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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| Problems with non-native weeping willow April 17, 2009 The trunk of my Weeping Willow tree has raised donut growths.The left base has decay. There is a large space between the base and the soil (no roots) and the wood is brittle. Large ants with a black ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree to plant by pool replacing mulberry in Las Vegas January 18, 2009 I am looking for a tree to plant between my house and pool. We just cut down a mulberry that was here due to its invasive root system. Are there any plants that can tolerate Vegas weather, provide a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Absence of grass around a willow tree in Georgia December 22, 2008 In the past three years my Willow tree has grown from a stick to a lovely tree. Unfortunately, the grass under and around the tree is gone. Nothing left but dirt. Is there a remedy? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Screening plants for edge of pond in Illinois December 16, 2008 I have a backyard pond that I am restoring, adding aeration, plants, etc. Unfortunately, there is a farmer that stores old equipment on the shore of my pond and refuses to move it. It is an eyesore.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing vegetation lost to hurricane October 15, 2008 Between Rita & Ike, I have lost over 40 beautiful trees, most red, white & post oaks. I have 6 very large (7' in diameter) pines that tried to pull up and are now leaning toward my house. They are sc... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native weeping willow September 20, 2008 My weeping willow has black holish cracks in it. It is a yearling. Any suggestions? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with non-native weeping willow September 18, 2008 I have a weeping willow tree that is approximately 6 years old..The problem is a fibrous growth is growing between the trunk & the bark -pushing the trunk & bark away from each other..Not sure what it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insects in non-native weeping willow September 17, 2008 My weeping willow is dropping small black insects. Thousands of 1/16" cover the ground etc. Insects stain a raspberry, purple color when smashed. Insects are very soft.Insects present about 3 weeks... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungus on trunk of non-native weeping willow in California August 21, 2008 I live in Palo Cedro, CA and have a weeping willow tree with with what appears to be be some type of fungus growing all over the trunk of the tree. It is a brown color and can be broken off in big ch... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Damaged non-native weeping willow in California August 16, 2008 I have a weeping willow that has no leaves and branches seems to have turned brittle. I don't see any bugs or burrows on the tree. The type of willow I have is very common in this area, although I'm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are poplar trees and willows safe for animals to eat August 04, 2008 poplar trees and willows, are they friendly for farm animals to consume leaves? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky leaves on non-native weeping willow August 03, 2008 Our weeping willow trees look healthy but have sticky leaves that attach to everything. They sparkle/shine from this very sticky mess. They are watered regularly, are they getting too much water? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing leaves on weeping willow August 03, 2008 We have a 4 year old Weeping Willow, 12+/- ft. tall and this week the leaves are starting to become yellow. This willow is full and robust in appearance, best it's ever looked. We have 2 other Wee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dry, brown leaves on non-native weeping willow August 03, 2008 Hello! I live in Pennsylvania I have 5 weeping willows I planted 3 years ago. All seemed well until last week I noticed suddenly one looks like it might be dying!? All the leaves are dry & brown. T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Loss of leaves from globe willows in Utah July 26, 2008 I have four globe willows that have been in my back yard for the past 6 years. For the past month they have been losing their leaves from the bottom up. We had aphids in some of our other trees and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in New York July 21, 2008 I am in zone 5/4 New York and I recently purchased a house with two erosion problems- 1. a seasonal stream has cut a gorge about 20 'deep X 40' long.Mature hemlocks are toppling into this hole. it i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for creek side in Illinois July 04, 2008 I have a creek that runs along my back yard, and was wondering if you could give me some suggestions on water loving trees to grow next to it. The creek gets sun all day and is located in zone 5. (so... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline of non-native weeping willow June 30, 2008 I live in Breckenridge, Texas and last year I planted a Weeping Willow tree on my property. It grew fine and seemed to be very healthy until this month. All of a sudden it has steadily lost all its ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distressed non-native weeping willows in Washington State June 26, 2008 What could be causing my weeping willows to be distressed year after year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Decline in willow tree in West Virginia June 15, 2008 I planted a willow tree about three years ago and it was progressing just beautifully with full leaves this spring in a nice green color. We staked it back about three weeks so it would grow straight... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native weeping willow losing leaves June 03, 2008 We have a willow tree (weeping), which sprung up naturally about 12 years ago. It has done very well until this summer. After its bloom in late March, it is losing its leaves again..turning yellow and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deterioration of non-native weeping willows in Alabama May 19, 2008 I have a small lake behind my house. 8 years ago we planted two nice weeping willow trees, one on each corner of our yard down toward the lake. One started looking bad last year and we cut all the de... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Different kinds of plants living in subarctic areas March 10, 2008 What are the different kinds of plants live in the subarctic areas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plant purchased as desert willow February 29, 2008 Purchased a plant at Chappel Hill, Texas and was told it was a desert willow. The bloom cluster and pink color are very similar, but leaves resemble the wisteria. Very pretty. What is it? Can it be r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Does Chilopsis linearis, var.Bubba produce seed pods? No. October 01, 2007 We have a really beautiful 2-year old Bubba, Desert Willow. It is already about 12 feet tall. I really have two questions. One does the Bubba form the seed pods like the other types of Desert Willows?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of desert willows September 10, 2007 We have three desert willows. Two are doing well, but the third, which was planted at the same time as the others, is about 1/3 the size of the other two, the foliage is thin, and the leaves have dry... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Effect of unusual wet weather on desert willows July 23, 2007 I live in North Central Texas and have 3 beautiful Desert willow trees that are usually in full bloom. I've kept them pruned to form a nice full tree shape but now they are losing leaves and looking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Disease problems of non-native Weeping Willow August 16, 2006 Could you please tell me why my weeping willow has got pink coloured leaves and seems very dry the bark is splitting and seems full of wood worm? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Willows native to Wisconsin July 01, 2005 I have a small garden center in the far northern reaches of Wisconsin....and I specialize in native varieties for up here. I also help folks with lake shore restoration and preservation. There was... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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