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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topic	question
Privacy Screening Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Trees	Privacy screen from Simpsonville SC May 04, 2013 My neighbor cut down his part of our shared woods so now we see his whole "outside patio area". What kinds of fast growing shade loving trees and shrubs can we plant on our property line that will c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Planting Soils Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs Trees	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
Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs Shrubs	Groundcovers & Shrubs for Shade in North Carolina April 30, 2013 Mr Smarty Pants, My neighbor planted cypress trees as a border between his yard and ours and it is sucking up every drop of water and nutrient. We also have a purple plum in the area which creates ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Lists Drought Tolerant Erosion Control Shade Tolerant Ferns Herbs/Forbs Shrubs Vines Wildflowers	Smoky Mountains Shaded Slope Plant Suggestions April 29, 2013 We live in a very shady spot in Great Smoky Mountains in Western North Carolina. We would like to plant vegetation on a sloped area behind our cottage to stop erosion after building an addition. Our h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Vines	Vines for Shade in Upstate New York April 23, 2013 Hello! I am looking for a non-invasive vine that will grow in heavy shade near my house in upstate New York. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Erosion Control Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs	Shady Perennial Groundcover Suggestions for Indiana April 21, 2013 Could you please recommend perennial groundcovers for Indiana that are low and leafy, self-spreading, non-invasive, deer resistant, and moisture tolerant; and that are good for erosion control on a sh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Non-Natives Privacy Screening Shade Tolerant Trees	Privacy screening from Phoenix AZ April 14, 2013 I live in the center of Phoenix, Az. On the eastern side of my house we have some 2 story condos next door. The width of the side yard is about 12'-15' and it gets lots of shade. I also have my powe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Wildlife Gardens Deer Resistant Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Plant for deep shade in Pennsylvania April 09, 2013 Hi! I am landscaping our house and trying to use only plants that provide seasonal benefit to bees, butterflies, birds etc. not the deer though. My question is that I have a fairly steep slope of abou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Soils Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs Trees	Shade tolerant plants for Waynesville MO April 09, 2013 We moved to Waynesville, MO (gardening region 6) and when we bought our house there was a nice looking gardening area in front of the house. It is shaded moderately by a Redwood Tree and was "occupie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs Trees	Flower color under large pine tree from South Elgin IL April 05, 2013 I have a very large pine tree that I would like to plant some flowers under. I have hostas, stonecrop and fern, but like to add some color. What do you suggest? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Xeriscapes Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like Trees	Replacement for shade grass in El Paso TX April 05, 2013 We currently have a Honey Mesquite tree with thinning bermuda grass underneath in our front yard. I suspect that the filtered shade is killing the bermuda. I was thinking of planting Buffalo Grass, or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Invasive Plants Seeds and Seeding Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Nimblewill grass for a shady area in Dallas April 04, 2013 i have a very shady backyard and reading some of your post I think Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) will survive. Two questions: Is it drought resistant? Where can I buy the seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Ferns Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs	Plants to grow in shady sand in Florida March 31, 2013 We live in central Florida (directly between Orlando and Tampa). Our yard is mostly sand for soil and difficult parts in shade almost all day from large trees. What ground cover (grass) and hedges can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Deer Resistant Shade Tolerant Shrubs	Deer resistant, shade tolerant foundation plants for Kerrville TX March 30, 2013 I'm looking for foundation plants for shade that are deer resistant. Tall as well as medium height. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Deer Resistant Shade Tolerant Trees	Deer resistant, shade tolerant trees for part shade in Highland MD March 29, 2013 Deer resistant privacy trees for partial shady area in Highland, MD. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Soils Deer Resistant Privacy Screening Shade Tolerant	Evergreen, deer resistant privacy screen for Villanova PA March 29, 2013 Looking for something that is deer resistant and ideally evergreen to block a shed and fence that my neighbor recently installed. Live in Eastern PA. Not the best drainage and also shade for most of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs Vines	South Austin Groundcovers for Oak Shade March 29, 2013 Hi! I live in S. Austin now but used to work at the Wildflower Center! My backyard is shady with several oak mots. Do you have any suggestions as to what if any ground cover will grow in all that sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Problem Plants Shade Tolerant Ferns Grasses or Grass-like Herbs/Forbs	Plants to grow in shady area near a pecan tree in Maryland March 26, 2013 I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have planted only natives in my front lawn. My backyard, which sports a pecan tree, fir, fig tree, and others I can't identify is dirt, just dirt. I have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Drought Tolerant Shade Tolerant	Tolerance of plants in area of Amarillo TX March 24, 2013 I want to know tolerance in the Amarillo area for Diospyros texana, Berberis trifoliata, and Capsicum annuum where it gets colder, is dry, and intensely hot in summer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Erosion Control Shade Tolerant	How to stabilize a slope under Red Oaks? March 19, 2013 A portion our front "yard" (20x40 feet) is a limestone hillside shaded by 3 large spanish oaks. The small amount of grass holding onto the hillside is now gone from the drought, and the hill has er... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Propagation Transplants Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs	Native turkscap failing to thrive in Shiro TX March 19, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Two years ago I transplanted several native (not cultivars) Drummond's turkscaps in the proximity of water oaks in the front yard. All get shade and some sun. They seemed to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Lists Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Grasses or Grass-like	Shade Tolerant Grasses and Groundcovers for Waco TX March 15, 2013 What is the best shade-tolerant grass? What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Plant Lists Shade Tolerant Trees	Foundation Landscape Tree Suggestion for New Jersey March 05, 2013 I need to replace a shrub (boxwood) in a landscaped area directly in front of my house. I would like a tree that grows about 10-15' maximum. However, I have a drainpipe that runs from the house to th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Groundcovers Shade Tolerant Trees	Plants for under Oak Trees in LA. March 05, 2013 What type of plants and grass can be planted under and around oak trees View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
Shade Tolerant Herbs/Forbs Shrubs	Enough sun from San Marcos TX February 22, 2013 I would like to plant both Lantana urticoides and Salvia farinacea in area that only has morning to 1pm sun..Will this amount of sun be enough? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer
topic	question

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