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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| Cuttings from beautyberry from Stockport OH May 22, 2014 My beauty berry is starting a new growth about 2ft from main plant, can I dig this and part of the root without hurting the main part, if so, when? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of possumhaw from Austin May 22, 2014 I planted a possumhaw holly plant about 3 months ago and am really excited to watch it grow from its current 3-foot height. It is starting to berry right now. My question is about those berries: (Cle... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Propagation of an agave from Dripping Springs TX April 30, 2014 Hi there, I have a Century Agave in my backyard. It is over 6 feet tall and is now producing the center stalk. I understand that means the plant is going to die. My question is how to harvest the pups... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Viability of Lupinus havardii seeds from Elmendorf TX April 25, 2014 I have been able to grow several Lupinus havardii (Big Bend Bluebonnet) and they are now making seed. Is there anyway to determine if a seed is good or bad for this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Picking flowers of bulbs from Cloverdale CA April 22, 2014 Will picking the flowers of native bulb plants, such as Trillium, Blue Dicks, Fawn Lilies, kill the plant or keep it from reproducing? I do not condone this action but know people who do it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacing hawthorn bush with muhly grass from Plano TX April 10, 2014 I am thinking of replacing a hawthorn bush with a muhly grass plant or two in an edged area with river rock cover in Plano, texas. It is the black soil and not a sandy loam. We have a sprinkler syst... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Age before blooming of a Fendler rupicola from Elmendorf TX April 06, 2014 How old does a Fendlera rupicola plant have to be before it will bloom? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Grafting different colors of Tecoma from Casa Grand AZ April 01, 2014 Is it possible to graft different colors of tecoma and if yes, is the process same as process for grafting roses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native flowers from bulbs from Denton TX March 26, 2014 I am slowly converting my landscaping to as much native regional plants as possible. Are there any flowers from bulbs that you could recommend? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seeds to scatter from Austin March 20, 2014 Which seeds are good to throw and scatter on lawns or garden beds? Seeds that germinate easily, I suppose? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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