Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Ask Mr. Smarty 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.

Subscribe online now
Mr. Smarty Plants would give Wildflower magazine two thumbs up...if he had two thumbs.
Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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

Washta, IA
Growth on top of Echinacea purpurea (Eastern purple coneflower)
I grow purple coneflowers in my garden. ONE plant has something growing on the top of each cone. I would like to know what it is but I don't see how I can add a photo to this post.
view the full question and answer

Ida Grove, IA
Wintering over a Cuphea ignea in Iowa Zones 4-5
I have a Cigar Plant, or a cuphea. I live in Iowa and need to know how to take care of this plant. Does this plant die and that's it, or does this plant come back year after year?
view the full question and answer

Merrill, IA
Plants for steep embankment on the Missouri River in Nebraska
Hi, My embankment along the Northeast Nebraska shoreline of the Missouri River is eroding the land away. Do you have any suggestions for seed I could throw over the side of the bank that would grow...
view the full question and answer

Wahpeton, IA
Plants for Erosion Control on Lake Bank in Wahpetan,IA
We have a steep 15 to 20 foot high bank on the glacial formed lake, West Okoboji. We are experiencing erosion and would like a solution to prevent further erosion. We have wild roses, sumac, wild qui...
view the full question and answer

Sioux Falls, SD
Privacy hedge for South Dakota
Hi, I'm looking for something to use as a hedge. 8 foot or so tall offering semi privacy all year. I like dogwoods but loss of leaves in the winter makes me skeptical. Boxwood would be interesting...
view the full question and answer

Bennington, NE
The most important part of growing plants.
In your opinion what is the most important part of growing plants.
view the full question and answer

Bennington, NE
Difference in natural soil and potting soil.
If you buy store bought soil is it different than soil from the ground?
view the full question and answer

Bennington, NE
How do plants living in various climates differ?
Do plants that live in different climates have different tecture or are they just totally different?
view the full question and answer

Bennington, NE
Why is water used for plants.
Why is water the most popular thing for watering plants if is so plain?
view the full question and answer

bennington, NE
Thickness of liquid when growing plants
Q: Does the thickness of liquid matter when growing plants?
view the full question and answer

Yankton, SD
Tree for South Dakota
Sir, I am looking for suggestions on a backyard tree, nice shade tree 60-80' height to complement a split foyer house and a flowering crab that is currently there. Low maintenance, with no seeds or c...
view the full question and answer

Oakland, IA
School Rain Garden in Iowa
Could you recommend plants for a rain garden to be installed on a middle school campus in the Council Bluffs Iowa area???? Many thanks!
view the full question and answer

Omaha, NE
Native holly (ilex) for Austin area
Hi--my brother and his family live in Austin, TX--their german shepard "Holly" just died (she was 13)--I was throwing around the idea of sending them a holly plant of some sort to have in honor of H...
view the full question and answer

omaha, NE
Various landscape problems in Omaha, NE.
Thank you for your time, sorry i cant sort this out because my issue seems to fit many but also none of the issues I've read about. Some patches of grass in my lawn have yellow spots and dying and/or...
view the full question and answer

Omaha, NE
Reason for die-back of native Mahonia repens
I have several mahonia repens plants planted on my property. This is the third spring for them and I have noticed that they look like they might be dying out. The leaves have turned brown and are cu...
view the full question and answer

Omaha, NE
Eliminating invasive, non-native chameleon plant from Omaha NE
I have been attempting to eradicate the chameleon plant in my gardens for 3 years. I have sprayed Round Up and covered with newspaper then mulch and it is coming back again this year! I am wondering...
view the full question and answer

Norfolk, NE
Plants that grow in Canada, US and Mexico from Norfolk NE
Are there any plants that grows in Canada, US and Mexico?
view the full question and answer

Plattsmouth, NE
Native trailing plant for Nebraska
I live in the tall grass prairie area of Eastern Nebraska and am working on some prairie restoration and native plantings. I have just put in a limestone retaining wall and would like to find a nativ...
view the full question and answer

Ames, IA
Source of article on Great St. Johns-wort (Hypericum ascyron)
I found the following comment on your database when reading about Hypericum ascyron: Comments: The scattered distribution of this plant in Ontario is thought to match historical aboriginal encampment...
view the full question and answer

Ames, IA
Harvesting bittersweet from Ames IA
How do I harvest my bittersweet?
view the full question and answer

Johnston, IA
Host plant for Northern Pearly Eye butterfly
Can we add to the host plant information for Elymus hystrix (Bottlebrush grass)? The grass is host plant for the Northern Pearly Eye butterfly (Enodia anthedon). It would be great to share this info...
view the full question and answer