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

Guthrie, OK
Groundcover for part shade/shade in Oklahoma.
I am looking for perennial ground covers for shade to part shade under red oaks in central Oklahoma. Soil condition is usually dry. Can you recommend some natives in addition to creeper for xeriscape?...
view the full question and answer

Tonkawa, OK
Native trees or shrubs for privacy in Tonkawa, OK
I live in North Central Oklahoma and I want to plant trees or shrubs along 100 ft of creek to create privacy. I would like them to grow at least 15 to 20 ft tall. What would you recommend for this l...
view the full question and answer

El Reno, OK
Propagation by seed of Capsicum annuum
I have always been told that the only way that a seed from a chili pequin pepper can germinate is that it has to be eaten by a bird and passed through it's digestive system. I have heard that there i...
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
Transplanting redbud from field in Edmond, OK
I want to transplant a small redbud from a field to my yard. The trunk diam is about 1.5" and the tree is about 4' tall. What is the best way to do this? Should I plant it in a pot first?
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
Thinning and culling wildflower seed mix plants
Wildflower garden in central Oklahoma I sowed a (mostly) native wildflower mixture in early November here in my Zone 7A Edmond, OK garden. To my surprise, many of the seeds (I'm guessing annuals)...
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
Weeds in Buffalograss from Edmond OK
We have a patch of buffalograss surrounded by patio/flower garden/vegetable garden. We like B-grass, but are getting a lot of weeds despite preemergents, and some bermuda had appeared. Are there h...
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
List of plants that tolerate
Could I get a list of "grey water" tolerant shrubs/evergreens/etc? *Full sun
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
Groundcover for Shady Front Beds in OK
I need a groundcover for my front beds in Edmond, OK that are moist and in full shade. The groundcover would primarily be around and under a Japanese maple. Low maintenance is preferred.
view the full question and answer

Edmond, OK
Poisonous Trees
Are redbuds and catalpa trees poisonous?
view the full question and answer

Stillwater, OK
Food for deer and turkey in Oklahoma
We recently moved to NE Oklahoma from Texas and have 7 acres, a lot of wild turkeys and wild deer. About 2-3 acres are open, with sun and partial to lots of shade as the rest is heavily wooded. What ...
view the full question and answer

Stillwater, OK
Oak bark problems from Stillwater OK
In my clients large oak tree there is bark stripped from the limbs in small pieces. No piece is larger than 1 inch by 1 inch and occurs on limbs high in the canopy. It does not look like squirrel doin...
view the full question and answer

Yukon, OK
Native groundcovers for bare, shady space in Oklahoma
I have recently acquired a new residence that has very little lawn to speak of. The backyard is in an unfortunate position to catch significant amounts of rainwater from nearby yards, and is sloped. ...
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Plant identification
I have a plant similar to sheepshire. It has red leaves and yellow blooms exactly like the green variety. We brought it here to Oklahoma from Wyoming. I would like to know what it's called and where ...
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Plants for a shaded flower bed in OK City
Here in Oklahoma City we have a flower bed west of our house, shaded all day by the house next door except for 2-3 hours of direct sun from the west. I have struggled with what bushes to plant there....
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Need suggestion for a tree with a tap root in Oklahoma City, OK.
I would like to know the best tree to plant in my area that does well. Would like a tap root tree and also a tree that will not mess with my septic lines. Thank you
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Savannah holly sprouting in lawn in Oklahoma City
I have a 15 year old Savannah Holly in a shrub bed. This year, seedlings have sprouted all over my front lawn. This is the first year that I have had this problem other than in the shrub bed itself. I...
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Shade tolerant Wildflowers for Oklahoma City
I live in Oklahoma City. I'm not in town very often, and am seeking low maintenance plants. I have MANY trees in my backyard, which makes it quite shady. I have raised beds amongst my rock garden ...
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Mosquito repellent plant?
I would like to know if there is a plant that keeps mosquitoes away. Thanks
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Rain garden Plants for Colorado
Can you recommend native plants for a rain garden in Colorado Springs
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Procedure for planting buffalograss
I would like to get a full schedule of events/actions for planting a lawn with buffalo grass. The area is already a lawn, though mostly weeds. It is June/July. First, cover area to be seeded with b...
view the full question and answer

Oklahoma City, OK
Identification of daisy-like wildflower in New Mexico
I recently visited Angel Fire, NM and I cannot identify the daisy-like wildflower that was growing there. August seemed to be the favorite time for this flower. I asked the local nursery and they th...
view the full question and answer