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 | |
Control of grapevines in trees June 15, 2007 Grapevines have overtaken some of the trees on our property in Central Texas. What is the best way to get rid of the grapevines and (hopefully) save the trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Control of Smilax bona-nox (saw greenbrier) June 15, 2007 We have some property near Round Mountain, Texas. Under and in the oak trees is a vine that has a heart-shaped, shiny leaf and nasty thorns. I'd like to know the name and how best to try to get rid... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Distinguishing Bermuda grass from Buffalo grass June 14, 2007 Is Bermuda grass taking over my Buffalo grass lawn? I recently sodded a small area of Buffalo Grass 'Prairie' (last fall). It's doing beautifully, or so I think. There are stolons running and reach... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native, non-invasive vines for wall cover in California June 14, 2007 I live on the Central Coast in California. I have a stucco garage wall, which receives full sun, and faces West. I would like to plant a climbing vine to cover the wall, and was considering a clim... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Parthenocissus quinquefolia as replacement for Asiatic jasmine June 14, 2007 The deer have stripped the Asiatic jasmine groundcover under my clusters of live oak trees in Southwest Austin. This year the bare areas of ground are covered in Virginia creeper seedlings. I have b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Stem canker or leaf fungus in Morella cerifera June 14, 2007 Dear Mr.Smarty Pants: The upper half of our wax myrtle, which we had allowed (with artful pruning) to reach about ten feet suddenly died this spring (it dropped most of its leaves and didn't sprout... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Year-round wildflower display in Mississippi June 14, 2007 I live in central Mississippi and I'm interested in transforming a 2,000 sq. ft. turf area of my yard into a showy wildflower exhibit that will bloom from now(July) until winter and even possibly thr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Houston plants adaptable to Birmingham, AL June 14, 2007 I have recently moved from Houston to Birmingham Al. I had a wildflower garden in my back yard. Would the same flowers work here as well? I would love to have the same beautiful colors here. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identification of first flower on Earth June 14, 2007 When was the first on Earth and who find it and what was the name of the flower. Also what part of the Earth was if find? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Identificaation of different cultivars ofPrunus caroliniana June 14, 2007 How can you tell if you have a Carolina Cherry laurel or Carolina cherry laurel "compacta," or a Cherry Laurel-English? I have a line of four cherry laurels and one in the middle recently died an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |