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.
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Deer resistant, sun tolerant plants for landscaping April 19, 2007 I live in Driftwood and am looking for flowering, deer-resistant plants for the northern side of my house; however the house turn just enough to the west that the flowerbed receives about 3 hours of a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More on bluebonnets April 19, 2007 I am a displaced Austinite - As of last week now living in upstate New York (Binghamton). As I was leaving town - a friend presented me with a pound bag of bluebonnet seeds. A thoughtful gift - but I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Obtaining seeds for mutant white bluebonnet April 18, 2007 I have seen a white bluebonnet in Brenham on Easter and wondered how rare the white ones are and how you get seeds for those. Are there any special directions on collecting seeds for planting next fa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants good for repelling bugs in Austin, TX April 18, 2007 I need help on what type of plants or herbs are good for keeping bugs away from the house and also something that would be good for in the house for bugs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mixed native plantings for steep slope in Austin April 18, 2007 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: We wrote to you recently about plantings for a fairly steep slope in a park in Austin. We had asked about grasses and perennials. An article about planting on slopes in this mo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting time for black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) April 18, 2007 When is the best time to plant Black-eyed Susan seeds in Central Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native wildflowers tolerant of lower water and lots of sun April 17, 2007 I live in Austin Texas and have a small bed in the front of the house which faces the east with no shade. I am not much of a yard person so would like to plant some Native plants that don't need a lo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Locales for photographing wildflowers in Dallas, TX area April 17, 2007 My daughter has a project for school where she has to find and take her picture with 20 different Texas wildflowers and identify them. We have found some of the more common ones, but I was wondering ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Central Texas plants for dry partial shade April 17, 2007 I live in Austin Texas. My front garden area has rocky dry soil with intermittent sunlight and shade, maybe 2 to 4 hours of sunlight a day. Herbs do great. What perennial flowers (for some color) w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Introduced invasive Melia azedarach along Shoal Creek in Austin April 17, 2007 Along the Shoal Creek Trail in Austin are many flowering trees with sparse clusters of small pink/purple, star-shaped flowers with a dark red center stalk, blooming now in April. They have a fragrance... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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