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 | |
| Freeze damage on Barrel Cactus in Llano TX March 04, 2011 I believe my barrel cactus has freeze damage. The flesh turned yellow and is now turning dark. The base is still green. If I cut off the damaged top portion, leaving the green base, should it survive?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Variegated Century Plants in Portugal February 09, 2011 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I am contacting you from Portugal, because of century plant(Agave americana). I had one of that plants and I collected the seeds, which I planted, but I am quite disappointed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Scale on Agave attenuata from Melbourne, Australia January 27, 2011 I have an agave attenuata in a pot. It has been attacked by scales. I have been spraying it every 3-4 days at night with a chemical sold to me by the local gardening store. It's not helping and I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lesions on Agave Leaves in Spring Branch, Texas January 14, 2011 I have a giant Agave americana that was beautiful until recently. Several of the leaves have lesions, some of them quite drastic, on the last third of the leaf. What is causing this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reasons to leave a century plant in place in Florida November 01, 2010 Can you please list ALL the reasons to leave a century plant (as opposed to cutting it way back or removing it) in the wilds of the sand dunes on the coast of Florida, other than its prominent beauty? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mulching Spring Bulbs in Upstate NY October 25, 2010 Just planted tulip bulbs for Spring. The Parks Department then put 4 inches of mulch on top. Will the tulips be able to get through and bloom come Spring? Is mulch a good winterizer for them? Indoor c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dead leaves on yucca in Georgetown TX October 18, 2010 We have 2 6ft and 3 smaller soft leaf yuccas out back in a kidney shaped area with a wax myrtle and a mountain laurel. The yuccas have done great but now two of them have a large number of dead leaves... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Damage to yucca in San Marcos TX October 18, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, thank you for helping me with my buffalo grass is San Marcos TX back in the spring, my lawn is gorgeous thanks to you! I really need your help as someone sabotaged my beauti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nightflowering plants native to Northern Illinois October 12, 2010 Looking for any/all info on night flowering plants that are native to Northern Illinois. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Agave Seed Pods Poisonous September 27, 2010 Are the seed pods, found in clusters, hanging from century plants(agave) poisonous to kids or dogs? They are large, light green, and shaped like fat bananas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Century plants spread through offshots from Rye TX September 20, 2010 How do century plants spread? Are the little ones the babies? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Prickly cactus in Williamson County, Texas September 12, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Can you tell me what species of prickly pear cactus we have here in Williamson County? I see two listed as being here in Texas. One is the Plains variety and the other is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting yucca pups from Dallas September 01, 2010 Can I transplant Pup Yucca plants off of the main yucca and how do I cut them off? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Specimen evergreen for sun in Central Texas August 28, 2010 I'm soliciting suggestions for a specimen plant for a new garden we're building. It will be planted in a 3' square raised (18") Limestone bed. It will be full sun, Western exposure, and relative... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Branches of yucca being blown down in Torrance CA August 19, 2010 I have a Yucca tree about 30 ft tall. Lately when the wind picks up in Torrance we have had about 3 branches fall out of the tree. Can you help me with this. I don't want to cut all of the branches... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting bloom stalk of century plant in San Diego CA June 25, 2010 My 28 yr old century plant will bloom soon. I understand it will die. Will this 30 ft stalk then likely fall? Will I need to call someone to cut the dead stalk? The base is nearly 7 ft by 6ft - n... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dealing with beetles feeding on cholla cactus June 20, 2010 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants, I bought a Cylindropuntia imbricata from the Wildflower center and it was growing like crazy. I recently noticed a lot of beetles feeding on it. Some are black and some are gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flying insects attacking yucca flacida in Wilmington NC June 11, 2010 How do I treat flying insects from eating the flowers on my Yucca Flaccida shrub. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Succulents, wildflowers and grasses for Austin June 09, 2010 I live on a bluff over Lake Travis and am replanting two beds in front of my driveway with Mexican Feathergrass and Agave. What other grasses or wildflowers could I mix in with the Mexican Feathergra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When may I remove seed heads from yuccas? June 07, 2010 Soft tip yuccas dominate my home's landscape. When is the best time to remove the heavy seed heads after flowering? In addition to being difficult to work around, the pods seem to attract infestatio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should an agave bloom stalk be cut as soon as it flowers from Corpus Christi TX May 18, 2010 My agave plant is flowering, with a stalk approaching 12 feet tall. Should that stalk be cut once it flowers? I am concerned about wind catching it and pulling the whole plant out of the ground. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Does cutting off the budding agave bloom save the plant from Sunrise FL April 30, 2010 I have an Agave(century plant) just starting its long flower stalk. I have read the mother plant will die after flowering. Can I cut off the stalk before it flowers to save the plant? If not, how do i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Can I save my century plant by cutting the flowering stalk in Austin, TX? Probably not. April 28, 2010 Our century plant is starting to sprout it's flower (four feet). If we cut it down can we save the plant? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I eradicate 20 acres of cactus? April 28, 2010 Cactus eradication. I have about 20 acres that are covered to the point that it is not safe to walk on the property. What can I do? Are there classes out there for eradication? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yucca with halticotoma valida bugs in Burleson TX April 18, 2010 I have had Yucca plants in my yard for 10 years, but this year is the first time I have seen halticotoma valda, and there are thousands of them. How do I get rid of them? are they harmful to the plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |