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St. Martinville, LA
Privacy Screen for Heavy Clay and Full Sun in Louisiana
What would be a fast-growing plant for privacy in Louisiana? I have heavy clay and full sun.
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Opelousas, LA
Source for purchase of native Parkinsonia aculeata
I would like to buy a Jerusalem Thorn Tree plant. I will purchase seeds if plant is not available. Can you tell me where I can purchase either?
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Basile, LA
Colorful flowering plants in shade of live oak in Louisiana
What colorful flowering plants can be grown near the shady base of live oak trees in the Deep South?
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Mamou, LA
Trimming live oaks in Mamou LA
We have 3 large Live Oak trees in our yard. The problem we are having is when we trim a branch off so we can walk under the branch, the whole branch dies back. Is there a certain way to trim the limbs...
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Lake Charles, LA
Need mowable ground cover for shady area under trees in Lake Charles, LA.
I live in Southwest Louisiana. I have a large portion of my back yard that is very shady because I have large trees in the yard. The area dries up fairly quickly after a heavy rain, so it isn't extre...
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Lake Charles, LA
Plants for southwest Louisiana courtyard
Hi, I live in southwest Louisiana,very close to Texas. I would like to remove the grass in my townhome backyard (east sun exposure) and create a courtyard by adding pavers. However I am planning on...
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Lake Charles, LA
Why is Water Hyacinth an invasive plant and Pickerel Weed isn't in Metarie, LA?
Water Hyacinth. Would you please tell me why the Eichhornia crassipes (non-native) vs. Pickerelweed (native) is invasive vs. non-invasive? What are easy identifiers for these aquatic plants? Th...
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Port Allen, LA
Pool-side ornamentals for south Louisiana
We live in south Louisiana and are re-doing the plants around our pool. What are some low maintenance, small shrubs (flowering) or other ornamentals that would be good in this area?
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Baton Rouge, LA
Transplanting Ilex x attenuata (Savannah holly)
Is it hard to take a savannah holly out of my front yard? Do the roots grow down deep or are they more shallow? I can only take a 36-40 rootball circumference because of surrounding established shru...
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Baton Rouge, LA
Where can white prickly poppy be viewed en mass from Baton Rouge LA?
Does the center feature the native White Prickly Poppy? When is prime blooming season? Can you give me some specific locations in the area where the plant can be seen en mass and photographed? Thank...
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Baton Rouge, LA
Carex as a shady turf alternative in Austin
I just read your answer to Barbara Medford's question about what multi-species native grasses would work to create a shady lawn. While you had some wonderful suggestions you mention a homeowner's as...
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Baton Rouge, LA
Native and non-native Wandering Jew and Four o Clocks
I am looking for information on 2 separate plants in my yard. The names that people have given me on what they are is as follows: Wondering Jew Four O'Clock
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Baton Rouge, LA
White evening primrose from Baton Rouge LA
My husband and I have a disagreement about Mexican Primroses. I believe I have seen patches of them which are pure white. He believes they must be faded pink ones. Do white ones occasionally grow? ...
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