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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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.
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| topic | question | |
| Different kinds of plants living in subarctic areas March 10, 2008 What are the different kinds of plants live in the subarctic areas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) refuses to bloom March 07, 2008 We have a Texas Mountain Laurel that gets full sunlight, but does not bloom. It is 4-5 ft tall & 3-4 ft wide & healthy. Is there anything we can do to make it bloom next year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viability of Taxus canadensis (Canadian yew) for Buffalo, NY February 28, 2008 I live in Buffalo, N.Y. and am gradually naturalizing my back yard. The previous owner built a 6' fence along the western edge of the yard and planted a straight line of arborvitae, which are now abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Life expectancy for Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana) February 25, 2008 Someone recently told me that Carolina buckthorn only lives 4-5 years and I'm wondering if that is true. I had a nice one (on Blackland) that died suddenly in its fourth or fifth year, during the dr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree protection during construction February 18, 2008 What measures can/should be taken to ensure the health, future of live oaks while building a new home? There are many small to medium oaks on this property, some very close to the house site and the o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii) dioecious? February 15, 2008 Hi! I found different information on the flowering habits of the western soapberry, Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii. Is it dioecious or polygamo-dioecious or none of them? I have some little seed... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for yellow bottlebrush (Callistemon sp.) and native substitutes February 14, 2008 I have been looking for years for a yellow bottle bush. It is identical to the red but is yellow. there are several varieties, but the one i want is just like the red one in appearance. I live in Flor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting yaupon (Ilex vomitoria) trees, concern about cultivars February 06, 2008 I would like to place some yaupon in the perimeter areas of my yard. I own other rural property that has an abundance of yaupon and was considering trying to transplant some small bushes. Is yaupon ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for wildlife habitat in West Virginia February 05, 2008 We live in the southern region of Summers County in West Virginia. Our yard has a lot of shell and small rocks in it; it is in direct sun light. I would love to have a welcoming hummingbird, butterfly... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Protection of live oak trees from covering by concrete patio February 02, 2008 I am thinking about pouring a large cement patio around my live oak trees in my yard. I live in Rockport Tx. How far should the edge of the cement be, from the base of the tree? Will the patio kill th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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