Native Plants
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.
Support NPINHelp grow the Native Plant Information Network by giving to the Plant Database Fund or subcribing to Wildflower magazine.
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Willis, TX
Need help with century plant in Willis, TX
Ok so I have two gorgeously monstrous century plants in my yard..I love em BUT I don't know if the have ever bloomed but since I am removing pups as fast as I can during the rainy season I'm assumin...
view the full question and answer
Willis, TX
Groundcover for area under oaks in Lake Conroe, Texas
I live just off Lake Conroe, and my backyard is more dirt than grass. It is under a number of oak trees, and the dirt is more of a silt than a sand. I need suggestions for a quick growing ground cover...
view the full question and answer
New Waverly, TX
Fast growing shade tree for East Texas Piney Woods
What is the fastest growing shade tree for E.Tx.Piney Woods? We have an area that desperately needs protection from the summer heat. The site is comprised of gumbo clay and there are no other plants t...
view the full question and answer
New Waverly, TX
Propagation of mountain laurel seeds
My Texas Mountain Laurel this year finally produced seed pods. How do I go about planting the seeds for a new tree? A few of my co-workers love my tree and I would like to give them either the seeds ...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Non-blooming climbing rose in Conroe, TX
I have a climbing rose and it has never bloomed and has no thorns, it was a cutting from another rose bush. I have given it water and fertilize and have mulch around it also.
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Identity of rubbery-looking tree with long green thorns
I am trying to identify a tree that has a green rubbery look with long, sharp, green thorns. This tree is on my property in Conroe, TX and the soil type is Gladwater clay frequently flooded.
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Screen for highway noise in Conroe, Texas
I have 120' of fence line which backs up to a busy highway, and now there are plans to widen it to four lanes. Is there a native tree or shrub which could help dampen the noise and block out the view...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Need information about oak wilt and Shumard oak in Houston, Tx.
I want to plant a Shumard red oak in my North Houston front yard, with two Nuttall oaks. I keep hearing about something call oak wilt. Is there something I can do to prevent this disease during the ...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Are philodendrons, variegated ginger, sword ferns and palms toxic to horses?
Are philodendrons, variegated ginger, sword ferns and palms toxic to horses?
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Plants for erosion control in East Texas
We have recently moved to Conroe and are having a problem with erosion behind a retaining wall (installed by previous owner. The retaining wall is made of concrete and is about 8 foot tall by 110 foo...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Identification of wild plum found in Conroe, TX
I have found a wild plum that has dirty pink flowers and reddish smooth bark in a field in the town of Conroe, Tx. Identification thru the Ag Man here was sketchy and inaccurate. Short stubby limbs w...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Obtaining information about non-native Maurandella antiffhiniflora seeds
Mr. Smarty Plants: My Mother and I love to see all the beautiful Snapdragons blooming each year. We never know when to actually plant the seeds in order to have the Snapdragons come up and bloom by th...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Growing bluebonnets in England
I'm sending some bluebonnet seeds to Norwich England to a dear friend. What time of year should she plant them?
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Wild plums for jelly from Conroe TX
Do wild plum trees grow in my area? I want to get some next summer to make plum jelly.
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
What will grow in red clay in Conroe TX?
We just built a new home and the foundation was poured on red clay which is what my flowerbed area is in. Could you please tell me what can be planted that will grow. I am looking for ground cover, fl...
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Low maintenance grass for shade in Conroe, TX
What is the best low maintenance grass to plant in front lawn shaded, no traffic area?
view the full question and answer
Conroe, TX
Identification of plant with seed pods that have red seeds
I was working for a landscaping company and I was told to clean up around the pool area. I started cleaning up then I noticed this dark brown pod on the ground. At first I thought it was a piece of an...
view the full question and answer
Montgomery, TX
Identity of poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas
What is the name of a poisonous thorn bush in Montgomery Texas?
view the full question and answer
Montgomery, TX
How close to plant Prunus carolinia for a privacy buffer in Montgomery, TX.
I recently purchased some Prunus caroliniana trees for a privacy buffer between my neighbor and me. I have not yet planted them. They are in 25 gallon buckets and are about 10 feet tall now. How mu...
view the full question and answer
Montgomery, TX
Ways of eliminating smilax bona-nox
How can I get rid of "smilax bona" or green briar vines besides digging them up one by one? I have been told by Harris County Ext. Office to just mow them.. Ha Ha Good luck with that. Is there a...
view the full question and answer
Montgomery, TX
Flowering landscape plants for Montgomery TX
Hello I live in Montgomery TX. I am looking for low growing evergreen flowering plants for the front of my three deep beds. The first plant closest to the foundation is loropetalum, then I have a blue...
view the full question and answer