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 | |
| Pruning technique for Anacacho Orchid from Austin May 18, 2011 I have an Anacacho Orchid tree that is about 8 ft tall and still young. It is doing quite well. I have never pruned it, but lately I have been considering it as some of the top branches are starting t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to Prune a Mountain Laurel to make it more tree like in Hendersen, NV April 28, 2011 How do I prune a Texas Mountain Laurel into a tree? Just bought a 15 gal. with two trunks above the crown. Was told that multiple trunks are their natural growth, which is OK. But all research call... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Carolina Jasmine failing to turn green in Pleasant Garden NC April 26, 2011 We planted Carolina Jasmine last year and it did great. This Spring we only have about 2-3 small green leaves beginning on the vines. We did not cut them back in the Fall. Is it time for them to be tu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trimming spineless yucca in Chicago April 05, 2011 I have a spineless yucca (indoors) which is 11 feet tall and thirty-five years old. When the yucca recently started to scrape the ceiling, I moved it away (roughly 20 feet) from the windows to an area... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning wax myrtles from Austin March 29, 2011 I've got some wax myrtles that have grown up in the last 10 years on my property line, completely volunteer. My neighbor has begun to grumble about too much shade on his yard. I'd like to trim them ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How can I prune my Texas Mountain Laurels to be more tree-like? March 24, 2011 I planted several Texas Mountain Laurels last spring and would like to train them to be more tree-like rather than shrub-like. Each is around 36" tall with 5-10 trunks coming from the ground. Where... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Existing live oak taking over in Monahans TX March 22, 2011 I have just purchased a home with a huge Live Oak tree in the front yard. The previous owners have over the years allowed the sucker roots to grow unchecked. The tree is shading most of the lawn (di... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Adventitious sprouts from Live Oak in Dallas February 26, 2011 How do I kill Holly growing in my yard? I have a Live Oak tree growing in my Bermuda grass lawn. The holly grows under the tree from the trunk extending out about 12-15 ft. It grows right in with the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting back perennials from Austin February 08, 2011 When is it time to cut back native plants; salvia;copper canyon daisy; verbena, etc? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning dogwood in TX February 02, 2011 I have a roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) sapling that I would like to keep at shrub height (~6 ft) rather than let it form a tree. Can I encourage this by cutting the main trunk, and if so, by ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Time to cut back Turk's Cap in Austin January 27, 2011 I did not find my question answered in the database. My question is: When is the best time to cut back Red Turks Cap? I live in Central Austin. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning cherry laurel in January in Austin January 07, 2011 Do trust I checked Q&A first. Can Cherry Laurel shrubs be pruned earlier than late winter in Austin? I foolishly planted 12 native Cherry Laurel standards on our suburban property line 5 years ago. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is December a good time to prune oaks in Central Texas? December 29, 2010 Given that we haven't had much cold weather here in central Texas (Wimberley) this season, is it a good time to trim live and Spanish oak trees (damaged limbs and low hanging branches and suckers)? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for lantana in Katy TX December 04, 2010 Hello. I live in Katy TX and have a number of Lantana shrubs. How and when should they be cut back? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need information about pruning Persimmon trees in Buda, TX. November 29, 2010 Mr. Smarty, We have many wild persimmon trees in our yard. Some I want prune to bush size. What is the best way to prune these trees and to what extent can they be safely pruned. Thank you for shari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bumelia sending up shoots in Austin November 28, 2010 I have a bumelia that is sending up shooters everywhere in my yard. Everywhere!! I started to dig them up, but many come from deep roots and my digging seems to have encouraged the tree to send up m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting Juncus effusus back from Bellevue WA November 18, 2010 I read your posts about Juncus effusus and just have one follow-up question. When is the best time to cut them back to the ground - before winter or early spring? I live in the Pacific NW. I recent... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sprouts at base of holly in Surprise AZ November 15, 2010 Friends have recently planted a holly tree in their front yard. They live in AZ and there is no grass (only rock) around their tree. It was planted as a fairly large tree (about 18 feet).My question i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will suckering of coralberry be a problem in Homewood AL? November 11, 2010 I am considering planting Symphoricarpos orbiculatus in the yard of the home I just purchased. I am interested in attracting wildlife to my yard and covering over a stump with a 3' diameter. My onl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need advice for pruning a young Bur Oak tree in Austin, TX. November 02, 2010 I grew a beautiful bur oak from seed, and three years later it is now taller than I am. I hate to cut anything off this tree and hurt it, but there are two branches that are rubbing together and growi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need pruning advice in northern Michigan October 27, 2010 Is it OK to prune my evergreen bushes and holly in October in northern Michigan? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How do I prepare blackfoot daisies for winter in Austin, TX October 19, 2010 I have blackfoot daisies in my garden that have bloomed all summer. They are cascading out of the bed onto my lawn/grass. They have been so beautiful that I hate to cut them back. How do I prepare t... 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 | ||
