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.
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?
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
| topic | question | |
| Want to identify a shrub with golden to orangish berries in Minneapolis MN. July 14, 2009 Tall shrub or maybe tree with small berries golden to orangish color. The berries are not in large clumps but more twos and threes. Leaves are opposite each other, smooth edges and sort of elliptica... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen flowering shrub for North Augusta GA July 12, 2009 I need suggestions for shade-loving evergreen flowering bush that will grow 6 feet or so, besides azaleas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming dead blooms from turkscap in San Antonio July 10, 2009 Great answer to the Turk's Plant question. But, I can't seem to find an answer to mine. I've had Turk's plants for years and cut them back as you suggest, but have always been confused about wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Esperanza in Houston July 07, 2009 Esperanza plant. I have 3 of these plant in my flower bed for the last 10 years. They get west sun. Over the last three years they have bloomed initially but then the new growth is deformed. The best... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brown leaves on possumhaw holly in Grandview TX July 02, 2009 What would be likely causes for brown leaves on possumhaw holly? We have 2, one was planted in spring 2008, and a slightly larger one planted late winter/early spring this year. Most of the leaves a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a sandy slope at a weekend cabin in central WI. June 30, 2009 I have a cabin in central Wisconsin where the soil is equivalent to a sandy beach. There are some areas that are nearly impossible to mow because of how steep the incline is. Could you recommend som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for under a pine tree in Vevay IN June 29, 2009 At our office we have a very nice garden however, in the front we have a large pine tree. We cannot get anything to take root & live there. Do you have any suggestions for a native shrub or perennia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrubs for New Hampshire June 25, 2009 Will be landscaping next Spring: Do you think using 'Ilex Crenata'-Japanese Holly together with variegated Euonymus (species: fortunei) as shrub hedges in front of our house is a good combo? Do they... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blueberry bushes failing to leaf out in Haines Falls, NY June 25, 2009 Blueberry bushes planted in spring in upstate New York; no leaves, only the stem. How do we know if they are alive? Blueberries do very well in that area known as Haines Falls, New York (mountain a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a bank too steep to mow June 24, 2009 Like the inquiry made in late June of 2008, mine involves a bank that is too steep to mow. However, ours is facing south. I am looking for a native grass, plant or groundcover. Any suggestions? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |