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 | |
| Finding pictures in the Image Gallery from San Luis Obispo CA August 23, 2009 How can I select a picture when I don't know the photographer or anything else, just the name of the plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for centerpieces that can be planted in a garden August 14, 2009 I want to purchase flowers in Crossville, Tennessee to use as centerpieces and then plant in my garden. What are the best suggestions to do so? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Columbines for September wedding in CO. August 14, 2009 My daughter is planning a September 2010 wedding in Colorado. Is there any way for me to buy Columbines in the spring and keep them cool so that the pots all bloom in September for the wedding? Also,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for American barberry in Adelaide Australia August 03, 2009 I am trying to find a source/s of the American barberry (Berberis canadensis). I am interested in root stock but particularly in a supplier of the fruit (berry). I have tried everything and someone su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Phyla nodiflora, fogfruit seeds July 29, 2009 Where can I buy fog fruit seeds (nodiflora)Do you know a seed company that sells this seed? I am replacing my lawn with lippia and have it half done. Need more seeds Please reply Thanks Claudia View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a source of bracken fern seed. July 27, 2009 I`m looking to buy "bracken fern"seed. Or can it be transplanted from the wild? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for blue phlox in Whitehouse TX July 12, 2009 Where can I purchase blue phlox ground cover? I live ten minutes from Tyler,Tx View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native mimosa plants in New Orleans July 10, 2009 We need potted mimosa plants for an installation in New Orleans. I hope you can help me or know of anyone who could help me with that. If so please let me know how much and how fast I can get about 1... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a source for Atlantic pigeonwings (Clitoria mariana) July 02, 2009 I hope you can help me a little. I'm trying to find a way to get Clitoria mariana (Atlantic pigeonwings) in my garden, but can't find a seed source anywhere. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where to find non-native Thymus praecox coccineus July 02, 2009 Do you know where in Lansing, MI I could buy the Walk On Me plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seed sources for Collinsia verna. June 29, 2009 Hello, I am looking for seeds of Collinsia verna to plant in my woodland wildflower garden. I live in NC, a bit out of the native range, so don't have immediate access to native seeds. Do you kno... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Who does pecan grafting in Brownsville, TX? June 29, 2009 Who does pecan tree grafting in Brownsville TX? I planted a pecan. It is now about 8' tall, and about 3 years old. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native white Mexican petunias in Panama City, FL June 23, 2009 I'm looking for tall white Mexican Petunias. Can you please tell me where I can get some? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Dioscorea floribunda or D. villosa June 21, 2009 Can you furnish me with a source for growing my own Dioscorea floribunda, or , Dioscorea villosa?? Many thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Dryopteris Filix-max Rhizomes in East Hanover NJ June 15, 2009 We are in search for 100kg Dryopteris Filix-mas (Male Fern) Rhizomes to extract oil Kindly send your offer View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for free in Hutto, TX June 14, 2009 We have moved in to a new subdivision and I would like to plant native Texas desert plants and flowers. We will only be in this house for two or three years so I don't want to spend a lot of money.Is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Honeysuckle bush for San Antonio, Tx June 14, 2009 I'm looking for a gift for my brother, living in San Antonio. He loves the native honeysuckle that we both remember from our childhoods. I think I'd like to get him a honeysuckle bush rather than ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| American basswood in Austin June 07, 2009 Where can I purchase a fledgling linden tree in Austin? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sources for Calyptocarpus vialis and Dalea greggii. June 05, 2009 What are sources for 4" horseherb and gregg dalea? I've tried nurseries listed with NPSOT. Also, would using the above and maybe wooly stemodia and/or frogfruit together become a problem? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for a supplier of Limoncillo. May 27, 2009 Hello, I'm looking for a plant called limoncillo. Do you know of a seller where this can be purchased. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Colorful plants for window boxes in Indiana May 26, 2009 I want to find plants with lots of color that will fill two window boxes and trail out of the boxes and look full and nice throughout the summer. I live in Northern Indiana and the window faces south... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for seeds of any species in the genus Choisya May 20, 2009 Please let me know of any commercial or other sources for seed of any species in the genus Choisya. Only a small quantity would be needed. This seed is for research purposes and is urgently needed. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification in Georgia. May 20, 2009 Help I bought a bush at the flea market and I was told it would have white star flowers and it was a hydrangea. The leaves look like cannabis but not furry. The leaves grow from stalks Help what did... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants that ducks will not eat May 12, 2009 I own a lot of ducks and see a lot of people asking what kind of plants will they "NOT" eat... I know of some through experience.. Anything with shiny leave.. They don't touch my English ivy, rose... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Height of tree to block sun on deck in Arlington MA May 12, 2009 I am trying to figure out how tall a tree I should buy in order to make sure to block out the sun on my deck View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can you recommend a supplier for Comptonia? May 11, 2009 Can you recommend a web supplier for the native plant Sweet Fern, Comptonia? