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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Landscaping in the Southern California desert. October 16, 2007 We are located in southern California in Lake Havasu. I'm trying to landscape sloping areas. I have arrow weeds (Pluchea sericea) and want to get rid of them permanently. How can I achieve this or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Chinaberry trees coming up volunteer October 14, 2007 I have several chinaberry trees that have sprouted after my neighbor trimmed his tree. I have cut these trees down to the ground a couple of times, but they just send out new shoots. Any idea on how... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Elimination of nutgrass from native flower bed October 14, 2007 Nutgrass!*#!* My new bed in NE Austin wraps around a hot sunny SW street corner. Grass wouldn't grow there [I wouldn't water it.] I removed the turf [mostly stickers] to a depth of about 4", carefu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling invasives and using natives in New Hampshire October 09, 2007 What ideas would you have for marrying the subjects of native plants and invasives? This summer I volunteered to work with our town planner and recycling director on a new initiative called SNIP-IT!: ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing St. Augustine, replacing with native plants October 06, 2007 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, always excited to talk to the Green Guru himself. I've recently purchased a house in South Austin and am interested in establishing a small, 500+ sq ft, prairie grass and wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of camas being raised in Edmonton, Alberta September 18, 2007 I live in Edmonton, Alberta, and wish to find out how "Camassia (leichtlinii white) will fare in this zone. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flashing barrier to Bermuda in tree bed September 16, 2007 I'm building a 6-ft-diameter planting bed on a gentle slope on blackland clay, at the center of which I plan to install a cedar elm. I'm using the wedge-shaped stones from the home-improvement stor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of invasive non-native Chinese wisteria September 10, 2007 I am going to be removing my ubiquitous chinese wisteria very soon (the method I'm going to use is undetermined). If I decide to use Round-up on the cut-stem (which may take more than one application... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native alternatives for Chinest pistache September 06, 2007 We live just outside Kerrville on a lot with shallow soil over rock. We have built a raised bed for a shade tree and were considering a Chinese Pistache. However, I have since heard that they don't... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oxalis crassipes identification July 23, 2007 I'm trying to identify a plant that has appeared in several containers on my balcony. The largest plant is about a foot tall, with triangular leaves, small white flowers with yellow centers, and has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast growing, possibly invasive trees for South Carolina July 12, 2007 What fast growing trees would you suggest for South Carolina? We are heavy clay and the pecan trees we planted don't see to be too happy here. We are looking at the yellow poplar and the empress tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Maintenance of Blue grama in early stages July 06, 2007 I am seeding my large back yard with blue grama - 30-45 minutes of almost daily hand weeding for two months keeps me from falling too far behind on the green foxtail, bindweed, elm tree seedlings, pig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Percentage of plants native to U.S. June 22, 2007 About 50% of the plant species in Hawaii are naturalized, invasive, aliens (from other places). What are equivalent statistics for the lower 48 states (continental US) as a whole? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy plantings to replace invasive bamboo June 22, 2007 We are looking for good screening plants for our new house (the houses are very close). We like the way bamboo looks it is tall and narrow for the most part, but we do not want bamboo since it is inv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Toxicity and invasiveness of Scarlet Wisteria May 04, 2007 I recently purchased seeds for Scarlet Wisteria (Chinese rattlebox tree). I spoke to a neighbor about this and she warned me not to plant them as they were poisonous to hummingbirds. Can you clarify... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification and replacement of chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) April 24, 2007 I am trying to identify and locate a native tree. We live in Fairview, near Allen, Texas. It is in bloom now. It has fragrant small lavender 5 petal flowers in clusters. They develop into yellow/t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of consuming Rapistrum rugosum April 21, 2007 Reference: "Bastard Cabbage" (Rapistrum rugosum) Garden section of Austin American-Statesman (April 7, 2007) speaks of this weed. As a child, my parents used to pick, cook and eat this weed at the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Introduced invasive Melia azedarach along Shoal Creek in Austin April 17, 2007 Along the Shoal Creek Trail in Austin are many flowering trees with sparse clusters of small pink/purple, star-shaped flowers with a dark red center stalk, blooming now in April. They have a fragrance... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of Acacia escaping cultivation in California March 26, 2007 My backyard has been overrun by acacia shrubs. How and what can I do to permanently rid the area of this weed? I hold an agricultural QAL so I have access to herbicides if there are effective ones a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasive common giant mustard March 14, 2007 I have been seeing a lot of a small shrubby plants with yellow flowers all over Austin, mainly along roadsides. Back in my day the first wildflowers of Spring were the paintbrushes and the bluebonnets... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Avoiding planting Indian Paintbrush in Hawaii because of invasiveness March 01, 2007 My daughter is living in Hilo, Hawaii. For her birthday, her boyfriend ordered her some Indian Paintbrush seeds. Trying to be sure she grows them correctly in a pot, she found instructions that say ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control methods for Cenchrus spinifex, Coastal sandbur September 22, 2006 I have some of the nicest, thickest, greenest grassburs in the county of Erath. What is the best and quickest way to get rid of them? I have heard of a product called cornmeal gluten. Any info appreci... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lists of edible plants in region of Pennsylvania for school project September 12, 2006 Please Help! I'm a grade four teacher in Philadelphia. My students and I are assigned a theme project that involves listing edible plants that grow in our region. Can you recommend a web site(s)... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Management practices to eradicate Johnson grass September 02, 2006 Please suggest some eradication methods for Johnson grass. It is established in a field that I want to encourage native wildflowers/plants such as goldenrod, prairie coneflower, blue eyed grass, milkw... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of Roosevelt weed in Hays County, TX August 29, 2006 Roosevelt weed is rapidly taking over the ranchette which we have purchased in Hays County. Any suggestions for reducing or eliminating its presence will be appreciated. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |