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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| Improving blooming on mock orange March 03, 2008 I have a now 6 yr. old mock orange shrub in the garden which has never bloomed, darn it. I have fed, not fed, mulched, not mulched, sheared, not sheared. What gives? Will it ever bloom, or shall I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viability of Taxus canadensis (Canadian yew) for Buffalo, NY February 28, 2008 I live in Buffalo, N.Y. and am gradually naturalizing my back yard. The previous owner built a 6' fence along the western edge of the yard and planted a straight line of arborvitae, which are now abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source of seeds for helianthus salicifolius (Willowleaf sunflower) February 27, 2008 Where can I purchase seeds for helianthus salicifolius? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care for a non-native Syringa vulgaris (lilac) February 19, 2008 I inherited a lilac bush when I bought my house. It grows in a bed right in front of the house but grows away from the house, not in a straight up and down manner. This winter we had a 12" snow fall ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to eradicate chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata) February 10, 2008 How do I get rid of a invasive ground covering plant called Camelion without hurting the ground so I can plant something else? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native trees and shrubs for bloom various times of year February 10, 2008 I live in Southwest Austin and have a garden that spans the length of our back fence. It gets approximately 6 hours of sun. We currently have two trees (which we think are Bradford Pears) and three ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bur oak bark damage done by deer February 03, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Just noticed that deer have been rubbing the bark on good sized, but young, bur oaks planted last spring. Mostly in one spot on one side of the trunk. Will this kill the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Determination of the sex of Mexican persimmon (Diospyros texana) January 30, 2008 Last spring, I planted a persimmon fruit from a Mexican Persimmon. I now have 6 small seedlings coming up. Since they all came from the same seed source - 1 black persimmon, will they all be male tree... 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 | ||
| Texas natives that are shade tolerant for Austin, TX January 21, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I am looking for Texas native plants that are shade tolerant....specifically agaves (How about the Century Agave and the Queen Victoria Agave?) and something to add a splash ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Promoting bloom in Chocolate Summer Mimosa January 11, 2008 Please help! I purchased a Chocolate Summer Mimosa from one of our local nurseries. It was a brand new plant to them and they don't really know much about them. I planted it just 3 years ago as an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of a sedum indoors December 16, 2007 I have a coworker who has trusted her Sedum Burrito plant into my care because it is not doing well in her office. It appears to need repotting, as it is very crowded in the pot it came in and is dif... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seed germination for sugar maple (Acer saccharum) December 15, 2007 How can I germinate sugar maple?(step by step, please) I have some seeds but can't make them grow directly outside, so could you recommend a method which takes place inside?! I've heard something ab... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of vine with translucent red berries in Tennessee. November 30, 2007 During the month of November I have seem in Nashville, TN a vine which appears to be native or a handed-down plant growing behind a restaurant site on a chain link fence. It was loaded with cluster... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming of cordgrass plants November 20, 2007 We have planted more than 150 cordgrass plants (spartina bakeri) along the edges of the small pond at our condominium complex to try to prevent any further soil erosion between the buildings and the p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of mature agaves November 20, 2007 Hello- we live in Austin, TX and have a bed of different varieties of agave. They are near the walkway to our house, and are so out of control they pose a hazard to our guests walking up to the house... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cross pollination of orange and crapemyrtle November 05, 2007 I have a crapemyrtle tree growing 3 feet from a navel orange tree. This summer a shoot grew from the ground 5 inches from the orange tree. The shoot looks just like the orange tree but the leaves were... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-blossoming trumpet vine November 05, 2007 About 9 years ago I started a trumpet vine, from seeds that I got from plants that were invading an empty home. I saw how invasive it was. It had worked its way into the windows and front porch and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible disease on Eastern Redbud October 06, 2007 Our Eastern Redbud appears to be suffering from our recent drought. The leaves are turning brown in July/August on a few branches. A few black spots appear on the leaves before they turn brown. Ot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Webbing on the bark of a hackberry tree. October 03, 2007 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants. We have a large hackberry tree in our back yard that has what appears to be extensive spider webbing covering large areas of the bark at the trunk . . and extending well up th... 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 | ||
