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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| Forget-me-nots choking a spring in Bethlehem PA June 20, 2013 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I am restoring a native plant area along a spring that feeds directly into our local creek. Right now the spring is becoming choked with forget-me-nots, that I am trying ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native pothos ivy from Houston May 30, 2013 My pothos devils ivy is about 5 years old and grows outside. A couple of years ago its leaves became spectacularly large, like 12" wide and its stalk about 1 - 2" wide. A couple of years ago i gui... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, invasive creeping fig in Webster TX May 26, 2013 We've recently moved into a new home in the southeast Houston area. The back of our property has a long concrete wall (gets quite a bit of sun), which we thought we could cover with a spreading vine.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native ligustrum in non-native fescue in Medina TX May 22, 2013 Is there an effective way to kill baby ligustrums coming up in my fescue yard without harming the grass? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native replacement for bamboo from Houston May 21, 2013 I've read one reply where you do not advise using Bamboo as a privacy fence plant. What do you suggest in its place? The suggestions on the one I read will not work for me. Your suggestions were My... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How to deal with suckers on Flame-leaf Sumac May 20, 2013 Hi! It seems you can have too much of a good thing! Our flameleaf sumac is taking over our yard. There are multiple shoots appearing in our flower beds and in the lawn. How do I get rid of the unwante... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Star Jasmine poisonous to dogs from Dallas May 20, 2013 Is star jasmine poisonous to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native and invasive bamboos from Staten Island, NY May 19, 2013 Hi I put some black Bamboo and some bias Bamboo in a large container about 6ft by 2ft and ht 18 inches .How can I get this Bamboo to thrive ? Suggestions on types of plant food or fertilizer or ant t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is meant when Mimosa Tree is described as an invasive tree in San Antonio TX? May 14, 2013 When it is stated that the Mimosa Tree is invasive, does that mean that the Roots are invasive or does it mean that the seed pods will drop and make many more trees ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Affect of poisonous plant roots in soils for vegetables from Rusk TX May 11, 2013 I have a huge old flowerbed in front of my house that I want to plant veggies in, but I'm afraid to. It has a catalpa tree there, which I sell the worms from, but the entire tree (bark, leaves, flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Invasives species experiment from Fairfax VA May 09, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have some friends that need an experiment on Invasive Species fast. They are in 11th grade at Robinson secondary school. Are you able to help? Its due in June and they don'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Silver ponyfoot becoming invasive in College Station TX May 08, 2013 How can I control or get rid of an established Dichondra groundcover? I bought a few plants of D. argentea from your sale a few years ago, and in that time they've done really well in the area I plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can bastard cabbage be eaten from Austin May 02, 2013 On a local cooking show they were talking about cooking local foods and mentioned bastard cabbage but never showed how to cook it or if it was in fact edible. Would be a way to help get rid of it if ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX May 01, 2013 I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are agaves really native from Pacific Palisades CA April 30, 2013 I just replied re agave issues, and mistakenly asked the source of your information. I see that you clearly noted it, apologies. I would note, however, that the Riverside area is very much a hot,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Runaway Agave Americana from Pacific Palisades CA April 29, 2013 We live near open space on Santa Monica Mountain State Park. Our Association planted non-native, invasive Agave Americanas all over the adjacent slopes, and we are trying to get the exploding pups and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native invasive henbit from Round Rock TX April 27, 2013 I've read in this book "Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants" that Henbit is an invasive plant in Texas. I've also read that it provides an early source of nectar to bees and butterflies when li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dog-proof grass from The Woodlands TX April 26, 2013 I am looking for a hardy grass that can tolerate female dogs urine. Zoysia was suggested but I am concerned about it being invasive. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasiveness of Cosmos from Decatur GA April 26, 2013 I have been searching for an answer concerning the invasive plant Cosmos. I know that Florida declares this but I have not been able to find out does Georgia? And specifically,is it only the yellow Co... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for seeds of Mexican primrose from Dallas April 25, 2013 Can I purchase Mexican Evening Primrose seeds now for planting in the fall or do I need to wait for the fresh crop of seeds that will be gathered from this spring flowering. How can I be assured the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Source for non-native, invasive Winter Honeysuckle from Austin April 24, 2013 Seeing Lonicera abiflora today reminds me of the "winter honeysuckle" my grandfather grew in San Antonio from 1920s or so through the 1950's. It was a bush with stiff upright stems and bloomed cre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing kudzu in Las Vegas NV April 18, 2013 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about a known invasive species that I know you advise against, but I feel my situation may be different enough that it's worth asking about. Yes, I'm talk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for Saltmarsh cordgrass from Houston April 16, 2013 I work for a consulting firm and we are looking to do more of our wetland creation/restoration. Do you know where one can purchased Spartina alterniflora? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| White evening primrose from Baton Rouge LA April 16, 2013 My husband and I have a disagreement about Mexican Primroses. I believe I have seen patches of them which are pure white. He believes they must be faded pink ones. Do white ones occasionally grow? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Covering dead arborvitae with non-native ivy from Niles MI April 14, 2013 I have a severely thinning arborvitae hedge. It is probably too shady, but I want the privacy. I'm thinking of planting something like ivy to fill the gaps. I know it will probably kill the hedge, bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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