Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
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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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| Ornamental grasses under desert willows from Dallas, TX September 06, 2013 I am planning on planting 3 desert willows in full sun, below the power lines at the back of my back yard in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. I would like to plant some ornamental grasses in the be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When is the best time to transplant Esperanza bushe in Buda, TX? September 04, 2013 When is the best time to transplant an Esperanza bush? I want to move it because it is overwhelming my front yard. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing trees for privacy in East Texas September 02, 2013 Fast growing tree seeds for my area to create a tree grove for privacy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When is best time to transplant Ezperanza shrubs in Buda, TX? September 02, 2013 I need to transplant 2 huge Esperanza's...when is the best time to uproot them and not kill them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do with 200 yucca seedlings in Sandusky, OH? August 31, 2013 I have over two hundred 3 month old yucca seedlings from my last yr. Yucca plants. I soaked the the seeds for 24 hrs. planted them in trays and now they are abt. 2 inch tall. My question is, should I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for clay soil from Charlotte TX August 25, 2013 We have an area in our yard that even Esperanzas won't grow. It is near another that does great. Six Esperanzas are planted in a north/south row about with 10' between plants, the southern most plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting wildflowers from Wichita Falls, TX August 24, 2013 Hi, Thanks so much for the answers you give! You've been very helpful to me in the past. I have two quick questions: 1) I have been harvesting seeds from my wildflowers. I wonder when the best time... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for trees to withstand high winds on Top Sail Island, North Caroloina. August 20, 2013 Moving to coastal southern North Carolina. Planting native trees and shrubs, wax bayberry, Redbud, love the River Birch. What type of tree has the deepest roots or would be least likely to blow over... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen Trees for Cedar Creek, TX August 14, 2013 Hello I am wanting to plant some evergreen trees on my property out in Cedar Creek Texas. We have a lot of cedar trees but I really would like some live oaks. Is it possible to grow live oaks or somet... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing conditions for Giant Coneflower from San Antonio August 09, 2013 Rudbeckia maxima is considered to be a perennial plant for the sun but I have had a difficult time maintaining it in a pot in full sun before attempting to plant. Do you feel that it will survive and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen for Sedona AZ August 02, 2013 I live In Sedona Az. A builder just built a house next to my house and the new house is ugly to look at. What plant or tree would grow fast and reach 18 foot in height fast. It can be about 5 to 6 foo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting Gardens from Charlotte, NC July 30, 2013 I want to plant a year-round picking garden for flowers to bring into my home. I want to look at landscape plans in lieu of throwing down wildflower seeds. Can you suggest a few websites for ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Desert Willow and bunchgrass for Lubbock TX July 29, 2013 We live in Lubbock and have decided to try to make our front yard as native as possible. It has been a very difficult process finding native species locally (even the local Aggie nursery sells a lot ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for freestanding water in Oklahoma July 28, 2013 I have an overflowing gutter and the ground below becomes a muddy hole. I'd like to put a basin or pot in/or above the ground with a rain chain. Are there any plants--shrubs or otherwise that flouris... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Chilopsis in Florida July 25, 2013 I live in St. Johns County, FL between Jacksonville and St Augustine. I live inland, not near the beach. I bought a small desert willow plant in Victoria, TX and brought it back to FL to grow. I plan ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Season to plant Pacific Wax Myrtle from Fallbrook CA July 25, 2013 Would like to know which season would be the best to plant Pacific Wax Myrtle in Fallbrook, CA area? I presently have invading bamboo, which I want to get rid of. Thank you! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowers to bloom in next 4 months from Aransas Pass, TX July 24, 2013 Looking for seeds to put down that will bloom over the next 4 months or so in the southern gulf coast area View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Suggestions for street trees for Texarkana TX July 23, 2013 Texarkana, TX, is going to replace a few and add some new street trees downtown. The engineers specified crape myrtle. When I asked if they would consider native trees instead, I was told they thought... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hankering for a view-blocking hedge in Hempstead, TX. July 03, 2013 Hempstead is 50 miles west of Houston and I am looking for a fast growing native to provide a block of a view for a fairly large area (about half a block). I would prefer something that is also benef... