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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| Skin Reaction form Cochineal on Prickly Pear February 16, 2015 I have severe burning and peeling skin on pads of fingers after touching "white stuff" on a prickly pear. White stuff tuned purple then burned skin even after washing hands. Skin has been cracking a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscape Fabric for Oak Suckers in Austin February 11, 2015 Can landscape fabric (covered w/decorative bark mulch) be safely used to control Escarpment oak sprouts? 70-year-old knees are tired of getting down to remove. Oaks are in Circle C area of Austin View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating Najas flexilis from a pond December 22, 2014 What method would be effective in eliminating Najas Flexilis from a pond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low Water Use Plants for a Pond Island November 06, 2014 We have a medium sized pond/tank with a small island covered in black willows. The pond loses a lot of water and we were told it was partially due to the willows. We want to remove them and replace ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bermuda, not the only option in Memphis November 04, 2014 I'm building an energy efficient home in Memphis and want to extend that strategy to the landscaping. I'd like to plant native grasses, but this lot is surrounded by lots sodded with Bermuda grass.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is the plant called wingspan? September 21, 2014 I have a lot of environmental allergies and saw a positive result for "wingspan" yet I cannot find ANY information online about that particular plant. I was told it's "tumbleweed" by the medical ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Desert Willow Roots from Lubbock, TX September 18, 2014 I have a very, very happy Desert Willow that has grown larger than we expected and is probably too close to the house. Do I need to worry about a cracked foundation or pipe problems? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Pterocaulon pycnostachyum September 17, 2014 I have a solitary Pterocaulon pycnostachyum in my wildscape; it invited itself. Some years it does not flower at all (or the bloom is eaten before I see it), and its stalks (usually 4) are not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Live Oak Suckers or ??? in Arlington, TX September 12, 2014 Do I have live oak suckers or an invasive plant? We bought a house a few years ago in Arlington, TX with two beautiful old live oak trees, and mostly just bare sand-dirt under them. Under one t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Update on controlling live oak suckers with newspapers, cardboard and mulch September 12, 2014 Can we get an update on the march 2011 topic of live oak suckers? I am wondering if the newspaper/cardboard/mulch layers continued to take care of the problem. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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