Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members 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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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| topic | question | |
| Hardy taproot trees for Oklahoma City June 13, 2013 What are some hardy tap root trees for central Oklahoma? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Brown rings on grass under live oaks in Austin June 13, 2013 There are brown rings in the grass at the dripline on several Live Oak trees in our neighborhood. What causes this? The trees appear healthy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Garden instructions from Austin June 12, 2013 I'm a beginning gardener putting in some new landscaping in my front yard in north central Austin, TX. The yard faces almost due east, so it gets full sun until early afternoon, when the house's sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Perennial Suggestions for Under Ash Trees in Minnesota June 12, 2013 With our house we have inherited 2 ash trees in our front yard with a large amount landscaping underneath. I'm replacing the landscaping but there are tree roots at the surface preventing me from bei... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Damage to Pine Tree on Cape Cod, MA June 11, 2013 My pine tree on Cape Cod has bark that is perforated with holes covering the entire tree. Bark can be removed by hand. Looks dead. What did this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What's causing holes in trunk of white oak tree in SouthBend IN? June 10, 2013 We have a huge White Oak in our backyard that is approx. 130 years old. This evening I became aware that there are several small holes around the trunk that appear to be oozing a dark sappy liquid. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of tree with fragrant yellow flowers and thorns June 06, 2013 I'm not sure if this is a native plant. It's a tree, around 15" tall. The leaves are in bunches with 3-4 very sharp small spines at each bunch. Flowers are small, yellow, hang down from the leaf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Treating scarred Gum Bumelia from Lampasas TX June 05, 2013 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... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Looking for a specimen shade tree in San Rafael, CA June 04, 2013 I'm looking for a specimen shade tree that can get 30'x30', that doesn't drop a bunch of crud (seeds, etc) on the patio (leaves are ok), medium to low water requirement, roots are behaved, zone 9,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Western soapberry dropping leaves in San Antonio June 03, 2013 My Western Soapberry tree (China berry?) Suddenly started dropping full, perfectly healthy green, leaf units. Now half the tree is turning yellow. There is a second tree in the yard not far from this ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with non-native Callery Pear tree from Louisville KY June 03, 2013 I have a Cleveland select that has a bark issue. It is on its second season and I just saw this. It looks like the bark is bubbling up kinda and then wants to peel off the main trunk. I have a picture... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for the Shade of a Pine Tree in Pittsburg June 03, 2013 I live in Pittsburgh, PA. My neighbor has a huge pine tree. Last year everything I planted on that side near the tree died. That part of the yard only gets morning sun, as the tree overshadows it. Wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Photographing and Identifying trees of Long Island June 01, 2013 After being in a car accident I got into photography as sports are a distant memory due to my injuries. As a new hobby I thought of taking pictures of trees and then finding out their species name. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Windbreak [Dustbreak] for Shelton, WA May 31, 2013 I live on a well traveled, dusty, gravel road in the Pacific North West and would like to plant a barrier to help control the dust. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Windbreaks for Monterey County, CA May 31, 2013 I am trying to find good wind breakers for Monterey County area, very windy in the valley. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Trees for privacy screen in California May 31, 2013 Hi Mr. Smartypants, We are first-time home-buyers of a cute little house and a relatively large lot in Pacific Grove, CA. Unfortunately the neighbors to the north have built a second story with a nic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Would like a small tree for yard in Las Vegas, NV. May 31, 2013 would like a small tree with root system that grows down not spread on surface. Had raywood and medesto ash tree both died of desease. Diagnosed by arborist. Stated that these trees to big for my yard... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaves on new water oak turning brown from Matagorda TX May 30, 2013 We had water oaks planted in January when they had no leaves. Leaves came on but are now turning brown. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Desert Willow and Orchid tree with no upper leaves from Kerrville TX May 30, 2013 I have two 5 year old Desert Willows planted in my yard. This year only one has leaved out and blooming. The other is bare but the branches are not dead and it has new growth at the bottom. Do you kno... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fruit crops to grow in Tennessee mountains May 27, 2013 My property has a lot of rock formations throughout it and has hundreds of cedars where it is not pasture. I am wanting to grow fruit trees and berry bushes but don't know what can grow in this e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for a replacement tree for Hackberry tree in Austin, TX in Austin TX. May 25, 2013 We have a large hackberry tree in our front yard. We are cutting it down this fall. I would like to replace it with a tree native to this area..preferably something fast growing. What are your reco... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Ashe juniper from Lakeway TX May 25, 2013 Dear Sir/Madam, I have been living for the last three years in Lakeway, Texas approximately 20 miles west of Austin. In my back garden there are several ashe junipers about 15-20ft tall. However... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why so many Sugar Hackberry seedlings in my back yard in The Woodlands, TX? May 25, 2013 Why do I have so many Sugar Hackberry seedlings (Celtis Laevigata) sprouting up naturally in my back yard? There are a few Winged Elms in my neighborhood, but no Sugar Hackberry trees that I know of.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it OK to remove soil around oaks - Austin, TX. May 24, 2013 I have several oaks trees (one live oak + burr oaks) from 15'-35' in height. They seem healthy. A local arborist says they were planted too deep and that the soil around them needs to be excavated t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting Texas Persimmon in enclosed planter from San Angelo TX May 23, 2013 I want to plant a Texas Persimmon (in West Texas) in an enclosed planter 4' X 4' X 2.5' deep. What would be a good planting medium. Does it need to be deeper? