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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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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Source of seeds for helianthus salicifolius (Willowleaf sunflower) February 27, 2008 Where can I purchase seeds for helianthus salicifolius? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Recommendations for plants for Fairbanks, Alaska. February 25, 2008 i have just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. i loved it. i'd like to start getting folks to grow their own foods, and raise as much livestock as possible, but i live... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Difference in natural soil and potting soil. February 19, 2008 If you buy store bought soil is it different than soil from the ground? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for wildflower seeds of milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) February 14, 2008 I am a lifelong amateur botanist/horticulturist and am trying to find a source for wild flower seeds of the milkweed family (Asclepiadacea). Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Carex senta plugs in Maryland February 04, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have discovered that Carex senta would be a great plant to replace grass that is just not working. There are numerous articles supporting this, as well as my local coun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native non-invasive plant seeds for Oregon wedding January 21, 2008 I study invasive plants and I am interested in native plant re-vegetation. I am also planning a wedding in July. We thought a nice party favor would be wild flower seeds. I have people coming from ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for common names of plants in the United States January 16, 2008 Hello Mr. Plants! I am writing to you on behalf of Carol Sharp who is one of the leading plant and flower photographers here in the UK. We will shortly be making her collections of work availab... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native alternatives for non-natives December 07, 2007 Is there a way to search this website using an invasive plant species to get a list of native plant alternatives? ie. search Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silvergrass) and get the native alternative Sa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Resources for designing a landscape in Florida November 03, 2007 I have a large backyard that was devastated by Hurricane Wilma 2 years ago. I am tired of looking at bare grass. Is there a good lanscaping resource that I can design a rather large landscape. I reall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Inoculant for bluebonnets October 08, 2007 Where can I find inoculant for my bluebonnets? I have searched high and low. Native American Seeds does not carry it. I can buy it for soybeans in a huge quantity, but am not sure that this is the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Search for Texas barberry (Mahonia swaseyi) for sale September 30, 2007 Do you know where I can purchase a Texas Barberry (Berberis swaseyi, Texas Mahonia) plant? I live in the Texas hill country. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Horse herb available by seed? September 25, 2007 I live in Hays County in Texas, and I would like to plant horse herb on a slope that is now covered with a variety of tall grasses. Is horse herb available in seed form? If so, how may I order some? S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Resources for wildlife garden in Maryland September 10, 2007 I've recently bought a home in Cambridge in Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore. I want my small garden to have native plants that will sustain birds, butterflies and visiting wildlife. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants and sources for Little Rock, Ark. August 20, 2007 I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. What Type of native plants will grow here? Do you know a on-line store I can purchase them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Bumelia lanuginosa in Kansas August 18, 2007 Do you know of a source of Bumelia lanuginosa? I would like to include it in a future landscape construction project on the Kansas State University campus. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Purchase of medicinal plants August 14, 2007 Hi. I am looking to buy some medicinal plants. One of them is Galium and the other is Thymus serpillum. Please advise me of where I can find them. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your hel... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower seed mix August 06, 2007 Where can I buy "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower seed mix? Does such a thing exist? It seems like years ago my neighbor had some packets that she planted in her front yard, they were gorgeous! I woul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources of seeds for Quercus buckleyi August 02, 2007 I'm looking for a source for Liners or seed of "Texas oak (Quercus buckleyi)". Can you tell me any sources? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Alternatives to non-native and invasive Carex crus-corvi in New York July 20, 2007 Hello. I can't seem to find carex crus-corvi (ravenfoot sedge) on any online seed/plant website. I was interested in buying seeds or plants. My last name is Corvi, and I would love to grow it. Can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Karoo rose June 15, 2007 Where would the Adenium obesum/desert rose/Karoo rose pictured in the Austin American-Statesman's Gardening section on 06/09/07 be available for purchase in or near the Taylor, Texas (76574) area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bluebonnets as a source of nitrogen fixation June 13, 2007 I am fascinated by Texas Bluebonnets and want to introduce them to k-12 students as a major source of Nitrogen fixation. As I want to present this to the teachers can I get any guidance from you, lik... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Help, I know nothing! June 12, 2007 Where can I find someone who can give me advice on my flowers, plants, trees and shrubs? I bought a house with a lot of flower beds containing many different varieties of greenery and don't know... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Landscape designers for Texas Hill Country June 09, 2007 I need to locate a landscape designer for a Texas Hill Country property. Can you help? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources for Paronychia virginica in Virginia May 16, 2007 Greetings, I noticed that you have Paronychia virginica for sale in your spring plant sale. Despite the plant sharing the name of my fair state, I've been unable to find a source for it. Given... