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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| topic | question | |
| Seeds and seed pods of bluejacket (Tradescantia ohiensis or Hyacinthus orientalis March 26, 2015 I have lots of bluejacket flowers in my yard. I keep looking for the seed pods but can't find any seeds. Where are the seed pods located on the bluejacket flower? Thanks. Lew Dallas View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Using Cement Blocks for Raised Beds March 25, 2015 Is it safe to use cinder blocks for box gardens? If not, what do you suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mexican Lime Turning Yellow March 25, 2015 What causes moderate yellowing of 40% of the leaves of an 8 year old Mexican Lime Tree that is booming and blooming right now with lots of thick new growth? I used a general garden fertilizer a few ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Verbena Annuals Deer Resistant? March 25, 2015 Are Verbena Estrella Pink Star annuals deer resistant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of mystery tree in Huntington Beach, CA March 25, 2015 Have a "tree" that has grown from about 18" tall to about 10' tall in a little over a years time. It has a central trunk that is about 3/4" in diameter at it's largest. It has short thin branch... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Companion plants for non-native Santolina virens March 23, 2015 Can you recommend companion plant options for Santolina virens? The companion plant would be planted randomly and interspersed with the santolina and needs to be no taller than 12 inches because of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Agave attenuata Poisonous? March 12, 2015 Is Agave attenuata (foxtail agave) poisonous to horses or humans? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Short, Natural Evergreen Shrubs for Texas March 12, 2015 I am looking for small/dwarf evergreen shrubs that, when mature, will be no larger than three feet tall. If possible I would like shrubs that are graceful and more natural looking rather than “regimen... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Companion Plants for Texas Mountain Laurel March 12, 2015 I am building a garden from scratch and need help. I want to plant a Texas mountain laurel on each front section of my house in front of a window, and I also want to use Thumbelina Leigh English laven... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant native Lantana urticoides and not non-native March 09, 2015 San Antonio Water System does not want to assist invasive plants but we want to encourage Lantana sp but we need to know what Lantana camara hybrids are sterile View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Jasminum polyanthum Deer Resistant and Native? March 07, 2015 Are Jasminum polyanthum deer resistant? They are selling these plants at Trader Joe's right now so I'm assuming it's native to our area. But the instructions don't say anything about deer. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Red Shrimp Plant Poisonous for Dogs? March 07, 2015 Is the Red Shrimp Plant poison to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling non-native Pennisetum frutescens (Naked fountain grass) December 07, 2014 Three years ago I bought a pennisetum frutescans grass from a reputable online nursery. It gets no supplemental water, but it is taking over my yard. It is almost 7 feet wide now. Can you tell me how ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of non-native Buddha Belly bamboos November 08, 2014 I have several budha belly bamboos. They froze down last winter. I have got them back to 5 ft. I need them around 8-10 for privacy. Any suggestions? Also how to I protect them this winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bermuda, not the only option in Memphis November 04, 2014 I'm building an energy efficient home in Memphis and want to extend that strategy to the landscaping. I'd like to plant native grasses, but this lot is surrounded by lots sodded with Bermuda grass.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nativity of various bulbs October 15, 2014 Are the following bulbs native? Chionodoxa forbesii Camassia leichflinii Crocus Sprint tommasinianus Barr's Purple Hyacinthoides hispanica Narcissus 'Actea' Scilla siberica 'Spring Beauty' ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Houseplant identification October 15, 2014 Had a houseplant with leaves that were green on the top and purplish on the bottom. The leaves were velvety to the touch. Would like to know what it was. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Kousa Dogwood Fruit Toxic to Dogs? October 14, 2014 Are Kousa dogwood berries toxic to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning Citrus Suckers October 06, 2014 Mr. Smarty Plants, you are the only person that has "not" insisted that the little balls on Satsuma and lemon trees were clumps of bugs. They are surely what you described in the answer to my previo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference in native and non-native cherry laurel October 02, 2014 I have a backyard volunteer that I have identified as a cherry laurel, but how do I tell the Carolina from the non-native? This is still young (2 years or so), and not flowering, at least not now. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Castor Bean Leaves Toxic to Pets? September 13, 2014 I understand that the beans of the castor plant on lethal if chewed on. Are the leaves that toxic? I would love to plant this plant and not let it flower, but I do have visiting grandchildren and dog... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fuzzy Citrus Fruit on Satsuma and Lemon Trees September 13, 2014 A man asked you about fuzzy little small fruit-like balls that looked like tiny lemons. I have huge numbers of these on both my mature Satsuma and lemon tree this year. I get 100's of really great f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between invasive Chinese and Japanese wisterias and native wisteria September 12, 2014 Dear Mr or Ms Smarty Plants, Is there any way I can tell for sure if my wisteria is native? I bought it at a place when it was in bloom that sold a lot of native plants. I Would like to know for sure... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Aggressive Plants in Pleasant Valley NY September 01, 2014 Are there any native plants that can out compete Japanese knotweed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem with Chinese Pistache tree September 01, 2014 We have a gorgeous Chinese Pistache in our yard, about 25 feet tall. We bought it for its gorgeous fall color. The problem is that it has never turned color for us. All the other pistaches in the neig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shasta Daisies without Petals August 21, 2014 My shasta daisies do not have the white petals, only the yellow center is in bloom. There are no visible signs of insects. They get a good amount of sun - about 5 hours per day. What could be the prob... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sages in Catasauqua, PA August 08, 2014 I want to buy a Texas Sage tree but I live in PA. Can I bring the tree indoors during winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tall plant with bell-shaped upside-down white flowers July 18, 2014 2 tall plants grew outside my suburban New York house in June, blossomed late June. They looked like giant asparagus stalks, and the flowers were white, bell shaped, upside down, look like fairy skirt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Starting Yarrow (Achillea) and Daucus from Seed July 16, 2014 I need to deadhead my cottage yarrow. I assume it has gone to seed. What do I do to plant it as seed? If I can do it, can I do it now or do I need to wait until spring. If I need to wait until spring,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Japanese Wineberry in Maryland July 16, 2014 Hello, we were at Cunningham Falls in Maryland and I can not identify this plant. If you could I would greatly appreciate it, thank you. It looks like a raspberry but the berries are inside small leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with non-native Shasta daisies July 10, 2014 Our Shasta Daisy has bloomed quite prolifically this year. I don't know what to do with the spent blooms/stalks. Do I trim them down, save the seeds, plant the seeds? Any help is appreciated. Thank y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing pecan and fruit trees near Canyon Lake, Texas July 07, 2014 I just bought a property on the north side of Canyon Lake in the Hill Country of Texas. Most of the trees around are cedar, and a few live oak. I know I have seen beautiful Pecan trees as well as seve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a non-native lucky bamboo plant July 05, 2014 I have gotten a lucky bamboo plant which is kinda large and want to transplant but don't know how can you help me? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Acre-scale Grass Removal near Austin, TX July 04, 2014 How do I get rid of 10 acres of Kleingrass? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Competition between Horseherb and Chickweed July 04, 2014 Ok, sorry I did it wrong the 1st time!? I live in Houston, and I have chickens! I also have mass amounts of Horseherb, and I want to buy some chickweed seeds and plant it for my chickens! My question ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Verbena bonariensis won't bloom in Galveston, TX. July 03, 2014 My Verbena bonariensis is thriving, but never blooms. The plants look healthy, are about 6 feet tall and in full sun. The buds turn light purple but never open to flower. My neighbor's vb are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Apache Pine for Dripping Springs, TX. July 02, 2014 Is the Apache Pine tree a good choice for planting in alkaline soil with excellent drainage? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native pistacio problem Rockwall, TX. July 02, 2014 I have an eight year old Pistacio tree that has leaves turning brown and falling off. It is June! Why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native fig problems in Austin, TX. July 02, 2014 We have a large fig tree in our yard. It has been healthy since we bought the house in 2006. But in the last week or so, the leaves have turned yellow and have wilted. It is full of fruit. I'm afraid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Meyer lemon problems in Dripping Springs, TX. July 02, 2014 I have a Meyer lemon that looks very sick. The leaves, limbs, and fruit all have brownish gold raised spots that are the size of a pin head. The spots on the leaves seem to run along the center of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) July 02, 2014 Foxglove (digitalis purpurea) is not a native U.S. plant. It was introduced to the U.S. from Europe and is now considered invasive in many parts of the western U.S. It invades our forested wild land... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' (Cardinal Candy) toxic to horses? July 01, 2014 Is Viburnum-Cardinal Candy/Viburnum dilatatum 'Henneke' reported to be toxic or non-toxic to horses? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can non-native Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) be grown in Round Rock, Texas? July 01, 2014 Can the Epiphyllum (Orchid Cactus) be grown in the Round Rock Texas area or is this area too hot for it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Differences between Desmodium and Lespedezda June 19, 2014 i am trying to determine the difference between lespedeza and desmodium in my full sun wildflower and tall grasses meadow. There appear to be a number of different types of these plants, and they are... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant identification June 12, 2014 We live in Magnolia TX and have a shrub we can't identify. It's evergreen and has waxy leaves with a serrated edge that are about an inch in length. They have pink flowers and they grow to ab... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Reblooming Potted Iris June 12, 2014 I have a pot of iris bulbs that are giving me just a bunch of leaves this year. Last year I had wonderful big blooms. Any suggestions about what I could do to get some flowers? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Distinguishing native Celastrus scandens from non-native C. Orbiculatus from Lexington MA June 08, 2014 Dear Mr. Plants, I maintain a wildflower garden with the Lexington Field and Garden Club in Lexington, Massachusetts. Every year, I pull up sprouts of Celastris orbiulatis. I want to plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Red poppies to bloom in November from Round Rock TX June 08, 2014 Hi, I want to plant poppy seed so that they bloom in November for Veterans and Remembrance Day. Can you offer any guidance? Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant time for small smoke tree from Battle Ground WA June 01, 2014 When do I transplant a smoke tree that is still young, about a foot high? It is too close to a fence, which I fear will be a problem as it gets big. I live in Battle Ground, WA which is zone 6. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with non-native artichoke from El Paso, TX May 25, 2014 I have a five year old artichoke plant in the ground that gets sun and some shade, has plenty of fertilizer and compost. Gets enough water. It has been beautiful in years past and last year had 10 a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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