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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

Vienna, Austria, Other
Sapindus drummondii or Rhus aromatica for Austria
Hy! I'm from Austria/Europe, and interested in some North American native plants specially. It would be great if you can help me with my two questions: Sapindus drummondii I read from different...
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Vienna, Austria, Other
Propagating Carya illinoinensis in Vienna, Austria
I'm interested in growing and propagating the pecan, Carya illinoiensis for my area (Austria). Northern pecans are the better choice. Are trees grown from seed (no northern pecan origin) also as har...
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Vienna, Austria
Is western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii) dioecious?
Hi! I found different information on the flowering habits of the western soapberry, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii. Is it dioecious or polygamo-dioecious or none of them? I have some little seed...
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Frankfurt, Germany
Problems with rhododendrons in Germany
I am writing with questions about rhododendrons. I purchased four small rhododendron/azalea hybrids in April. Because I had to prepare the garden before planting them, I left them in the pots they cam...
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Milan-Italy, Other
Alkalinity-tolerant grasses
Dear Sirs - Are you aware of any grass species that could survive in strongly alkaline soils (ph from 10 up to 12) Thanks a lot.
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Italy, TX
Transplanting native bluebells in Texas
Hello Smarty, Italy TX here again! Your advice on crape myrtles has inspired me to try harder, but now I have a question about a TRUE native wildflower,the Texas Bluebell, growing in my pasture. I ca...
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Bonn, Germany
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) frost tolerance, making cuttings
Dear Madam or Sir, It would be very kind, if you could answer my questions about the “Thuja Plicata atrovirens” alias “Western Red Cedar”. I need the information because a good friend of mine ...
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Kozya Stena, Bulgaria , Other
Smarty Plants on Rohel’s saxifrage
Hi, can you help? Do you know what is a plant named: Rohel’s saxifrage? "Bulgaria - Cenral Balkan National Park - Kozya Stena (Chamois Wall) Reserve was established on December 22, 1987. With an a...
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Houten, Holland
Source of native Desert Lily for The Netherlands
I am searching a bulb of Hesperocallis undulata. Do you know where I can get/buy this bulb I hope you can help me. Thank you very much warmest regards The Netherlands
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Mechelen Belgium, Other
Wildlife habitat in Gambia
Thank you for the interesting website. We bought a plot in the Gambia and would like to change it into a habitat for different living species; hence, your kindly advise is welcome as we are definitel...
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The Netherlands, Other
Smarty Plants on Kokias
I am searching for seeds of different Kokias (Kokia cookei, K. drynariodes and K. kauaiensis) and Thespesias (Thespesia grandiflora, T. thespesioides, T. nerifolia and T. popul...
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Oegstgeest/NL, Other
Books on Lilies
Dear Sir, I am looking for a book covering the Lily Family as a whole, i.e., it should preferably also discuss other Genera than Lilium only. I am especially interested in Lily members occurring in t...
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Paris, France
Care of Rio Grande Wild Petunia
I have bought the Rio Grande Wild Petunia, Ruellia davisiorum. How should I look after it?
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Lépaud, France
More information on Malvavaceae from French botanical garden
hello thanks for the reply in your garden all of yours Malvaceae interested us but priority for this species could you help us ? regards Fabrice Absous Allowissadula holosericea Bastardia ...
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Lépaud, France
Request for seeds or cuttings for Malvaceae from French Botanical Garden
hello We create a botanical garden devoted to the Malvaceae, can you help us by sending us seeds or cuttings? friendly the director jean-marie Jolicard botanical garden beaulieu 23170 Lépaud F...
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Tunbridge Wells kent, England
Failure to thrive of passion flower in Tunbridge Wells England
I planted my passion plant 3 years ago and I have really looked after it. I think this winter has killed it, it looks so dead. I hope it can be saved; there isn't one part of it that is looking healt...
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Redhill, England
Date for visitor from England to see bluebonnets
Hi there I live in England, and I'm planning a trip to Texas to photograph the wildflowers around Austin and the hill country. I especially want to photograph bluebonnets. I can be in Texas either...
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London, Other
Identification of green succulent plant with red tubular flowers
Hi there, i have this plant which is green,leaves are succulent, and these red tubular little flowers about an inch long grow rampantly all summer. i wanna know what it is called as i take cuttings a...
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Surbiton, England
Water absorbing plant from Surbiton, England
Ground soggy with rain, is there a plant that will absorb water?
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High Wycombe, England
Trailing perennial plants for High Wycombe, England
Hello Mr Smarty Plants, I would like to know what trailing plants are also perennial, preferably flowering ones but that also look pretty when not in flower? My kitchen looks out onto a five foot h...
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Oxfordshire, England
Yucca sprouting shoots in Oxfordshire, England
I have a 20ft outdoor yucca with four huge branches.It is 11 years old. For the first time it has sprouted two side shoots on one of the trunks. They are about 12 inches in length. What is the best wa...
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