| Winter pruning for yucca in Adrian, Michigan October 11, 2010 Can I cut yucca plants down for winter months. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do yuccas die after blooming? October 11, 2010 We have a blue yucca which was planted 2 years ago and is just now blooming with a tower of white flowers. Will the entire plant die after blooming as the century plants do? If so, is there a way to s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Goldenrod not blooming in Lecanto FL September 19, 2010 My goldenrod(fireworks) grows only like a groundcover(3" tall) and does not flower. It is in full sun in my garden in Lecanto, Florida(zone 9A). What could be wrong? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When is the best time to trim oak trees in Driftwood TX? September 09, 2010 When is the best time to trim oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blackfoot daisy declining in Austin September 04, 2010 My Blackfoot Daisies have grown large, bushy, have bloomed well over the past two summers. Now parts of the plants are drying up, dying. Will pruning out the dead parts help the plants to survive, or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Copper Canyon daisy leaves turning yellow in Spring Branch TX September 01, 2010 My Copper Canyon daisies have grown well this year but the leaves are turning yellow. Any ideas? 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 |  | |
| Tool for removing live oak root shoots in Gonzales TX August 09, 2010 I've read your answer to live oak root shoots. You said to get rid of them by going 2 to 4 inches below the surface and cutting them. What tool is best for this shoot removal? I'm getting very tir... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of honeysuckle bushes from Coaldale Alberta Canada July 30, 2010 I have 2 honeysuckle bushes that I want to get rid of. I am wondering if Honeysuckle bushes have very deep roots (are they hard to dig out?) I am 70 years old and didn't know if I'd be able to dig ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best time of year to trim oak trees from Beloit WI July 23, 2010 What is the best time of year to trim oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I control underground runners from from Pride of Houston Yaupons in Austin, TX? July 16, 2010 How can I control the underground runners from the Pride of Houston Yaupons? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deadheading Mexican hat to produce more blooms in Austin July 05, 2010 I have several Mexican hat (rudbeckia) plants growing wild in my yard. Would deadheading now give them a second flush of bloom in fall? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Runaway growth on mountain laurel in Coolidge AZ July 01, 2010 I have 2 mountain laurels. They are thriving well. In fact one is growing way too fast. I am growing it as a tree, but the branches are in excess of 6 feet, while the trunk is only 18 or so inches. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ash tree dying back to lower sprouts in Kempner TX June 19, 2010 My 2 year old ash tree leaves dropped, appears dead, branches dying. New growth near base of tree. Do I cut upper trunk or remove entire tree? My other ash is doing well. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for large trumpet vine in Hugo MN June 09, 2010 I was recently given a large Trumpet vine that has been growing in the same place for the last 25 years.I have replanted it and given it a large trellis to grow on.I live in central Minnesota. My ques... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming iris leaves in Pickerington OH June 08, 2010 I recently trimmed the stems and leaves of my iris plants in late May - I realize now this was a bit early. The leaves are still about 3-4" out of the ground. I would like to half them and move som... 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 | ||
| Trimming back freeze damage from Anacacho orchid in Liberty Hill TX May 17, 2010 When is it safe to trim back what I think is dead wood on my Anacacho orchid trees (that were hit hard this past winter)? Is there any harm done if I cut back living wood? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Anacacho Orchid tree in Austin May 17, 2010 I have an Anacacho Orchid that is about 9ft tall. It is early May and has not started to put out leaves yet on the old growth. I can't even see any noticeable buds yet. It is still alive because I ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Over-trimmed junipers in Shell Beach CA May 16, 2010 Help! My husband decided to "trim" the juniper bushes that are in front of our house that create a great private front yard. I guess he cut back into the dead wood and now nothing is regrowing. It'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Texas Mountain Laurel in Dallas May 04, 2010 I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is about 3 years old. When I bought it 2 summers ago, it was about a foot high. Now it is over 6 feet. It seems to have grown so fast that the branches can't ke... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cold damage to Texas wild olive tree in San Antonio May 02, 2010 I have a Texas Olive tree that was unprotected from the 2010 cold winter here in San Antonio, TX. It is the end of April and there is no sign of growth on any of the branches. If the tree is still a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Texas Mountain Laurel in Austin May 02, 2010 I have an adult (over 25 years?, 20 feet tall?) Mountain Laurel next to my house in Austin. The winter of 2009/10 it lost most of its leaves. It did bloom and leaf out this Spring--not vigorous espec... 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 | ||
| Young yaupon trunks bending in Houston April 26, 2010 I have new yaupon in this their second summer which are bending over about half-way up their trunk, at around two feet - do I trim them or stake them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Correcting overgrown Savannah holly in Goldsboro NC April 24, 2010 I have an overgrown Savannah Holly. How do I go about correcting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shape of common ninebark in Canton MI April 24, 2010 I have planted one center glow ninebark in a triangular area in between my front walk and driveway. It looks a little odd just having one plant, but I originally did this b/c of the mature plant heig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |