Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

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.

 
<< previous 1 2 3 4 ... 203 next >> 
10,103 Results:   10  25 50 100 per page


topicquestion
Identification of tart fruit that looks like a pumpkin
December 10, 2016
As a child, in Miami, Florida, in the 1950's, another child challenged me to eat a "fruit" that looked like a pumpkin. It was just a little bigger than those candy pumpkins we see now at Halloween, a...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Propagating a white cultivar of Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora
September 09, 2016
I am trying to propagate a white cultivar of the Texas Mountain Laurel. I plan to use bee sticks and pollinate the plant. Are the plants self fruiting or do I need to find another white mountain laure...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Sequence of Seeding Wildflowers and Grasses in Texas
July 24, 2016
In the How To article on meadow gardening, it recommends that a good chunk of your garden (50%-80%) should be native grasses. The kind mentioned in that article are typically warm season grasses. In...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Young Mexican White Oak Losing Leaves in Texas
July 13, 2016
I have a 5 yr old Mexican white oak, 20 ft tall losing its leaves mostly at the top. They turn brown & fall off. It does not lose its leaves in the winter, right?. About 3 ft from the top down is bare...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Shade Tolerant Groundcover for Texas
July 13, 2016
I live in Atascosa county in Pleasanton Texas, I have an abundance of Live Oak and Ash trees shading my property and need a groundcover for my backyard which is nothing but sand and where I have dogs ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Manzanita Not Growing Well
July 11, 2016
Dear Mr Smarty Plants, I have a four native Dr. Hurd manzanitas growing in my yard, which I planted three years ago. Three seem quite happy with lots of foliage. The fourth has foliage only on this ye...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Promoting Monarch Habitats in Texas
July 11, 2016
My parents have a 6 acre pasture in East, TX with native milkweed in it. What are the best times of year to bush hog to promote more milkweeds & do you know of any grants to help manage land for monar...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

New Lawn for a New House in Central Texas
July 11, 2016
We have a new house with a barren yard. How soon can we successfully plant grass?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Trees for Privacy Screening in Central Texas
July 11, 2016
I live in Cedar Park, Texas and have a neighbor who likes to have parties. I need a evergreen tree/hedge that will provide privacy and sound barrier. We have some wax myrtles but they don't work. We ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Shrub for Shady Austin, Texas Backyard
July 11, 2016
I am looking for a colorful shrub or bush for my drab backyard in Austin. It won't get much sun and I want something native that detracts bugs if possible.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Wildflowers for Partial Sun in East Texas
July 11, 2016
I need the name of wildflowers that will tolerate partial sun and perscribe burns in East Texas (Huntsville area) pine plantations.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Drought Resistant Privacy Screen for North Side of Austin Texas House
July 10, 2016
We live in the densely populated Mueller development, where there's barely 3 feet from our home to the 6 foot high privacy fence between us and the house next door. Since the houses are 2 stories, we ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plants for a moist, shady spot in central Texas
July 08, 2016
I am looking for a plant that will grow in almost full shade with plenty of moisture along a fence. We are looking at putting down some flagstone with possibly some moss growing in between, but we don...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Spacing for a Desert Willow Tree in California
July 07, 2016
How close to a house can I plant a desert willow tree?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Will Echinacea outgrow Spanish Needle?
July 07, 2016
I'd like to plant some Echinacea in an area where Spanish Needle has been growing. I've pulled up the old plants, but I know there's seed there, actually everywhere in my yard! Is there any variety ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Building a Rain Garden in Dallas
July 07, 2016
We are designing a rain garden to catch overflow from two large rain cisterns. We need it to be filled with plants that can live with dry and wet conditions. The garden is about 500 to 1,000 square ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Removing Old Poison Ivy Vines from Pecan Trees
July 07, 2016
I am in the process of cleaning up a creek bank that has very old pecan trees on it. The pecan trees have large poison ivy vines growing up the trunks. We cut one vine and when it died and fell from ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Lindheimer's Muhly Grass Seeds for Human Use?
July 07, 2016
Does anyone know if Lindheimer's Muhly seeds were ever used as human food source?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native Texas Trees from Seed for Fence Line
July 07, 2016
My parents have an unirrigated fence line on their property that they want to grow evergreen screening plants along. Given the difficulty of establishing nursery grown plants in such an unirrigated a...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

When to See Wisconsin Wildflowers Blooming?
July 07, 2016
When is the best time for Southern Wisconsin wildflower blooming?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

When to Move Potted Plants Outside in Texas?
July 07, 2016
When can I move my potted patio plants back outside? I live in Heath/ Rockwall, Texas. I have Horses tail, Croutens, and Money tree.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Planting Canary Island Date Palm in Austin, Texas
July 07, 2016
I want to plant a Phoenix canariensis on the south side of my property in West Austin, in a sheltered location. We are on very shallow soil - on top of limestone. Does the plant have any chance of sur...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Grass Groundcover for Georgia Hillside
July 07, 2016
I am looking for a grass to cover a hillside area down to a lake. It is mostly sunny in the spring & summer, but has no moisture except any rain that falls. I am not interested in having to mow it all...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

When Should I Prune Texas Sage?
July 07, 2016
How and when do you prune Texas sage to encourage thicker foliage?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Seeding Bluebonnets in Missouri
July 07, 2016
I live in St. Louis, MO and obtained a packet of Bluebonnet seeds as well as a seedling. I read up on inoculating and scarifying the seeds, but I'm unsure as to the soil I should use. I was planning ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Using Horse Manure for the Garden
July 07, 2016
Can you use horse manure for decomposed matter for your flower beds, etc.?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Possible Herbicide Contamination of Soil
July 07, 2016
My mother will be 80 this year and lives in Houston, Texas. She has a raised bed garden near her neighbors fence. It has been there for many years. She feels that he uses Roundup for his weeds near a...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Shrubs for Privacy Fence in Hawaii
July 06, 2016
I live in Hawaii and need to create some privacy along a wall of my house. The septic drain field is 5' away and I am looking for 6'-8' shrubs that have shallow roots. Would something like cordyline f...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plants Needed for a Shaded, Rocky Slope in Alabama
July 06, 2016
I live in Alabama where the soil is clay and rocky. I've tried planting on a rocky slope I have but, it's also shaded. Not even Juniper will survive on this slope. I've spent thousands of dollars tryi...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Green Ash Tree in California Dropping Seeds
July 06, 2016
We have two large green ash trees in our front yard. 2 yrs ago, they began to lose seeds year round. When they're green and when they turn brown. I believe they may have termites or some type of in...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Plant Suggestions for Flower Boxes in NY
July 06, 2016
I am doing a project for a friend that had some flower boxes built along his driveway. They are along a hill leading up to his porch. They are made of all wood and have a wooden wall along the not-hil...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Native Perennials for Dry Shade in NM
July 06, 2016
I live in Edgewood, NM at an elevation of about 7,200 ft. It is very dry here and it can get below zero (rarely) in the winter. I have some areas under cedar trees where I have had difficulty gettin...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Savannah Holly True to Seed?
July 03, 2016
I read your information on Savannah holly. Does this mean that none of the berries will produce a Savannah holly (Ilex x attenuata) but will either be Ilex cassine or Ilex opaca seeds? Thanks so much...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Bird Attracting Shrub for NH
July 03, 2016
I am trying to attract birds to my newly built home's front yard. I have no foliage out front near our picture window. I live in Londonderry, NH. What bush or shrub can I plant that will attract bird...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Groundcover for Maryland Slope in Deer Country
July 03, 2016
I have a 20-30% grade hill in Maryland. I am looking for a groundcover plant (for example ivy) that I can plant on the hill. I have the following issues: clay soil, deer, full sun, limited water sourc...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Problem with Adding 5 inches of Mulch and Soil Under Juniper
July 03, 2016
My landscaper added about 3" of mulch and 2" of dirt under my ashe junipers to create a planting bed. Several have turned gold/yellowish this winter including a female tree. They are still flexible an...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Shade Shrubs for a NJ Slope
June 27, 2016
I live in central NJ and have a 15' shaded slope behind my home with a creek on the bottom. The slope erodes a little every year and I want to plant native plants on the slope to stop the erosion. Wha...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Southern Live Oak Authority for Jackson MS
June 23, 2016
Who are the foremost authorities on Southern Live Oaks? May need expert testimony to oppose cutting of 50 year-old live oaks in boulevard of Riverside Drive in Jackson, MS
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Deer Resistance Input from Northern VA
June 22, 2016
Hello. I live in the deer infested woods of Northern VA. I am always looking for plants that deer have little interest in to cover other plants. The deer generally have little interest in mints (Py...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Questions about hollyhocks and yucca
May 25, 2016
I have 2 questions. In Western N.Y. State the hollyhocks grow like weeds but add color with their large stalks. I've sent for seeds and the best I can do in N.W.Travis county is 9 inch plants that die...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Groundcover for sunny slope in Minnesota
May 24, 2016
Hi, I'm from Apple Valley, MN. We backyard has large slope areas that get sun through out the day. We have huge weed and buck thorn problem. Can you please suggest a good ground covering plant that gr...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Vine for 60 foot long by 2 foot high cinder block wall
May 20, 2016
Looking for a vine to cover a 60 foot long 2 foot high cinder block wall.
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Century Plant woes
May 04, 2016
My century plant was fine two weeks ago. Tonight I seen this. Not sure what is happening. It 9 years old. IMG_4716.JPG
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Cork Screw Rush doesn't spiral in Whitehall, PA.
April 29, 2016
Why won't the stems on my cork screw rush plant twist and/or spiral? It's planted outside. It was twisting and spirally when I planted it. Growing outside the past 4 years but does not twist or curl l...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Cedar Elms too close together
April 27, 2016
I'm fairly new to North Texas and recently bought a new home with 2 young cedar elms in the front yard. From my understanding these trees can grow quite large. My front is about 25 feet wide and the...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Sophora seeds to give away
April 13, 2016
When we moved to TX years ago we bought a mountain laurel so we could have the beautiful purple flowers and were disappointed when the flowers every year were white (with a few purple ones here and th...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Why doesn't my Rusty blackhead bloom?
April 10, 2016
I have planted Rusty blackhaws the past several years..some bloomed the first year and every year since....and others 3 years old have not bloomed yet... Do all Rusty blackhaws bloom eventually or ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Red bugs have appeared on my Texas mountain laurel
April 10, 2016
What should I do about the red bugs on my mountain laurel?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Large, fast-growing shade tree for Val Verde County, Texas
April 03, 2016
What is an overall good shade tree, very large & fast growing, to plant in Central South Texas, Val Verde County region? I am told that virtually nothing but Live Oaks or some other type of Oak will ...
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

Status of Texas Olive tree in Katy, TX
March 30, 2016
I have a Texas Olive tree and it has very few leaves. Is this normal?
View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer

topicquestion

<< previous 1 2 3 4 ... 203 next >> 
10,103 Results:   10  25 50 100 per page