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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

Adamsville, TX
Plant identification
I found a large shrub/tree behind an old building on my place. It has small smooth oval leaves 3/4-1 inch; x 1/2 inch, small somewhat clusters of a blue fruit 1/4-1/2 inch diam with one seed in it. Ca...
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Lometa, TX
Are Yucca and Spanish dagger the same?
We have Yucca, and we have Spanish Dagger. We don't think they are the same thing. Are they?
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Lometa, TX
Looking for rattlesnake flower
I taught school for many years. The students and I identified wildflowers. I had one I call Rattlesnake Flower. It was small and had a little blue flower. On the leaves were little seed cases that...
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Lampasas, TX
Native plants for butterflies and birds in a park in Lampasas, Texas
There is an area along a creek in Lampasas, Texas that I want to establish as a butterfly and bird park. There are various native plants there now, but I want to add plants that are hosts for butterf...
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Lampasas, TX
Toxicity of seeds of Texas Mountain Laurel for dog
I have a Tx Mountain Laurel that is in 1 end of a dog pen. I just heard the seeds are poisonous. Is this true & should we pull the seeds off so the dog can't reach them to eat? Thanks for your assist...
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Lampasas, TX
Treating scarred Gum Bumelia from Lampasas TX
We have a very old Gum Bumelia with a scarred open tree trunk. In the past concrete was used to fill the scarred trunk. What is the acceptable method of helping the tree. More concrete or using blac...
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Kempner , TX
Ash tree dying back to lower sprouts in Kempner TX
My 2 year old ash tree leaves dropped, appears dead, branches dying. New growth near base of tree. Do I cut upper trunk or remove entire tree? My other ash is doing well.
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Burnet-Kempner, TX
Source for trees from Burnet TX
I am desperately searching the central Texas area for Pistacia Mexicana male and female trees to buy. I would like about four, maybe more. I live in the Killeen-Lampasas area and have been to seve...
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Kempner, TX
Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX
The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for ov...
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Kempner, TX
Shade trees not toxic to dogs in Kempner TX
Dear Mr Smarty Plants, we are looking for shade trees to plant around our home in Kempner, Tx. I saw another family that asked a similar question but we have dogs and holly or oak trees are toxic (my...
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Kempner, TX
Fruit trees for Kempner, Texas
I just moved to Kempner , TX and would like to plant a couple of fruit trees in my 1 1/4 ac yard. I would like to plant a species that will do well and produce edible fruit. Any assistance will be app...
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Kempner, TX
Is horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis) edible?
Hello, I find horse-herb everywhere. Is it edible, too? Thanks!
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Kempner, TX
Plants for wildlife and trees for shade.
We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,...
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Copperas Cove, TX
Problems with gnats in dirt
I have problems with gnats in my dirt. It's something I can't get control of. What can I do?
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Goldthwaite, TX
Control of grasshoppers from Goldthwaite TX
How long do grasshoppers live. They are eating our flowers, plants and trees.
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Goldthwaite, TX
Source for Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: an Earthwise Guide for Central Texas
Do you know where I could get a copy of the publication, "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Earthwise Guide for Central Texas"? I believe this was a joint effort between the City of Austin an...
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Jonesboro, TX
Preparing to plant buffalograss in Jonesboro, TX
Our current lawn is full of broad-leaf weeds, KR bluestem, a little native grass, lots of wildflowers and in spots, lots of rocks . We are in the country in Hamilton Co., TX. We want to plant buffa...
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Gatesville, TX
Looking for Irises for Coryell County, TX.
I'm looking for a hearty plant for Coryell County, TX. My mother always referred to these plants as "flags." I assume it is a type of iris. I'm looking for the one that will survive in the Cent...
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Gatesville, TX
Vines for fence in Gatesville, Texas
Dear Mr Smarty Plants, My wife and I are looking for a nice vine or Ivy for our chain link fence to add a little privacy. We have 4 dogs that bark at anything that moves. We live in Gatesville Tex...
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Gatesville, TX
Should I remove the flowering stalk from my Dasylirion leioiphyllum?
We transplanted a plant that is new to us but going through your photos on your website, it appears that we have a Dasylirion Leiophy. My question is this.. Are we supposed to cut the 6' stem that f...
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Gatesville, TX
Is balsam gourd (Ibervillea lindheimeri) poisonous or edible?
Is the Balsam Gourd edible or poisonous?
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