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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| Shrubs and trees to protect beehives in Godley TX April 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Is there a (relatively) fast growing native small tree or large shrub (NOT cedar) that tolerates Johnson County clay, full sun, sometimes damp and sometimes dry soil with no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blossoms but no fruit for gooseberries in Enoch UT January 16, 2010 My gooseberries always get loads of blossoms, but I never get fruit. I think they need more sun, and thus, want to transplant them to a sunnier location. What (and when) is the best way to do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Duplicate of English holly for Eufaula OK January 03, 2010 I wish to have a shrub that would duplicate the red berries and foliage of English holly. Tolerance of cultivation is also desired. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Why is my yaupon tree not producing berries in Metairie La? November 04, 2009 What is the lifespan of a Yaupon Tree? We live in Louisiana, and our Yaupon would always get the white flowers in the Spring but never the red berries. Why is that? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failure of tall garden phlox buds to open in St. Louis MO July 30, 2009 Why won't the buds of my tall garden phlox open? Plants are apparently healthy, no powdery mildew or visible insects, foliage looks great and buds are profuse but they don't open. I have two clumps ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Moving wildflowers into a pollinator garden in Webster NY July 27, 2009 I live in the Western New York area and would like to utilize unwanted wildflowers near our roadside and woodland area into a large pollinator garden I am creating. What is a safe way to move an enti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do female possumhaws require male to bloom? January 02, 2009 Do female possumhaws require a male nearby to bloom? I've read that about yaupon hollies, but not possumhaws specifically. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscaping for slope in Kansas City October 08, 2008 We have a down sloping back yard and patio on the lower area. We need some water absorbing plants near the foundation and some in the front of the house, where water isn't a problem. We are allergic ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Zucchini blooms but no fruit August 26, 2008 My zuchinni has lots of flowers, but they seem to fall and I am getting no fruit.. WHY View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pollinator plants for Ilex verticillata (winterberry) June 09, 2008 How close do a male and female common winterberry need to be to produce berries. We bought a male and female last year and attracted cedar wax wings. Amazing show. We just bought two more females a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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