| Cool, wet summer effect on evergreen sumac August 28, 2007 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I have 3 evergreen sumac bushes that I planted as a screen between my house and my neighbors two years ago. They are located in a part of our yard that receives a lot of runof... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifcation of four o clock-like flower August 25, 2007 I've run across a flower I cannot find any information on. I saw it in West Virginia. I know that a pix might be needed to identify, but, since this is somewhat unusual, I thought possibly you might... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growth rate of trees August 20, 2007 What is the growth rate of the following plants. (How wide and tall each year? They are all in 1 gallon pots right now.) 1. Agarita 2. Anacacho Orchid 3. Silk Tassel. Is there anything that can be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Rosa rugosa poisonous? August 04, 2007 Are beach plums from a Rosa rogosa poisonous? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identificaation of volunteer plant in Maine July 31, 2007 I have a volunteer in my garden in Maine that I have been unable to identify. It is a perennial that grows in full sun. It has formed a thick mat of plants whose leaves are about and its leaves are d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grassy "weed" invasion in Bermuda grass lawn July 09, 2007 Our grass is being totally overrun by this weed.(I don't know what the name is but I do know it's not the dandelion weed or the thin grassy weed). It is Bermuda grass and I really don't know how to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Restoration of mistflowers suffering from wet season June 27, 2007 I have planted gregg's mistflower in a bed that receives morning sun and afternoon semi-shade. It was beautiful and covered with blooms and butterflies this spring, but suddenly has become brown and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating weeds from seeded wildflower stands June 25, 2007 We live in Eastern Central Texas in a small community on Texas Highway 7. Last fall, we went to the Wildseed Flower Farm near Fredricksburg and purchased a bag of mixed wildflower seeds and planted... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Coexistence of rubus trivialis and American beautyberry May 28, 2007 I'm growing some rubus trivialis in a 1-gal. pot and plan to plant it this fall. Will this dewberry coexist with American beautyberry, or must it have its own space entirely? If it needs its own sp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reason for small winecup flowers (Callirhoe sp.) May 25, 2007 I purchased some winecup seeds from a wildflower seed company and planted them this past autumn. I live in the northcentral Texas area. This spring, several of the seeds sprouted but they had tiny lav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replanting members of Rosaceae family in same spot May 23, 2007 HI Mr. Smarty Plants We had two apple (yellow fruit) trees besides out house and they died. Is it ok to replant in the same place with other trees without being afraid something is wrong with the soi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ravaged by snails May 23, 2007 Our Prickly Pear Cactus is being completely ravaged by snails. Is there something in my yard that could be attracting them? Is there something I can do to keep them off the plant? Also is is safe to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Hyacinth Beans and Cardinal vine (non-natives) grow in Texas? April 28, 2007 I live in Coppell, TX, and a neighbor gave me some Hyacinith Beans and Cardinal Vine seeds to plant. She described these as doing well in her local garden, but I cannot find a photo or picture of them... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation and transplanting of Vernonia lindheimeri April 10, 2007 I have located a wooly ironweed plant and have taken some seeds to start. This is the only ironweed I have seen. Any suggestions on how to start the seed? Also, if development of the property appea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Toadflax and Baby Blue Eyes occurring naturally in Texas March 29, 2007 Does Toadflax/Spurred Snapdragon occur naturally in Texas? My daughter found what I think is it in a field in Keller, TX, but I'm wondering if it is cultivated. The field is full of a variety of fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline of pollinating bees around Mexican plums March 19, 2007 Dear Dr. Smarty Plants While out working in my yard (about nine miles southwest of the Wildfower Center) this morning, I became aware that there was no sound of bees buzzing. I checked our Mexica... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of native dogwoods in Williamson Co., TX March 12, 2007 Hi Mr/Mrs SmartyPlants What are the small-ish wild trees that are blooming so beautifully now? They are practically covered in pretty white blossoms. I've always called them dogwoods but in the vari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Definition of what constitutes a native plant January 23, 2007 Hello, I am doing research concerning "native plants" for the Northeast. I am "befuddled" as I am finding conflicting definitions for what constitutes a native plant. Do you have a good definiti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Breaking dormancy of native seeds November 22, 2006 The science of seed preservation seems to be well advanced. However, Jill Nokes' book appears to be the only well-known information about breaking dormancy of native seeds. I'm grateful that she w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identifying gender of persimmon trees October 23, 2006 How can you tell the difference between a male persimmon tree and a female persimmon tree? Also do you need both to bear the fruit? I live in Louisiana and never heard of this before. Thanks. 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 | ||
| Protecting hibiscus from cold in Eastern Washington State July 28, 2006 I recently purchased a Hibiscus Brilliant Red. I planted it in an area of my garden that will give it full sun for most of the day. In the Pacific Northwest where I live (Eastern Washington) it can ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Root rot and transplant shock in Texas betony July 13, 2006 Texas betony is supposed to be drought resistant but also likes to be kept moist, but I have had trouble getting it established. These seem to be undemanding plants I have had entire stems dry up and... 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 | ||
| Fertilizer and application for live oak trees April 27, 2006 What do I use to feed live oak trees? How do I apply the fertilzer? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants suitable for rock garden in New York March 26, 2006 I'd like to start a rock garden. The area is very rocky, the soil is shallow and it's partially shaded. I'd like mostly perennials that flower from spring to fall. I hope to make some purchases fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Digestive distress from eating Lonicera sempervirens February 23, 2006 A friend of mine ate Lonicera sempervirens and it caused a burning sensation in his stomach. What may have caused this sensation? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hardiness of non-native Lycium barbarum for Saschatewan December 19, 2005 Lycium barbarnum. What is its hardiness and where can it be grown? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fasciation on brown eyed Susan August 28, 2005 I have a flower in my garden that blooms every year. This year I have a very strange breed--there is a double flower. I do not know the name of the flower or what kind it is. I only know we nickname... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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