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need to identify leaf extensions on the leaves of an elm sapling in Houston, Tx. May 22, 2013 I have an elm sapling which grows strange leave extensions on its leaves. Can I send you a picture? Tree looks healthy View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with a two year old persimmon tree in Fredricksburg, TX. May 22, 2013 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... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought resistant small tree for Ft. Worth TX May 22, 2013 I am looking for suggestions for a small tree (no more than 25 feet max)that is drought resistant but can handle a little irrigation and a lot of wind. Something showy is a plus. Grouped with salvias ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native replacement for bamboo from Houston May 21, 2013 I've read one reply where you do not advise using Bamboo as a privacy fence plant. What do you suggest in its place? The suggestions on the one I read will not work for me. Your suggestions were My... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What are the green round growths on the edges of my oak leaves in Fairfax, OK May 21, 2013 round growths on the edge of oak leaves. ranging in size from a pearl to a lime. ranging in color from pale green to lime green. hollow, small ones appear to contain one small gnat sized seed. the la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to deal with suckers on Flame-leaf Sumac May 20, 2013 Hi! It seems you can have too much of a good thing! Our flameleaf sumac is taking over our yard. There are multiple shoots appearing in our flower beds and in the lawn. How do I get rid of the unwante... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for running bamboo in California May 20, 2013 We currently have running bamboo planted next to the side our house facing West, which has provided wonderful shade in front of two large windows. However, because it is running bamboo we are afraid i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rock under space for Bigtooth Maple in San Antonio May 20, 2013 I just got a 10 gallon Bigtooth Maple in Medina TX for my home outside loop 1604 in San Antonio. I hit rock about 7 inches in when trying to plant it..I am entertaining the idea for a raised bed to le... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrubs and trees over septic tank in Killen AL May 20, 2013 Our church has 5year old blue rug juniper, a crape myrtle and two shrubs I can't identify planted over the septic tank which is surrounded with concrete and asphalt. I am afraid these will cause a pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Arizona Ash from Naco AZ May 19, 2013 Hi Mr. Smarty.. Live in southeast corner of Az. My Az. Ash is diseased. Just noticed leaves are curled, (still green) and when I open the leaf it has a zillion little white, what look like mites ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screening from Prosperity SC May 19, 2013 I need to know what would be a good tree to plant for blocking my neighbor's home it needs to be an evergreen and slender in the space it would take. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildlife garden for Austin May 19, 2013 I am trying to make my backyard more wildlife friendly. I have pecan trees for the canopy and some understory shrub/trees like rough leaf dogwood and redbud. I am having a really hard time finding sui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with fruit of Mexican Plum from McKinney TX May 19, 2013 MY Mexican plum tree (about 5 years old) has small fruit on it. Some of them are severely deformed, and look rotten almost. They are bumpy and ragged looking. Or they are pasty white,rotten and dried ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bark splitting in old tulip tree in Red Creek, NY. May 18, 2013 Hello, We have a tulip tree that has some bark splitting I guess I would call it. The tree is older and very tall. On the north side of it starting at the bottom of the trunk to about 8-9 feet up i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Suckers from Oak Tree Roots in Austin May 17, 2013 Hi. I am a home owner in Austin TX with several live oak trees. We love them and want to keep them healthy. We have a nice landscape in the back yard and I’m wondering if you can answer a quest... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting and care of Desert Willow in Golden Valley, AZ. May 17, 2013 I got a desert willow to plant in yard. Some of the leaves dried out before I could plant. Will that stop the tree from growing into a decent size tree or stay as a shrub? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree or shrub in Massachusetts May 16, 2013 Good morning, We are in Zone 5 and have a tree/shrub I cannot identify in the backyard of our new home. Tall (6')and growing, green stems,and when the stems are broken the branches smell of lemon o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What is meant when Mimosa Tree is described as an invasive tree in San Antonio TX? May 14, 2013 When it is stated that the Mimosa Tree is invasive, does that mean that the Roots are invasive or does it mean that the seed pods will drop and make many more trees ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grey Goo Coming from red Oak in Manchaca TX May 13, 2013 I have a large Red Oak in my yard that appears to be weeping some sort of grey goo from parts of the trunk. What is this goo and do I need to treat it and if so how? I'm happy to come by the Wildflow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do you determine male persimmon seedlings from the females? May 11, 2013 I have got new persimmon seedlings about 3 inches tall this spring, and am wondering if there is any way to tell male from female at this young stage? I just don't want to plant 20 or 40 seedlings an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Selecting a tree for a backyard in San Antonio, TX May 11, 2013 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I recently moved into a home in West San Antonio right outside Loop 1604..my treeless backyard is fairly small at about 55 ft long and 15 ft wide. I am torn because I can't ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Root ball disintegrating on Arroyo sweetwood from Dripping Springs TX May 11, 2013 I just purchased a arroyo sweetwood in a 5 gallon container and when I went to put it in the ground the root ball completely fell apart. I put it in the ground and watered it really good. What are its... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Affect of poisonous plant roots in soils for vegetables from Rusk TX May 11, 2013 I have a huge old flowerbed in front of my house that I want to plant veggies in, but I'm afraid to. It has a catalpa tree there, which I sell the worms from, but the entire tree (bark, leaves, flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fertilizing a Mature Mountain Ash May 10, 2013 What kind of fertilizer should I use on a mountain ash tree that is 25 years old (or more)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees to replace ones lost in Westchester County, NY May 09, 2013 We lost a large number of trees in the forest adjacent to our home, and I plan to replant them. What species do you recommend to plant the area with natives and to keep it looking "natural." View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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