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?
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 | |
Source for ground pine plants from Ligonier PA December 21, 2012 Where can I purchase "ground pine plants? I want to use them for erosion control. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources for native plants from Austin TX December 19, 2012 Hello. I am currently planning a Texas native plant garden. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to find the seeds/bulbs/roots/plants for some of the natives at local nurseries: Indian Ricegrass (Achnatherum ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for dwarf red mulberry from Spring Hill TN December 08, 2012 Hello: Where can I buy a dwarf red mulberry tree in the USA? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Dichondra from Hillsboro TX November 26, 2012 Where can I get dichondra and info about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Search for non-native Rosa Rugosa for Granbury TX November 12, 2012 I would like to find an old fashioned Rosa Rugosa (non-hybrid) to grow in central Texas. I know I've seen them occasionally when traveling in the central TX area. I want them for their rose hips. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Arizona centaury near Lost Maples from Austin November 05, 2012 I found a clump of Arizona centaury growing/blooming beside a road near Lost Maples State Nat. Area in the Texas hill country last week. Centaurium calycosum is the scientific name. I have 2 questio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Junipers for restoring area in Bulverde TX November 03, 2012 Are ashe or virginiana junipers for sale around the hill country? I would like to recreate the natural plant life that was bulldozed next to my home. Do you recommend any other types of juniper that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grasses for horses in Austin October 27, 2012 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants We just bought 4.5 acres in Travis County off HWY 290. We have 3 horses we keep on it but there is very little grass in the pastures. What is the best type of grass to seed ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for seeds of New Mexico locust from Abilene TX October 23, 2012 Is there a place to buy Robinia neomexicana native to Texas or order seed from Texas grown plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wildflowers for Murphy NC Clay August 24, 2012 I live on a ridge in Murphy NC. The property has trees so most of the land is in partial shade. The soil is good 'ole mountain red clay. I have some steep bankings in front of the house that I wou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
White flowering mountain laurel from Driftwood TX August 23, 2012 I love white flowering mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) and want to grow one from seeds. I've had a lot of success germinating and growing purple mountain laurel from seeds (or beans), so I DO ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for trees from Burnet TX August 19, 2012 I am desperately searching the central Texas area for Pistacia Mexicana male and female trees to buy. I would like about four, maybe more. I live in the Killeen-Lampasas area and have been to seve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removing Mountain Laurel Seed Pods from Austin August 14, 2012 Is it best to remove seed pods from Mt. Laurel or leave them on the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sources for plants from Abingdon MD August 02, 2012 What stores or nursuries in Harford County sell already grown Coral honeysuckle, Purple passion flower, trumpet creeper, and crossvine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Garden planning for wedding in Tallahassee July 18, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would love your advice on creating a Wildflower Garden Plan. Earlier this spring in Tallahassee (North Florida). I sowed Wildflowers for the first time to see what would blo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Looking for a source for milkweed plants in Goshen, KY. July 12, 2012 I live in Louisville(actually Jeffersontown), KY and would love to find some milkweed plants for the butterflies. I have not had any luck with seeds so I am looking for actual plants. Do you have an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Search for Silver Magnolia from Coram NY July 11, 2012 Hi, 20+ years ago I purchased a small tree labeled Silver Magnolia from a catalog. It was a sapling about 8 inches high when I first received it but amazing! The bloom the first year was as big as my ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Wisconsin Ground Cover for Acid Soil July 09, 2012 What type of native wisconsin ground cover plants do best on acidic bare areas under pine trees such as blue spruce?...and where is best source for these plants or seeds? Thanks so much for your help View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Century Plant in Wilmington NC June 24, 2012 Where can I buy a Century plant in the Wilmington NC area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Texas Star hibiscus from Grand Prairie TX June 24, 2012 I am having a lot of difficulty in trying to find and purchase a Texas Hibiscus. Any clues? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Availability of Texas Frogfruit June 22, 2012 Are there any nursery suppliers that supply Texas frogfruit? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Gathering seeds of Indian Blanket from Duncanville TX June 09, 2012 We have a field full of Indian Blanket that are blooming now and would like to share some seeds with our friends! Where is the seed on them and I take it we wait till they are done blooming to get the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi May 20, 2012 I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Looking for source of Carex texensis in Beaumont, TX May 11, 2012 Looking for Carex texensis, the only place I find it is in Tennessee or North Carolina. Should I buy it online from those places to put in Beaumont, TX? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Restoring the woods in Central Austin. May 08, 2012 I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |