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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers Nan Hampton, Jimmy Mills and Barbara Medford to be the culpable and capable parties. Yet, others think staff members Damon Waitt, Joe Marcus and Philip Hawkins might 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 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!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

Questions From Near You

Santa Rosa, NM
poisonous landscaping plants in New Mexico
Mr. Smarty Plants, I have been given the task of finding non poisonous plants and shrubbery to add to our new children's playground. This is a Head Start playground so I have to make sure anything w...
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Las Vegas, NM
Will Virginia creeper harm brick walls in Las Vegas NM
Will Virginia creeper harm brick walls in Las Vegas, New Mexico?
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Las Vegas, NM
Availability of seeds or plants for Texas Mulberry
Is there any source of seeds or plants for Texas Mulberry?
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Pecos, NM
Propagating Indian Paintbrush
I live in Pecos, NM and have a lot of Indian Paintbrush plants growing wild on my road. I wonder if you can tell me how I can propagate this plant.
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Santa Fe, NM
Dispersing seeds for wildflowers in New Mexico
Here, in Santa Fe, NM, we have lots of beautiful wildflowers. What is the best way to propagate them? Can I just disperse the seed on my acreage after blooming? There is purple aster and sunflowers...
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Santa Fe, NM
Sweet cherry tree for New Mexico
What is the best kind of sweet cherry tree to plant in Santa Fe, NM? I have apple, apricot, peach and pear. Would like cherry unless it is a bad idea.
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Santa FE, NM
Deadheading or trimming back of Asclepias spp
I have some butterfly weeds (flowers) and I have heard conflicting stories as to how to cut them back. Should they be deadheaded to elongate bloom time or does that prevent any seeds from replanting?...
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santa fe, NM
Santa Fe orchard groundcovers
Howdy We were wondering what kind of ground cover you would suggest to use in a sunny area that has a few new apple trees [7' high]. The area is about 80' x 100 '. The soil is clay & was used to ...
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Santa Fe, NM
Source for photo of Helianthus nuttallii
I need a photo of Helianthus nuttallii. Can you help me?
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Santa Fe, NM
Smarty Plants on Isocoma pluriflora
I would like to know when isocoma pluriflora (rayless goldenrod) blooms in the Santa Fe, N.M. area. I'd also like to know its height. Other info will also be appreciated. ...
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Santa Fe, NM
Information on cherry trees from Santa Fe
1.does the purple leaf sand cherry have edible fruits? size, flavor, cross pollinator necessary, fruiting time? cultivars? zone, soil, light, water? 2. fall foliage color of 'Meteor" cherry tree?
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Santa Fe, NM
Smarty Plants on Fan Scarlet-Cardinal
I have a lobelia x speciosa (Fan Scarlet-Cardinal) plant and was wondering if I should dead head it after blossoming so that the plant continues to flower. Can you help? Thanks!
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Santa Fe, NM
Plant identification request
I took a trip to Arizona in 9/06. While out walking through public land I encountered a beautiful plant with very distinctive leaves, color of woody stems and flowers. I have scoured the USDA plant ...
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Santa Fe, NM
Possibility of over-watering of Asclepias tuberosa
Another question about butterfly weeds, the leaves on one of my plants are turning a yellow-red color and the blossoms seem to be dying (drying up) before they can bloom. It is right in the same area...
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Santa Fe, NM
How to propagate milkweed from root cuttings
I am interested in propagating Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed). Your info page for this species says it can be propagated via root cuttings. Does this mean I can lop off a chunk of the root/tuber ...
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Santa fe, NM
Treating splits in a Cottonwood tree trunk
How to treat slipts in trunk of 4 year old Cottonwood tree.
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Clovis, NM
Smarty Plants on teddy bear vine
I am looking for a plant called teddy bear vine. The scientific name is Cyanotis kewensis. I had one a long time ago (20+ years) and I loved it, but I can't find another one or find out whe...
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Chimayo, NM
Verticillium wilt in catalpa and maple
On Monday - July 07, 2008, you answered a question about a catalpa and maple with the same problem--an entire branch died, and then more of the tree died. And both trees came from the same nursery. Th...
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Placitas, NM
Can Gaura coccinea be transplanted
Hello, I had Gaura coccinea growing on my property when I lived in Albuquerque. I have been looking for it for years to plant in my xeric aroma garden. Taking a walk yesterday I found some in a ditch ...
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Angel Fire, NM
Deer and rabbit resistant alpine plants for New Mexico
What plants, including wildflowers, would you recommend for a somewhat windy, southeast exposure with rocky soil at 9150ft in Angel Fire, New Mexico, that are deer, rabbit, and chipmonk resistant? (I ...
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Angel Fire, NM
Succulents for 9150 feet in New Mexico
What succulents could grow in Angel Fire, New Mexico, at an altitude of 9150 ft.in a northwestern windy exposure in rocky-ish soil? Are there any that are perennials? Thank you.
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