Native Plants
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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Questions From Near You
Kaysville, UT
Containing roots in Kaysville UT
I'm planting my yard in all native Rocky Mountain and Great Basin plants. Is there a way to halt or contain the root propagation of Smooth Leaf Sumac and Quaking Aspen? I've considered digging dow...
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Kaysville, UT
Loss of leaves from globe willows in Utah
I have four globe willows that have been in my back yard for the past 6 years. For the past month they have been losing their leaves from the bottom up. We had aphids in some of our other trees and ...
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Bountiful, UT
Smarty Plants on edible and poisonous plants
I am trying to gather information regarding edible and poisonous plants in Utah's Salt Lake City area. Can you help? Thanks.
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Ogden, UT
Searching for a dye made from a French weed
Dear Mr smarty plants, I watched a gardening show on cable and they talked about a place in France where they use a weed called Wod to make dye and dye fabric and several other items to sell. It was ...
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Ogden, UT
Will a non-native smoke tree, Cotinus coggygria, be harmful in Utah
Can one plant a smoke tree in Utah without causing and harm to the environment? I'm worried that this plant may be a species that could cause a problem since I believe it is not a native plant.
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Morgan , UT
Disease in non-native globe willow from Morgan UT
I have a globe willow tree that is a few years old but still a relatively young tree. It appears to have slime flux disease. It has 3 or 4 spots on the trunk where the foam exits and runs down the tru...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Replacement for a globe willow tree
We are interested in replacing a pine tree with a globe willow because they grow fast but everything i have been reading about them scares me. is there another tree comparable to a globe willow that g...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Identity of dandelion-like weed in Utah
What is the over-sized dandelion looking weed in utah that you can blow the seeds just like a dandelion?
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Salt Lake City, UT
Non-native lilacs for wedding bouquet in July in Salt Lake City
My friend's daughter wants to have lilacs in her wedding bouquet, but she is not getting married until July 15th. I realize lilacs are spring flowers, but will there be anywhere in the U.S. that lila...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Boundary plants to control cats
Is there a plant especially ANNOYING to cats that I could plant along my fence line to keep him away from the street beyond? It would have to be hardy enough for hot temps & full sun. Thanks!
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Salt Lake City, UT
Non-native Jasmine trachelospermum jasminoides in Utah
Bought (4) Star Jasmine trachelospermum jasminoides at Costco. Want to use them in Salt Lake City, UT, brutal winters, on a fence in a retail center parking lot surrounded by trees. Will the leaves st...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Getting flowers to grow under non-native globe willow in Salt Lake City
We have a globe willow in our back yard that is about 15 years old and cannot get any flowers to grow under it. Can you recommend what we need to do to treat the soil, and what type of flowers will gr...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Perennial poppies for Salt Lake City
What are the best poppies, perennial if possible, to plant in Salt Lake City, Utah?
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Salt Lake city, UT
Source for Oregon boxwood from Salt Lake City, UT
I am seeking plugs / cuttings for paxistima myrsinites (mountain lover) in a large quantity and cannot seem to source them. If you have any sources I could contact; I need 2225 of them please forward...
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Salt Lake City, UT
How would chocolate mimosa tree do in Salt Lake City
How would the chocolate Mimosa Tree do here in Salt Lake City, zone 5.
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Salt Lake City, UT
Use of non-native jasmine for wedding in Salt Lake City
I am getting married mid summer in Salt Lake City. I want to incorporate jasmine plants/flowers into my bouquet, centerpieces, etc. Is that feasible living in Salt Lake City? Would they survive long e...
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Salt Lake City, UT
Sources for seed of Utah native Asclepias labriformis
Hi there,
I am looking for seeds of the plant "Asclepias labriformis" which is
native to Utah.
Can you help me to find seeds from this plant?
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West Valley City, UT
Non-native lilacs for Salt Lake City, UT
Is the weather in Salt Lake City UT good enough to plant a lilac bush root? If not, how long should I wait?
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South Jordan, UT
Care for penstemons in South Jordan, UT
I have Firecracker Penstemons and they bloomed beautifully this year. How do I trim them and when? Will they continue to bloom throughout the summer?
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Tooele, UT
Transplant shock of non-native Bougainvillea
Well I bought two Bougainvilleas, the first one I transplanted is doing great, the second one not so good when I was taking it out of the original pot the root ball stayed in the pot but the plant wit...
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Lehi, UT
Japanese lilac trees in Lehi UT
Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, We live in Utah and this past spring planted three Japanese Lilac Trees in the lawn next to the deck hoping they would one day provide some shade. They are planted in full sun ...
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