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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| Liquid glucose as substitute for sunlight from New York City December 16, 2012 I am curious to find out whether liquid glucose can be poured as water for mung bean plants as substitute for no sunlight. Is the possible? Will a specific amount of glucose need to be used? Can liqui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC December 10, 2012 I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Advocacy of non-native plants. December 10, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Instead of asking a question, I would like to comment on the seemingly discouraging tone on growing plants or trees out of their native habitat that I have observed from rea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive mandevilla from Chula Vista CA December 10, 2012 How can I rid my yard of mandevilla that has invaded from my neighbor's yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with mature Blue Agave in Kenya December 09, 2012 I have a mature Agave plant and there is a thin black liquid that looks like oil starting to appear on the leaves. The plant plant seems to be dying (from the bottom up). (The plant is a blue Agave an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replanting of non-native Christmas Palm from Sarasota FL November 28, 2012 Do you know of a proven technique to plant a Christmas Palm in a built-in concrete pool deck planter box - using gravel around the soil root ball to delay the root bound condition we just ripped out? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Most invasive, noxious plant in U.S. from New York City. November 26, 2012 I was wondering, what is the most invasive/ noxious plant in the U.S? Thanks in advance. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of a tree in Florida with bell-shaped red flowers November 23, 2012 A friend in Florida has asked about identification of a tree with a flower none of us have ever seen. It starts with a green pod, then flowers into, what looks to me like a Chinese lantern, or bell. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care for some non-native salvias from Austin November 12, 2012 Mexican bush sage and Salvia "indigo spires" are both blooming in my Austin beds right now. Once they stop blooming and/or frost gets them, could you tell me by how much they should be cut back? R... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Search for non-native Rosa Rugosa for Granbury TX November 12, 2012 I would like to find an old fashioned Rosa Rugosa (non-hybrid) to grow in central Texas. I know I've seen them occasionally when traveling in the central TX area. I want them for their rose hips. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wound from non-native date palm thorn Naples FL November 12, 2012 Was trimming my pygmy date palm when a frond fell and a thorn pierced my rubber gloves and stuck me in the web of skin between my thumb and forefinger. Did not see a broken thorn but area where struc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting a young lilac November 05, 2012 This past spring I planted a hybrid lilac in the ground. The weather here has started to get cold, and much more so at night. Also, the temperatures go from warm to cold and back again as if unsure wh... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Crows foot plant for Christmas wreaths from Millsboro DE November 04, 2012 I am looking for a plant called crows foot to make wreaths for Christmas. Where do I find this plant. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ants and garden plants for Austin November 03, 2012 I am needy of companion plants that compliment and work well with the Lantana, Mexican Heather , and in the new beds that I am preparing where I was thinking in part to have passion flower (though is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive Asiatic Jasmine from Austin October 25, 2012 Is Trachelospermum asiaticum considered a native texas plant? Is there an example growing at the Center that can be viewed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Euphorbia 'Cherokee' leaves drying from Benson AZ October 24, 2012 I have a Euphorbia 'Cherokee' in a pot and has been growing nicely but some of the leaves are turning red and drying up and falling off. Is this normal for this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can lantana be grown in British Columbia from Vernon BC October 20, 2012 Can I grow lantana in Vernon B.C. Canada? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spots on non-native naval orange trees from Stockton CA October 20, 2012 I have two mature Navel Orange trees. One tree has developed spotty chlorophyl depleted areas that were not on the oranges when they were smaller. In addition, the oranges on both trees are smaller ,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native pomegranate failing to fruit from Highland Village TX October 20, 2012 Last spring I planted a pomegranate tree (type: Wonderful) which is supposed to produce edible fruit. It had 5 or 6 absolutely beautiful blooms, but each of them dropped off and no sign of fruit. Is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A method for killing nandina and ligustrum with herbicide October 19, 2012 Is there an effective herbicide that can be painted on the stumps of Nandina and Wax-leaf ligustrum to keep them from growing back? Thanks so much! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing Creeping Fig Suckers October 17, 2012 Help Mr Smarty Plants, I am helping a neighbor remove a creeping fig from her property and want to know if there is any product that will soften, emulsify or remove the remaining sucker roots on the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hydrilla problems in Tom Bean Lake in Mesquite, TX. October 12, 2012 What is the lifespan of Hydrilla in 30 acre lake at Tom Bean Tx? Does it grow spring thru summer and then hibernate thru winter ?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are non-native Chinese pistache poisonous to alpacas from Galt CA October 07, 2012 Are Chinese Pistachio trees poisonous to alpacas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lantana failing to bloom from Tampa FL October 04, 2012 I reside in central Florida. I have planted several lantana the orange,red,yellow type. I don't have proper species name. They have been in the ground 3 weeks with 2" of potting soil around root ba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failing to thrive of non-native rose bushes in Austin September 24, 2012 I live in NW Austin and I have lost one knockout rose bush this summer and it looks like another one is failing. The leaves on a cane turn yellow then brown. I do not see whiteflies or black spots o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, and/or invasive bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Pistache from Houston September 24, 2012 Our St. Augustine lawn died suddenly this summer from either chinch bugs or grub worms (or both?), and a multitude of weeds and native Bermuda have taken over the area. Now that the weather has cooled... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of red lily-like blossom in Austin, TX September 21, 2012 Rain at last in Austin! The rain lilies are up, but wait, what on earth is this? Lily like, 6 petals, but a cluster of 6 stalks w/blood red blooms slightly larger than our rain lilies - Off under a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Weeds in Buffalograss from Edmond OK September 20, 2012 We have a patch of buffalograss surrounded by patio/flower garden/vegetable garden. We like B-grass, but are getting a lot of weeds despite preemergents, and some bermuda had appeared. Are there h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive rescue grass in meadow garden in Smithville TX September 20, 2012 Despite numerous efforts, a solid field of cool weather rescue grass keeps desired wildflower and grass seeds from successfully growing on my "vacant" lot in town. I plan to I put out a 6 ml plasti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What crops grow in Laredo, Texas? September 19, 2012 I have to do a report on Laredo Texas and one of the questions is what type of crops do they grow in Laredo Texas. I couldn't find an answer anywhere and I was wondering if you can help me? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting non-native sago palm and philodendron from Pflugerville TX September 15, 2012 I have a small/young sago palm and philodendron I'd like to plant. Do you advise to plant them now with fall/winter approaching or wait until next spring. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native photinias dying from Austin September 14, 2012 I have some red tip potinias that are dying. The ends of the branches are dying and the leaves are turning brown, I don't think this is the fungus that affects most red tips, any clues? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Gaura dying from Townsville, Australia September 14, 2012 My passionate pink Gaura appears to be dying. It had a beautiful blooming period & now is going backwards. What is happening? I have pruned it, but don't know how to save it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trimming non-native sago from Fresno CA September 10, 2012 I have a sago plant, fronds are hanging over into street, can the fronds themselves be trimmed back without removing the whole frond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with new transplant non-native weeping willow from Washington DC September 10, 2012 I replanted a very young BABY weeping willow tree and now it looks as if the leaves are drying up like it is dying. I know that it could also be in shock from the new transplant or it can be dying ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non native crape myrtle changing bloom colors in Sonora CA September 05, 2012 I have a Red Rocket Crape Myrtle that was planted a little over a year ago. Last year the bloom was a beautiful deep red and this year it is a Mauvie pink. Is there something I can do to bring it back... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant in Kentucky with fuzzy grayish-green leaves September 03, 2012 I would like to know about a plant that I do not know what it is. I had this plant just come up in my flowerbed, that looked like a tobacco plant but the leaves looked like a lambs ear plant. It was ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Type of non-native parsley for swallowtails from Austin September 02, 2012 What is the best type of parsley for Yellow Swallowtails? Lost a caterpillar when it ran out of food from a parsley plant. I can't remember what kind of parsley. It would not feed on Rue, cilantro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacements for photinia from San Antonio August 31, 2012 i just read your response to someone regarding Red Tip shrubs. You just saved me thousands of dollars ! I was getting ready to order over 250 of these to line my 2.5 acre fence line. What shrub would ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deer resistant plants from New Braunfels TX August 31, 2012 I have a 1/2 yard covered by a tree, shady. Bermuda grass previous owner planted has all turned brown this summer. I don't have lots of money to work with but would love to landscape that side of fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a non-native rose from Akron OH August 30, 2012 Can I transplant a rose plant that I have in sunny area to an area that will be partially shady? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native jade plant from Pauline SC August 24, 2012 Do jade plants grow in South Carolina; if, so where? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficulty with Clay Soil from Palm Bay, FL August 22, 2012 I had a very nice little native shady area behind my house for over 40 years, but now it has been cleared except for a 100 foot tall live oak in the center of this raised mound (50' x 80'). I've be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with non-native tomatoes from Spokane WA August 18, 2012 I have 2 tomato plants in 1 whiskey barrel, they are in abundance with tomatoes. My problem is when the tomatoes start to ripen, half green & half light red within 1 day the tomatoes are really soft ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive bermudagrass from Memphis TN August 17, 2012 I live in central Memphis and have well-drained clay soil. I have converted much of the front yard from turf grass to beds of native plants, which survive our hot humid without supplemental watering e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling seeding of non- native, invasive Paulownia from Fayetteville TN August 17, 2012 My husband planted a Paulownia tree against my advice about eight years ago. This summer it has huge seed pods. How do I keep the seeds from invading the wooded area of our property? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Citrus Trees in Glendora CA August 16, 2012 We're considering moving to Glendora, CA (from the East Coast) and wondered if it is possible to successfully grow orange and other citrus trees that far inland? Any advice you can offer will be muc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male or female Jatropha curcas from Brownsville TX August 16, 2012 How do know the sex of a young Jatropha C. plant? how many weeks before you can tell a boy/girl plant ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of a plant at UGA Trial Gardens 15 years ago August 14, 2012 Looking to identify a plant that was in UGA trial gardens about 15 years ago, large plant with purple flowers, fuzzy leaves like a lambs ear. Thought it started with a Thiobana or something like that View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant identification August 04, 2012 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I have a plant that was given to me and told it was spider plant, but I don't believe it is. The plat grows up and has leaves coming out like a spider plant but they are gree... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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