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for Painted Lady May 10, 2009 Where can I buy plants for the painted lady butterfly larvae in Houston? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a source of sulfuric acid for scarifying bluebonnet seeds in Austin, TX. May 06, 2009 I see that you recommend soaking blue bonnet seeds in concentrated h2so4 to facilitate germination. Where do you suggest I buy the sulfuric acid? I live here in Austin. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Finding plants to thrive under white pines in Newaygo, MI May 04, 2009 Would you please explain why plants do not grow or grow well under white pines or other evergreens? Are there any ground covers that would thrive under a white pine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yaupons not showing berries in Euless, TX May 04, 2009 From all I have read, Possumhaw holly is supposed to have berries only on the female. However I have been told and read conflicting things about whether you must have both a male & female in order f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Impatiens capensis in Austin May 02, 2009 Where can I buy a Jewelweed plant in Austin, Tx? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for invasive, non-native Lythrum in Indiana April 28, 2009 Please help me find where I can purchase Lithrum in Indiana. This is my favorite plant from long ago. I know it has been banned for the last few years. Presently you need a permit to sell Lithrum. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Preparing to plant buffalograss in Jonesboro, TX April 25, 2009 Our current lawn is full of broad-leaf weeds, KR bluestem, a little native grass, lots of wildflowers and in spots, lots of rocks . We are in the country in Hamilton Co., TX. We want to plant buffa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for lady lupine in Rosemary Beach, FL April 21, 2009 Where can I buy the lady lupine? I live in Rosemary Beach, Fl. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native replacements for English ivy in Atlanta April 17, 2009 What to plant instead of English Ivy in Atlanta, Georgia. We have a nice lot with trees in back of our lot. To protect our trees there I'm clearing out the ubiquitous English ivy (lots of gardens i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for Yucca filamentosa, Adams Needle, to purchase April 07, 2009 Where can I purchase Adam's Needle in Austin or Travis County View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Texas mallows the source of marshmallows? March 30, 2009 Did marshmallows that we eat originate from our native Texas mallow plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing grass with xeric plants in Nevada March 20, 2009 I am looking to xeriscape my front yard - remove all grass! I am thinking 3-4 larger plants: bird of paradise (mesquite??), aloe, and ..?? Also, possibly a Chilean mesquite. Do you have suggestio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Maryland native plant source March 15, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Great answer to the man from Severen, MD with list of Maryland natives. Did you know that some of these natives are propogated from seed collected in the wild by Chesapeake Nat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for seeds for Styrax americanus. March 12, 2009 I am looking for a source I can purchase Styrax americanus seed, preferably wholesale but if not a retail source. Can you suggest a place. thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native Bauhinia Blakeana March 10, 2009 I BOUGHT WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A HONG KONG ORCHID TREE ALMOST 2 YEARS AGO IN SAN ANTONIO, TX,.BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE A WHITE ORCHID TREE.I AM SEEKING A NURSERY IN THE AREA THAT MAY HAVE SOME IN STOCK.TH... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Endangered plants of Maryland March 06, 2009 My high school would like to plant endangered plant species of Maryland in our wetlands, but we do not know where we can acquire these plants. Do you know of a place where we could buy endangered plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for non-native Coleus Canina March 04, 2009 We are trying to find Coleus Canina (Scaredy Cat Coleus)? to no avail. We purchased this plant in 2006 and it works. The Vt company no longer carries it. Can you help me. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are Virginia strawberries native to Massachusetts? February 26, 2009 Thank you for your answer regarding Virginia wild strawberries. I thought they were only native to Virginia and that Virginia fragaria duchesne is the accepted name for them. Why do strawberries of Ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where can I find Ilex verticillata in Maryland? February 24, 2009 Do you have any suggestions where I might purchase a winterberry holly, ilex verticillata (with bright orange berries in the winter)? They are on our Maryland State highway on Route 3 (301) heading t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I propagate wax myrtle by soft-wood or semi-hardwood cuttings? February 24, 2009 Mr. Smartypants, I would like to propagate wax myrtle from mature plants I have growing in my yard here in Houston. I've read on the wildflower website to use "softwood" or "semi-hardwood" c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Contacts for finding wildflowers in Texas February 10, 2009 Do you have a website or phone number for updates to find blooming wildflowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Where can I find Opuntia santa-rita? February 09, 2009 Dear Mr. Plants - I'm trying to locate a type of opuntia violacea-santa rita. (Purple prickly pear) Instead of the normal pads, this cactus has rippled pads that almost look like a type of coral. It... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagating trees in Pennsylvania February 05, 2009 I have been wanting to plant trees at our family camp for quite a few years now to help provide food for the wildlife during in preparation for the cold winters. As a college student, however, both f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a new duck pond that are duck proof January 28, 2009 Sir. I live in Charleston SC. I dug a pond for ducks in my backyard. I want to plant grass and anything else that will grow around the pond that the ducks won't want to eat up. What should I buy to p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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