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?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Removing fading blooms from iris June 19, 2007 Iris maintenance: when blooms begin to fade do I pluck off just the bloom? cut off the entire stalk? leave it alone? Some blooms grow on stalks without leaves and some on stalks with leaves. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing conditions for non-native Thlaspi caerulescens June 19, 2007 I want to know what is the best condition for growing Thlaspi caerulescens and what is its life span. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Allelopathc qualities in sunflowers June 19, 2007 I have a sunflower patch in the corner of my backyard (Maximilians, common sunflower, and silverleaf sunflower)and would like to use the spent stalks (sans the seedheads) as mulch in the fall. Howeve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of Monarda citriodora on roadsides June 19, 2007 What is the name of the lavender wildflower so prevalent right now throughout the Texas hill country? It's an upright stalk that has lighter and darker lavender petals with rows of green leaves sepa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Quercus polymorpha or Mexican white oak June 19, 2007 On the Texas Oak Wilt Information Partnership website, they list a "Monterrey Oak" as one of the White Oaks (#3 in the FAQ section). I cannot find Monterrey Oak in your Explore Plants section; does... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Quercus polymorpha botanical name for Mexican white oak June 19, 2007 What is the scientfic name for the Monterrey Oak? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Butterflies and larval hosts in Dallas County June 19, 2007 My class is starting a butterfly habitat at school. We have researched plants that attract butterflies, however we forgot to look for plants that feed the caterpillars and we want to provide the expe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Perennial plants for butterfly garden June 18, 2007 Hello, I live in Plano, TX and I am trying to create a backyard garden which will attract butterflies. I prefer bulbs and perennials so that I will not have to replant again and again like annuals. A... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Invasiveness of non-native Asian jasmine June 18, 2007 I have a lot of Asian Jasmine planted as groundcover in various beds. The last year or so it has become unruly and is now invading my St. Augustine, working its way into the lawn itself. Is there an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Looking for cover June 18, 2007 I live iin Schaumburg, IL and have a difficult spot (extreme sun and heat in summer (South Side of house). I'm looking for a very short ground cover - < or + to 6 inchees. Does Arabis hirsuta fit t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |