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 | |
| Plants for controlling erosion on a cleared slope in Ohio April 29, 2009 I live in Cincinnati, OH. BP owns a pipeline which runs thru part of my property. They clear out all the large trees every few years, so that it is visible from the air. Our area is surrounded by M... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for banks of a retention pond in Alabama April 24, 2009 What can we plant on the inner and out walls of a detention pond to stop erosion? The pond is located in a neighborhood in Mobile, AL and the walls are 9 ft high with a steep slope. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-allergenic landscape in Fairfield, CT April 18, 2009 I live in Fairfield, CT and need to have a non-allergenic landscape. Can you please list plants, ground covers, and trees/shrubs that would be beautiful, and help in this critical situation? The lan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR April 16, 2009 We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water seepage problems in basement in Philadelphia April 09, 2009 I am interested in stopping/limiting water seepage into my basement by placing water absorbing ground plants along one or both sides. The grass we planted when home was new in July 2007 has taken on o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stabilizing a shale slope in Virginia April 08, 2009 I have family members who recently built a new home in Virginia. The site required extensive excavation resulting in a large 30 foot, nearly vertical, shale wall behind the house. They now want to r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent bank erosion in Virginia April 02, 2009 I am looking for good native plant choices for a steep river bank. My driveway is at the top of this slope, so I will need to avoid any plants that would cause erosion. I would prefer low shrubs. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion under a Live Oak in Edom TX March 31, 2009 We have a large Live Oak tree in the front yard that I wouldn't part with for the world. The soil is almost solid sand underneath the tree, and in deep shade. It is on a slight slope and eroding wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a creek bank in Northern Illinois March 26, 2009 Hello. I live in Northern Illinois. The creek (northern exposure in a wooded area) on the back of my property has bare muddy banks and is subject to seasonal floods. I want to plant something hardy t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for erosion control in Harlingen, TX March 12, 2009 I like to know what type of fast growing grass, ground cover or trees I can put on a slope for erosion control in Harlingen Texas the slope receives afternoon Sun View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficult slope in Tarrytown NY March 03, 2009 I hope you can help. Is there a way to plant some native shrubs and plants on a steep slope that is filled in some areas with rock without having to tier the slope? The section is approximately 50' w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion for check dam in San Antonio February 13, 2009 What are the best trees for a shallow soil wind break in San Antonio? I am building a check dam (maybe 2' deep by 20' wide tall) over a shallow limestone gully to slow the erosion. the gully drai... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control on 30-ft. berms in Manor, TX February 06, 2009 The Austin Rifle Club has recently re stacked its over 30ft high backstops. We know their will be erosion to these earthen berms. We need some suggestions on what to plant. Our club is a traini... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants to prevent erosion in Maryland February 03, 2009 Please can you recommend native plants for a north-facing slope, under pine trees? I live in Maryland near the border between the Coastal Plain and Piedmont Plateau, where we have cold to mild Winter... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for erosion control in North Carolina January 29, 2009 I have an area on the north side of my house that is a hill with about a 6:1 slope. It also has a set of steps used to get from the front of the yard to the rear yard. It is very shaded. I am havin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent bank erosion in Georgia January 20, 2009 I NEED LIST OF PLANTS TO HELP PREVENT BANK EROSION. WE LIVE AT BOTTOM OF HILL THAT FURTHER SLOPES TO A POND. THE AREA IS SHADY AND WET FACING NORTHEAST. ANY RAIN CAUSES THE POND TO MUD UP. WE HAVE... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to stop erosion in Arizona January 17, 2009 I'm looking for a plant to stop erosion; I have big wash outs that are starting to erode my yard so I guess I'm looking for deep rooting plants. I live south of Tucson, Arizona. If you can advise me... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control in East Texas January 03, 2009 We have recently moved to Conroe and are having a problem with erosion behind a retaining wall (installed by previous owner. The retaining wall is made of concrete and is about 8 foot tall by 110 foo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for erosion control in South Dakota December 04, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: I live in the Black Hills of South Dakota at about 5000 feet ASL. My house is on a steep hill. I had to clear a perimeter around my house of all the pine trees for fire supp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for steep slope in Virginia October 24, 2008 Please help! Looking for landscaping ideas for a very large Steep hill. Features: slope is approximately 45-60 degrees, clay soil mixed with fill dirt, lots of deer, partial sun, seeking minimal maint... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control on steep bank in Minnesota October 21, 2008 I live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. I have a steep slope in back yard which gets considerable rain runoff from the homes above me. What plants/shrubs/trees could I plant on the slope to stop the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for erosion control October 20, 2008 I have moved into a home that had vinca covering the front yard which slopes to the sidewalk (18'x15'). I have removed 3/4 of the vinca by the roots and have placed several gulf coast muhly across ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping for slope in Kansas City October 08, 2008 We have a down sloping back yard and patio on the lower area. We need some water absorbing plants near the foundation and some in the front of the house, where water isn't a problem. We are allergic ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control for steep slope in West Virginia October 05, 2008 I live in Zone 6 (Eastern Panhandle of WV). I have a rocky, claylike steep slope (30-40% grade, about 50 feet wide and 20 feet long, it sits in the afternoon sun). So I need to plant erosion-control p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control in arid region September 29, 2008 In semi arid south west (Phoenix), the drainage is managed by creating incised channels. Typically, the dirt channel can erode with even very low velocities of moving water. To reduce erosion therefor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |