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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

Cedar Creek, TX
New low maintenance grass similar to Turffalo
While touring the Wildlife Center, our group was told about about a new low maintenance grass similar to Turffalo. It only grows several inches tall, drought resistant and crowds out other grasses an...
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Cedar Creek, TX
What happens to wildflower seeds planted before a heavy rain in Cedar Creek TX
I planted tx wildflower seeds yesterday--November 19th. It has rained all day with water standing in the places that I planted. Do you think that they will take? Am I going to have to plant more seeds...
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Cedar Creek, TX
Evergreen Trees for Cedar Creek, TX
Hello I am wanting to plant some evergreen trees on my property out in Cedar Creek Texas. We have a lot of cedar trees but I really would like some live oaks. Is it possible to grow live oaks or somet...
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Cedar Creek, TX
Propagation of evergreen sumac by cuttings from Cedar Creek TX
I seek an ”Evergreen Sumac” propagation method by cuttings.
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Cedar Creek, TX
Possible sawflies on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
My pine trees looked great a week ago, now one from top to bottom is almost without needles. It is covered with greenish caterpillars. They have several stripes down their back . Could these be saw fl...
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Cedar Creek, TX
Nutgrass
Hey Hi Barbara, I just read the information you gave about nut grass. I had wished for other options. Back to digging them out. Thanks for the information What about substituting cud zoo. S...
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Cedar Creek, TX
Short native turf grass for Texas lawn
I would like a native grass mix that doesn't get too tall. It is mostly sun with afternoon shade. Mowing wouldn't be a problem, but not necessary. The soil is pretty good but shallow.I hate the ber...
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Cedar Creek, TX
Need plants to provide a privacy screen in Cedar Creek, TX
We need to screen out neighbor's house. What can we plant (fast growing tree or hedge) in partial shade? Area is dry in summer, but does get soggy during heavy rain. We live east of Austin in Cedar C...
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Hempstead, TX
Commercial sources of Virginia creeper
I am looking for Virginia Creeper 'Engelmannii' liners, I have looked through most of your national suppliers directory, only a couple carry vines. Thank you,
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Hempstead, TX
Hankering for a view-blocking hedge in Hempstead, TX.
Hempstead is 50 miles west of Houston and I am looking for a fast growing native to provide a block of a view for a fairly large area (about half a block). I would prefer something that is also benef...
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Hempstead, TX
Planting native yaupons on fence line for privacy
I live in the country and someone bought the place next door and is building a house close to me.(150 yards) I want to plant yaupon trees on my fence line. Can I get seeds somewhere? I have yaupons ...
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Hempstead, TX
Source for Orbexilum from Hempstead TX
I am looking for a source of plants or seed for a Texas native plant: Mountain Pea, orbexilum sp. (nova). Thank you,
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Hempstead, TX
Seeding the banks of a large pond
I have a 2 acre surface pond that is mostly a hard clay bank all around. The water level is way down and I will begin filling it very soon. I need to somehow being affordable, plant something or thing...
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Washington, TX
Rattan vine for deer in Washington County, TX
My property in Washington County has a lot of very old rattan vine, much of which is 3" in diameter. All of the leaf and berry production on these vines is well over 50' above the ground. I manage...
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Washington, TX
Privacy screen for barn from Washington TX
We live on a large ranch and have someone now next to us that built a barn on our fence line that we want to make a tree barrier to hide it, so we need to plant trees that will grow at least 15-29 fee...
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Chappell Hill, TX
a source for fruitless olive (non-native) trees
I was given a "mexican olive" several years ago which is doing very well. This one is non-fruiting and I would like to have another that is non-fruiting but cannot find one. Cordia boissieri see...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Plant identification
I am trying to name a pink fall blooming wildflower. It is growing in a ditch and has several blooms on a stalk about 4' tall.
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Chappell Hill, TX
Starting transplants of native Pleopeltis polypodioides
I would like to know how to start Pleopeltis polypodioides (resurrection fern) growing in my oak trees. I have a source for the plants but do not know how to start the transplants on the limbs of the...
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Chappell Hill, TX
Wild Texas olive trees in Chappell Hill TX
Are wild texas olive trees male and female? Mine is evergreen with no olives. I would like to have another that is evergreen and has no fruit but all I find are deciduous and have fruit.
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Chappell Hill, TX
Identification of Bidens aristosa (Tickseed sunflower) in Texas
I think the ID of the plant I submitted a description of yesterday is Tickseed Sunflower (Bidens aristosa). Thanks.
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Chappell Hill, TX
Latest time to mow bluebonnets from Chappell Hill TX
The past few years, my bluebonnets have been overwhelmed by tall grass. I could have solved this by mowing later, but I was always afraid of mowing new bluebonnet plants. When is the latest time I can...
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