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.
Support NPINHelp grow the Native Plant Information Network by giving to the Plant Database Fund or subcribing to Wildflower magazine.
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
Eagle Point, OR
Are Chanticleer flowering pears toxic to horses?
Are Chanticleer flowering pears toxic to horses?
view the full question and answer
Rogue River, OR
Shallow topsoil on rocky substrate in SW Oregon
I want to plants some shrubs and trees. Trouble is I can't plant very deep. I have mostly rock within 5 inches. Please help.
view the full question and answer
Rogue River, OR
Error on message from Rogue River OR
Previous message regarding sweet peas and how to get them growing was submitted with wrong state - It went out Rouge River, Rhode Island -- Should have been Rouge River, Oregon
view the full question and answer
Ashland, OR
Mystery Fruit in Ashland Oregon
Hi, I live in Oregon and while I was picking wild apples I came across what I thought was a lemon tree. I picked some of the smaller fruits that grew in pairs and had a small, yellow lemon appearance ...
view the full question and answer
Grants Pass, OR
Memorial Tree Safe for Horses in Oregon
Hi! I just lost my 33 year old beloved mare, Glory! She was my childhood horse and we have had her basically her whole life. We are looking for a special tree out in the pasture for her! She is bu...
view the full question and answer
Grants Pass, OR
Will Cercis (Redbud) grow in Oregon?
We live in Grants Pass, Oregon could Cercis grow here?
view the full question and answer
Grants Pass, OR
Are wild sweet peas edible?
Are wild sweet peas edible?
Thanks.
view the full question and answer
GrantsPass, OR
Plant cloning or genetic engineering
Can you take one genome (strain) and take a clean cut and put onto another plant another strain?
view the full question and answer
Williams, OR
Deer-resistant plants for Williams, OR
I live in Williams, Oregon. I would like a listing of deer resistant, drought tolerant,evergreen, fast growing, native plants that can be used as a privacy screen on property perimeter.
view the full question and answer
Weed, CA
Identification of vining plant with red berries in California
We found a vining plant next to and growing in our stream with gorgeous purple leaves in the fall after frost and a few sporadic clusters of smooth small red berries with little thorns on the vine. We...
view the full question and answer
Myrtle Point, OR
Cuttings for non-native red-tip Photinia
We have had wonderful fortune with red tip Photinia.We would like to expand our plantings.Can red tip Photinia be propagated by hard wood cuttings?
view the full question and answer
Brookings, OR
Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR
We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill?
view the full question and answer
La Pine, OR
Eriogonum spergulinum, wild buckwheat
Do you have any information on the wildflower Eriogonum spergulinum???
view the full question and answer
Reedsport, OR
Clay hill with erosion problems in Reedsport OR
We have a very steep 35-40' clay hill subject to erosion in the Oregon rainy season. How or what do we do to get some kind of vegetation/grass, etc to grow without washing away? We have had mudslides...
view the full question and answer
Springfield, OR
Plant ID in Springfield OR
I recently discovered a wildflower closely resembling the Oregon Lady Slipper, apparently a wild orchid, but with many blooms on a single long stem and with no apparent leaves. I'd like more informat...
view the full question and answer
Eugene, OR
Eliminating bindweed in Eugene OR
Any ideas on the best non-chemical way to get rid of bindweed in the Eugene, Oregon area? In addition to any other ideas you can suggest, are there any groundcovers that would do the job and be non-i...
view the full question and answer
Eugene, OR
Native Vines for Pacific Northwest
Hello,
I recently built a shed/pen for my large dog. I have a trellis horizontal above the fence to hide the shed from street. I live in Pacific NW. Do you have any suggestions on a nontoxic evergr...
view the full question and answer
Eugene, OR
Vine for arbor in Eugene, OR
We have an arbor that is partial shade and stays fairly wet and want to plant a climbing plant on it with shallow roots, preferably with flowers. We had a wisteria but got roots and shooters everywher...
view the full question and answer
Glendale, CA
Need shrubs for a privacy screen in Glendale CA
Dear. Mr. Smarty Plants
I need to grow a tall hedge 15-20 feet minimum to block a condo complex which overlooks my back yard. I need a fast growing hedge which is non toxic to dogs and one which roo...
view the full question and answer
Bend , OR
Need source of plants for making teas in Bend, Oregon.
I love to make my own tea, just moved to central Oregon and want to know some good plants I can find anywhere in town and can use in my teas.
view the full question and answer
Bend, OR
Transplanting or seeding Indian paintbrush in Bend OR
I would like to know whether I can transplant native Indian paintbrush plants into my landscaping, or do I need to try and grow them from seed?
view the full question and answer