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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Non-native astilbe resemblance to non-native poisonous castor bean from Tomslake BC May 21, 2014 I have a plant that looks like a castor bean but it has flowers like a Younique Silvery Pink Astilbe. Need to id because castor bean is poisonous. This plant grows up to 5 feet in height. Thank you ! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removal of thistles from Columbus TX May 20, 2014 I am sorry if you have an answer in FAQs but I could not find it. We recently cleared property near Columbus Texas of many cedars (ash junipers). This spring we experienced a profusion of thistle -... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting non-native crape myrtle in Scottsdale AZ May 11, 2014 When is the best time to transplant dwarf crape myrtle in Scottsdale AZ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Habiturf in Austin May 10, 2014 I have been trying to establish a Habiturf lawn in my back yard. It is approximately a 1,000 square foot area and this last seeding was the third over about one and a half years. I just recently over ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants to grow under elm tree in Amarillo TX May 01, 2014 I have a large elm tree and I can't get seem to get anything to grow under it. I was wondering if there are any shade-loving groundcovers that you would recommend (have tried English Ivy, hostas, an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Roses for Austin soil May 01, 2014 What roses would work in the soil near Lake Austin Spa? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with non-native Banana Shrub from Houston May 01, 2014 My 7' beloved Banana Shrub (magnolia) has white dots on top of the leaves and nasty black stuff covering the backside of the leaves. The plant is dropping leaves. What can I do to save it? I has bee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growth rate of non-native Asclepias curassavica April 29, 2014 As a volunteer at the National Butterfly center, I wonder how long from starting the seeds until the plant reaches approximately 20 cm tall does it take a tropical milkweed (asclepias curassavica) to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-native, invasive mimosa trees in Vincennes IN April 29, 2014 I have 3 Mimosa trees here in Vincennes, Indiana and so far none of them are leafing out this spring (4-28-14) Do you think that this past winter could have killed then? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Blossom end rot on non-native tomatoes from Newport RI April 25, 2014 Can epsom salt or eggshells end blossom end rot on tomatoes? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant Identification from Honolulu HI April 24, 2014 We have a ground cover in our Honolulu garden that I have been told is Watermelon Plant. (Not the fruit). We would like more, but cannot find it or the proper name for it. Aprox. 6" round leaf. It... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Help for a Transplanted Bougainvillea April 22, 2014 I recently planted a bougainvillea in our south-facing front yard. While planting it, we inadvertently severed a large portion of the root system from the plant. What, if anything, can we do to help... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-native invasive carrot wood tree losing leaves in Alpine CA April 22, 2014 My carrot wood tree is losing all of its leaves. The tree is about 15foot high & 13 years old. Could it be gophers? The tree was trimmed 1 year ago. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Control of non-native invasive Japanese Barberry from Enfield NH April 22, 2014 I recently bought a home that is bordered by woods and a sizable area of invasive Japanese Barberry growing on a steep hill in and around a stone wall making it that much harder to dig up. I've alway... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Shade tolerant plants for privacy from Larchmont NY April 19, 2014 Love your site! We have a 4'x4'x50' stone wall, full sun, with a planting bed 30"H by 24"D. We're looking for privacy, so a hedge with pruning is needed. We have looked at Ilex Crenata (8'),... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer resistance of non-native Leyland Cypress from Kerrville TX April 19, 2014 Are Leyland cypress deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ivy a suitable ground cover in Live Oaks from Gulfport MS April 17, 2014 Will Ivy be a safe and suitable ground cover for old growth Live Oak trees in coastal Mississippi? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lists of medicinal plants from New York City April 11, 2014 Do you know any resources for lists of medicinal plants native to New York? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacing St. Augustine grass from Dallas TX April 10, 2014 Dear Mr. Pants, we are replacing dying St. Augustine grass in a small, sunny back yard with ground cover. What are your recommendations for a drought-tolerant evergreen ground cover? We will till a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dying foliage on non-native Otto Luyken Laurel from Georgetown KY April 09, 2014 I have 5 luken laurel scrubs planted around foundation. They have done very well until this last winter..the foilage is now brown and crispy. Will they come back? Do I need to prune back the damage... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting Mountain Laurel grown from seeds in Argentina April 09, 2014 Hello, I was transferred to Cordoba, Argentina 2 years ago from San Antonio, the climate hereis similar to S. TX, anyway I brought some mountain laurel seeds with me and they have been in 2 gallon pot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant mistakes from Cedar Park, TX April 09, 2014 At our "Wilts End" in Cedar Park, TX. and are looking for a tall shrub/tree that will hide a 6-ft tall concrete wall and muffle the noise from a busy street. The wall forms a very wide-angled V shap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Diseased non-native red tip photinias from Richmond VA April 08, 2014 Our red tip trees have a while substance on the bark at the base of each tree..look like some kind of fungus or mold, but we don't know how to get rid of it. Please help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mosquito problem from Mesa AZ April 07, 2014 We have a mosquito problem in our backyard, I think they're grass Mosquitos. I wanted to get lemongrass for a deterrent but both nurseries were out so I opted for rosemary. They're ALL OVER the rose... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grafting different colors of Tecoma from Casa Grand AZ April 01, 2014 Is it possible to graft different colors of tecoma and if yes, is the process same as process for grafting roses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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