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.
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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
Yorktown, TX
Sending a picture of an oak from Yorktown TX
How I can I send a pic of my oak in Yorktown near Cuero?
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Hochheim, TX
Eliminating straggler daisy from St. Augustine grass in Hochheim TX
I have straggler daisy in my St. Augustine grass. What herbicides work well on straggler daisy and won't ding up the grass too bad?
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Yoakum, TX
Smarty Plants on Rain-lily
What is the common lily (I think) that grows in the ditches and especially this year because of all the rain.
The flower is trumpet shaped and has red stripes in the petals? Very common everywhere t...
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Victoria, TX
Bee Plants for Victoria Texas
I live in Victoria south Texas and want to plant bee beneficial native wildflowers, could you provide advice or contact
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Victoria, TX
No Berries on Possumhaw from Victoria, TX
I bought a Possumhaw about 4 years ago because I love red berry plants. So you can realize my disappointment in this very healthy looking green tree that refuses to give me any red berries. What is wr...
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Victoria, TX
Problem with crapemyrtle shoots in Victoria, TX
I have a problem with crepe myrtle shoots coming up in my flowerbed. I had to remove a large crepe myrtle tree (18" diameter stump) and digging out the stump was not possible. I killed the stump wi...
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Victoria, TX
Mistake in propagation of Mustang grapes from Victoria TX
I didn't read first! I planted dried mustang grape seeds in good potting soil, watered and put on tall clear plastic bags to retain moisture, will they ever come up? Should I get the seed out and r...
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Stockdale, TX
Finicky Trumpet Vine in Stockdale Texas
I need help dealing with a very old trumpet vine. It was my grandmothers and she died in 79. It's always been beautiful till 99 when my grandmothers house burned down. It was right behind it. It cam...
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Gonzales, TX
Source for Brazoria Hawthorne
I want to buy several Brazoria Hawthorn to plant in my yard and need a source, can you help?
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Gonzales, TX
Propagation of Blackfoot Daisy from Gonzales TX
How do I propagate Melampodium leucanthum, blackfoot daisy?
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Gonzales, TX
Tool for removing live oak root shoots in Gonzales TX
I've read your answer to live oak root shoots. You said to get rid of them by going 2 to 4 inches below the surface and cutting them. What tool is best for this shoot removal? I'm getting very tir...
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Gonzales, TX
Transplanting non-native sago palms in Gonzales, TX
How to harvest Sago palm pups. I have 2 very old sago palms and they have loads of new starts (pups) coming off of the plant. I want to cut some pups and start some new plants without harming the pare...
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Gonzales, TX
Plant identification
We found a bush on our ranch in southern Gonzales County. It has oval shaped leaves about an inch long. There are no thorns on the branches. Fruit is round and smooth, the size of a small cherry to...
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Gonzales, TX
Locating source for Crataegus Brazoria (Brazoria Hawthorn)
I want to purchase a Crataegus Brazoria Sarg. (Brazoria Hawthorn) but cannot find a source for one. Can you help?
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Floresville, TX
Failure to bud out of Shumard oaks in Floresville TX
Question: I have a Shumard red oak (9-10ft tall) that I planted last October as its leaves were turning a brilliant red color. However, it's the only tree that did not bud this spring. I scraped t...
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Floresville, TX
How to transplant agarita in Floresville, TX.
How is the best way to propagate Agarita? I have acres of them in the pasture but want some for the house landscape and to grow. I was told they go dormant for a year if you dig them up to transplan...
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Floresville, TX
Transplanting Mexican bonebract in Floresville, TX
My kids and I finally identified a small plant that we found growing in our pasture. There was only one and it is lovely. It is the Mexican Bonebract. What I am interested in finding out is how to tra...
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Floresville, TX
Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
Is the fruit of Melothria pendula edible?
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Beeville, TX
Plant identification for Beeville, TX
Today in Beeville, TX I came across a plant that looks like a grass, but has a small black and white dotted flower. The flower looks like an orchid. Could you identify this or give me direction as t...
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Beeville, TX
Non-native, invasive King Ranch bluestem and Coastal bermuda for horses
Is blue stem grass mixed with coastal good for horses?
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Beeville, TX
Native Grasses as a Hay Crop in Beeville, TX
I am looking to cut Hay on about 38 acres just west of Beeville, Texas. I want to convert the land to native grasses, but I still want to have a decent hay crop that I can sell. What is a good set of ...
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