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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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Tuesday - September 18, 2012

From: nottingham, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Poisonous Plants, Shrubs
Title: Is red tip Photinia toxic to dogs?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Is the red tip bush toxic to dogs?

ANSWER:

The name “red tip bush” is not very definitive, but Mr. Smarty Plants is guessing that you may be referring to Red Tip Photinia. (images)  See if the pictures look like the plant that you have.

When we get questions about toxic plants, we consult several toxic plant databases that are shown below. I didn’t find Photinia listed which is not a guarantee that it isn’t toxic, but it lessens the probability that it is.

Toxic Plants of Texas

Poisonous Plants of North Carolina   

Cornell University Plants Poisonous to Livestock

University of Pennsylvania Poisonous Plants

Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System

 

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