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oak roots damaged by ax from Austin July 03, 2013 Hello. I am attempting to create my own tiny copy of the Wildflower Center within my yard. I'm using all native, drought tolerant plants. My front yard is full of live oaks. I used a sod cutter la... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will maroon and Texas Bluebonnets prosper in Richland MO? July 02, 2013 I live in Richland, MO and have obtained both Maroon and Texas Bluebonnet seeds from Fredricksburg, TX. Will they prosper in this area and when is the best time to plant? I have read how and what type... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Recreating a wildflower meadow, central Texas July 02, 2013 We have an acre on our property that has bluebonnets. Unfortunately, it also has other plants that we don't want -Johnson grass, nettles, burrs. We plan to do a controlled burn in the fall and re-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What grows in Tampa FL July 01, 2013 Please let me know what grows in the backyard in Tampa, FL to provide screening and privacy? 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 |  | |
| Time of year to plant Texas Mountain Laurel in El Paso, TX June 10, 2013 When is the best time of year to plant a Mountain Laurel tree in El Paso? 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 | ||
| Wildflowers for September wedding from Licking MO June 02, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am getting married this September in Licking Missouri back in the woods on my dads land. I would like to have wildflowers for the bouquets and reception decor. Can I get some... 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 | ||
| 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 | ||
| 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 |  | |
| 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 |  | |
| 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 |  | |
| 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 |  | |
| Problems with non-native petunias from Hodgeville, KY May 12, 2013 Planting petunias again in a house border bed.. It has been a tradition for 30+ years to plant the small upright petunias in this particular bed. It started as a Mothers Day gift to my Grandmother, ... 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 | ||
| Will buffalograss thrive in Ada OK? May 08, 2013 Would buffalo grass thrive in Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, where my sandy loamie soil struggles with summer droughts? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Flowers under pine trees from Elkhart Indiana May 02, 2013 I have a number of pine trees at the back of my lot and would like to plant flowers under the tree. What can I plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for October wedding from Rockford AL April 26, 2013 Want to plant wildflowers that will bloom in early October in central Alabama for a wedding. Can you give me any suggestions ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Blackfoot Daisy from Lewisville, TX April 23, 2013 I planted a row of Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy) last spring at the front of the front yard, next to the sidewalk. It's full sun, east facing, unamended black clay gumbo soil. I put mulc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Anacacho orchid not leafing out in Georgetown TX April 18, 2013 February 2012 I planted 2 4-ft anacacho orchids which did well. This spring, they have yet to leaf out or even bud. There is green, however, when I scratch the stems and some suckers at the bottom of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Space between trees from Blythewood SC April 05, 2013 I'm planting 4 green giants in a back corner of my yard. I also have a kumquat tree to plant. I have somewhat limited space. What is the minimum spacing between the four green giants and the green gi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Slow development in Shumard Oak from Porter TX April 02, 2013 We had two Shumard Oaks Planted in Sept of last year (2012). About a month later, they started browning and dropping their leaves (no color change). Now I noticed on one of the trees the buds have sta... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting petunias around base of oak tree from Houma LA March 30, 2013 I live in south Louisiana and I want to plant petunias. Can I plant petunias around the base of an oak tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Live Oaks in Mesa AZ March 26, 2013 I have two Evergreen Live Oaks in central Arizona. One is flourishing and getting new spring leaves from top to bottom. Its trunk is rough, has large grooves, and the spots where I've pruned look li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Schedule for planting perennial wildflowers from Asheville NC March 22, 2013 When is the best time to plant perennial wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement for maple tree lost in Hurricane Sandy from Hauppauge NY March 17, 2013 Lost a Maple street tree in Hurricane Sandy, was forty-eight years old. Town will not replace the tree. Must do it on my own. What would you suggest? Nothing that grows too tall. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree roots under concrete from Ft. Worth TX February 10, 2013 We bought a house that has 2 trees (I believe ornamental pear trees) within a concrete patio. I found info that said basically, remove the concrete. We can't do that now (although I have encouraged... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vegetables to plant now from Marble Falls TX January 28, 2013 What are the best vegetables to plant now? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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