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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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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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

Fredericksburg, TX
Problems with a two year old persimmon tree in Fredricksburg, TX.
Hi Mr/Ms Smarty Plants, We planted a 4-ft Texas Persimmon, Diospyros texana, 2-years ago, with wonderful leaf and fruit production since. We recently had a hail storm (5/9/13) and although mos...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Problems with Gregg's mistflower from Fredericksburg, TX
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Something is wilting the tops of my Gregg's mistflower, Conoclinium greggii. I cannot see bugs on the plant, so I am wondering if it's a disease. The problem is widespread to...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Identification of plant, probably Datura.
We currently have in bloom a very leggy, about 2 foot high volunteer plant in Fredericksburg, TX that has a segmented stem, single large trumpet shaped flowers that stick straight up about 4 inches in...
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Fredericksburg, TX
New Lawn for a New House in Central Texas
We have a new house with a barren yard. How soon can we successfully plant grass?
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Fredericksburg, TX
Replacement for non-native maiden grasses from Fredericksburg TX
I am trying to replace some maiden grasses that died during the drought. I want an evergreen grass or something soft looking to replace them. I want something that is native and 5 to 6 feet tall to ...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Non-blooming Tecoma stans in Fredericksburg, TX
We have an esperanza plant purchased last year from Walmart and planted outside before winter. It flowered excellently last year. Just before winter we cut it back to about a foot. So far this summer ...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Live Oaks and Foundations
I have a young live oak (18 inch trunk at it's base) growing within four feet of my house. What kind of damage can it cause my foundation? Need your help!
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Fredericksburg, TX
Viability of Desert Willow in clay soil in Fredericksburg, TX
I have recently purchased a house in a new subdivision in Fredericksburg, TX. The lot was not landscaped. I have a small lot (85 X 135), my back yard is about 50 X 85. The soil is a heavy clay. I am c...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Vines to Complement a Fence
I have a 3' weathered picket fence that I want to plant a flowering vine on part of it. The vine must be perennial, tolerate full sun and low watering. Is there anything besides trumpet, cross vine, ...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Mountain laurel planting over Frederickburg limestone
We have rocky limestone shelves on our property. We want to plant a mountain laurel. Are the roots strong enough to break through the limestone or should we try to find another location? The limestone...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Problem with Chinese Pistache tree
We have a gorgeous Chinese Pistache in our yard, about 25 feet tall. We bought it for its gorgeous fall color. The problem is that it has never turned color for us. All the other pistaches in the neig...
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Fredericksburg, TX
How can I submit a picture with my question?
How can I submit a picture with my question?
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Fredericksburg, TX
Native Grass is Falling Over
Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I've tried to find this answer but am stumped as to the cause. We live in Fredericksburg, TX and have several different tall grasses, Yellow Indian grass, Little Bluestem, wire...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Non-native lambs ears wilting in heat from Fredericksburg TX
3 days ago I had professional landscaping done in an area with plants that tolerate heat & sun well. We planted 7 healthy, large lambs ear & mulched. Everything planted is doing well except the lambs ...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Evergreen vine for trellis in Fredricksburg, Texas
Hello, and thank you so much for this service. I am looking for a non-deciduous vine to plant on the east side of my house. I have already put in a trellis, now I need to know what to plant on it. ...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Lindheimer's muhly, goat food in Fredericksburg TX
How can I eradicate Lindheimers muhly in my pasture and what can I plant in its place that goats will graze on?
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Fredericksburg, TX
Feeding live oak and redbud trees from Fredericksburg TX
Can you please tell me what to feed my live oak and texas redbud trees that survived the drought? We have granite soil.
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Fredericksburg, TX
Shrubs/trees for screen
I need several trees/tall shrubs for a screen well away from the house. The important height range is in the 4-7' range for effective screening. Soil is caliche rich but can be amended, sun will be...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Small to medium specimen native tree for Texas Hill Country
Can you recommend a small to med. 'specimen' tree to plant near our patio? Full sun, drought tolerant, interesting during different seasons. Thought about Blanco Crabapple, Rusty Blackhaw, Smoke Tr...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Crossvine for metal barn in Fredericksburg, TX
We have a backyard metal barn, the small storage-type structures that are common. Hail knocked some paint off the metal roof and rather than repaint it, we want to install some plastic webbing from th...
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Fredericksburg, TX
Native Indiangrass as a hedge
Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like to create a grass hedge as a foundation planting for a portion of our garden. One side of the planting is a concrete sidewalk to our garden shed, the other side wil...
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