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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| Lingonberry 'Ida' Source for Commercial Production in the Pacific NW November 08, 2013 I am having difficulty locating a Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) cultivar named 'Ida'. Where can I purchase this plant for commercial production in the Pacific Northwest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Grasses for a prairie in southeast Texas September 30, 2013 We have a small place (about 100 acres) in Colorado County, Texas, on the Colorado River north of the town of Weimar. We are gradually clearing (bulldozing) the woods of cedars. One particular spot ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting shade-tolerant ground covers in New York September 10, 2013 Hi, I have seen some of the posts for shade-tolerant ground cover on the east end of Long Island and my question is process related. Now that I've identified the grasses/plants I need to keep my fro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Oregon boxwood from Salt Lake City, UT July 24, 2013 I am seeking plugs / cuttings for paxistima myrsinites (mountain lover) in a large quantity and cannot seem to source them. If you have any sources I could contact; I need 2225 of them please forward... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for two violas for Houston July 10, 2013 I live in Houston, TX. Can you tell me where I can buy viola rotundifolia and viola cucullata? I understand these are round-leaved yellow violet and marsh blue violet respectively. I stumbled on these... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Frostweed plants or seeds from Portland TX June 23, 2013 I am looking for somewhere I can buy Frostweed plants or seeds. I live in Portland, TX, but frequent San Antonio and the Hill Country. Can you help me with this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for a soapberry in Pittsburgh PA June 22, 2013 Flower box Where can I buy a soapberry tree in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for chile pequin plants in Austin June 11, 2013 Where can I buy chile pequin plants in Austin? Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for non-native Crown of Thorns from Bulverde TX May 04, 2013 Can you please tell me where I can buy a Crown of Thorns plant in or near Bulverde, Tx. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for seeds of Mexican primrose from Dallas April 25, 2013 Can I purchase Mexican Evening Primrose seeds now for planting in the fall or do I need to wait for the fresh crop of seeds that will be gathered from this spring flowering. How can I be assured the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Souce for Houstonia caerulea in Massachusetts April 25, 2013 I am looking for bluet (Houstonia caerulea or H. serpyllifolia). I can't find them anywhere. The two sites listed under possible distributors under H. caerulea have not gotten back to me. I read that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for Saltmarsh cordgrass from Houston April 16, 2013 I work for a consulting firm and we are looking to do more of our wetland creation/restoration. Do you know where one can purchased Spartina alterniflora? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA April 14, 2013 Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Questions about milkweed seeds March 28, 2013 Dear folks, I am trying to locate Nan Hampton from Los Fresnos, Texas who asked about Asclepias texana seeds and other Asclepias seeds on Dec. 10, 2008. I would like to know if she found any and has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Milkweed Seedlings Source for Austin, Texas March 18, 2013 Where can I find seedlings or four inch pots of common milkweed? I have a backyard garden that is mostly filtered sunlight and space for them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fruit on Jasmines March 13, 2013 My jasmines have grown some small purple fruits and she is about to get her full bloom soon. Should I cut them off to help the plants out? What are they? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native lawn grass for Seabrook TX March 12, 2013 We want to seed our lawn in Seabrook, Tx.77586 with a Natural Grass replacing our St. Augustine Grass. I think there is one that is drought resistant (only water it twice a month.) and that does not g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for mulberry trees from Bryan TX February 24, 2013 I am looking for suggestions for nurseries from which I could purchase Red Mulberry or Texas Mulberry Tree. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for dotted blue-eyed grass from Saluda SC February 23, 2013 I lived in Texas for several years and now live on acreage in South Carolina. I have heard that bluebonnets don't grow well in South Carolina. However, there is a place by the road near our house t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Buying bluebonnet plants for project in Amarillo TX February 10, 2013 Is there anywhere I can buy some bluebonnet plants by March 1, 2013 for a school project? We are growing some, but they are just up. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deadwood for Degus February 01, 2013 I have a very specific and hopefully easy question. I just brought home some degus (small adorable rodents) and they have a severely restricted list of woods they can chew on safely. The safe trees th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Plants for Shaded North Slope in Ohio January 03, 2013 I have a shaded north hillside which needs erosion control plants. Mostly moss and very thin grass grows there now. Please help! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is Lycopodium digitatum native to South Carolina? December 27, 2012 Is Lycopodium digitatum native to SC; do you know if it's available in SC nurseries? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of Pectis angustifolia from Georgetown TX December 26, 2012 You answered an earlier question about Limoncillo (Pectis angustifolia) by saying you had found a source for these seeds in Santa Fe, but the hyperlink was inoperable. I'd like to try to propogate t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for oak shade from Whitney TX December 24, 2012 I live in Whitney, Texas and have a number of beautiful Live Oak trees in a portion of my yard providing deep shade. Asian Jasmine grows in about 5 ft circle around them and then nothing! I have walk ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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