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Looking for nursery selling Wrights skullcap (Scutellaria wrightii) May 02, 2007 I'm located in Plano, and am trying to find seeds or seedlings for a plant species I saw at the LBJ Wildflower Center in Austin. I'm looking for a blue-flowering ground cover plant that is called W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants for Italianate garden April 29, 2007 Hi, I am looking at buying a house in Abilene, Texas that has an established burnt grass yard. The house is Italianate and requires bold plantings. Is there a way to establish a relatively Italinate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for sabadilla lily (Scheonocaulon officinale) April 25, 2007 Hi, i'm Dutch and living in Iquitos Amazone Peru. Now i'm looking for the plant sabadilla lilly (sapadilla lilly?). This is a natural pesticide. Where does this plant grow, where can I find the pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources for Bouteloua dactyloides in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area April 06, 2007 We live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Over the last few years our lawn has withered and now we are almost grassless. After researching we are considering planting Buffalo grass. However, after spend... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of night blooming Cereus April 04, 2007 My Grandmother used to have a plant she called Nightly Series, that bloomed only at night. Can you help me find out where to buy one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Availability of Cornus florida (flowering dogwood) for Central Texas March 26, 2007 I'd like to buy a flowering dogwood tree. Love the fall berries and spring flowers. I haven't had been able to find them at the nurseries I frequent (Great Outdoors, Natural Gardener, Breed, Barton ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources of Rosa acicularis for research March 25, 2007 I am a professor at the University of Nebraska and would like to obtain some Rosa acicularis plants to do research with. Can you tell me how to purchase them. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources of Hypericum anagalloides (tinkekrs penny) March 23, 2007 I am currently in search of any place where I may be able to purchase some of the Tinker's Penny. Could you please assist with this in any way possible? Greatly appreciated. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Suppliers for Lantana urticoides March 23, 2007 I would like to plant yellow Lantana in my beds because of the hot drought conditions we have in north central Texas. Where can I find this to plant now? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Locating native plant landscaper in Austin, TX March 12, 2007 Help ! I have a 9 year old native landscape -- river rock areas with beds of native plants which include lantana, salvia greggii, rosemary, coreopsis, brazos penestemon , Russian sage, Jerusalem sage,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources of cut native wildflowers March 06, 2007 I am preparing for my garden club's annual flower show and I have been assigned Southern Graces in San Antonio. Is there a source for cut bluebonnets or indian paintbrushes? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Finding bloom time on "Explore Plants" feature of website February 27, 2007 In using your 'Explore Plants' feature, I have noticed that you can search for plants according to their bloom time, but when looking at a specific species' page, I have not been able to discover t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for purchase of native Salvia texana February 23, 2007 Good morning, Do you or do you know someone who carries Salvia texana? It has been impossible for me to obtain this beautiful Native Texan. Please respond at your earliest convenience with infor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source of Rosa foliolosa for Zilker Gardens, Austin February 19, 2007 We're looking for a specimen plant of Rosa foliolosa and I am hoping you can direct me where I can purchase one for the Vee Fowler Native Texas Herb Garden at Zilker Botanical Gardens. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mail order sources for Salvia January 14, 2007 Do you know of any mail order sources for Salvia? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for plants or seeds of Pedicularis densiflora December 14, 2006 Do you know where I might obtain Pedicularis densiflora live plants or viable seeds. I understand that this plant is native to Oregon and California and is semi-parasitic and needs a host plant to dr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Crossvine and time to plant December 11, 2006 I live in Dripping Springs, Texas. I would like to plant a cross-vine in my back yard. When can I plant the cross-vine? Where can I purchase them in my area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Availability of orchids native to Austin, TX area November 29, 2006 Hi Mr. Smarty plants, I'm looking for orchids native to the Austin Texas area. I'd like to incorporate them into my pond and waterfall garden. Can you give me some names. I'd also like to know ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native perennial roof garden plants for New York November 09, 2006 I am looking for perennial roof gardens plants, sedum, hen and chickens, native plants. I am in zone six. They will have three inches of perilite, gravel, and compost. Can you give me a good local so... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources of native seeds for California November 03, 2006 Hello. I am trying to locate native seed producers in California. We have 100 acres of land that we would like to plant native seeds on and possibly harvest. Can you refer me to any California nati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native Indian Rice Grass cultivation as food source September 30, 2006 Hi! I'm a student at UT and I ran across a grass while doing some reseach, native to Utah and Arizona, called Indian Ricegrass. It was used as a famine plant among native communities, however, it w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources for Wax myrtle (Morella cerifera) September 21, 2006 I live in Alvin, Texas. I am looking for a small shade tree, that is easy to care for. I only have a small area for the tree. Alvin, Texas is about 30 miles from Galveston. I saw a wax myrtle tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Locating sources for bracken fern in New York September 01, 2006 I am looking for bracken fern plants to plant in my garden. Where can I find them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Seed sources for Mexican Gama Grass August 28, 2006 I'm trying to find a seed source for Mexican Gama Grass (scientific name is Tripsacum lanceolatum). Can you help me? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Best places to obtain native plants July 13, 2006 Where is the best place to get native plants ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wild hydrangeas north of Atlanta GA June 29, 2006 There are wild hydrangeas in my area - just north of Atlanta GA. There is a particular type, though, that I have only seen in the more mountainous counties of GA. The flower cluster is flat, with tiny... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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