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
Halfmoon, NY
Native shade plants for sandy soil in New York
I have a small patch (about 10 feet x 6 feet) of shady ground next to my house. The soil is very sandy. I really would like some perennial color - or at this point, anything actually - that will grow...
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Clifton Park , NY
What plants can absorb the excess water in my back yard?
I am looking for any plants and trees that can absorb the excess water in my back yard. There is a large area that is swampy and always wet. Could you please provide me some suggestions?
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Troy, NY
Eliminating skunk cabbage in Troy, NY
My yard is overgrown with skunk cabbage. My question is how do I get rid of it?
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Troy , NY
Plants for sunny dry soil location
Do any native plants exist in a highly sunny very dry soil location? (high overhang prevents rain but allows sun)
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Wynantskill, NY
Attractive Native Vines to Cover a Chain Link Fence in Upstate New York
Hello Mr. Smarty Plants. I live in Upstate NY (Albany) and my yard is bordered by an old chain link fence. I would like to cover the fence with a natural looking plant (I assume Ivy). What do you ...
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Schenectady, NY
Wildflowers that will grow in sandy soil in New York
Dear Mr. S. Pants,
We live near Albany, NY in what was once a pine forest. The soil is very, very sandy. I've had some success with wildflowers but I have to use some topsoil and humus mixture to ...
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schenectady, NY
Recovery of non-native star jasmine from freezing in New York
Hello, I have a star jasmine plant that was left outside over the winter. Will it come back to life? Thank you.
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Albany, DE
Plants for streambank area in Oregon
I am ready to replant a streambank area with native plants..what do you recommend for the Willamette Valley in Oregon? Thanks much!
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Albany, NY
Groundcover for part shade in Albany NY
Hello! I'm looking for: a native ground cover, mostly shade with only some morning sun, on a slope, edible is preferred but not necessity, mostly clay type soil for the Albany, NY area. Thanks for yo...
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Albany, NY
Groundcover beneath a maple
I am looking for something to spread out in the shade of a maple tree. I have tried lily of the valley, ferns, pachysandra, ivy, hosta, euonymus.. nothing spreads out.
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Rotterdam, NY
Non-native Japanese maple seedling in Rotterdam NY
In the first couple days of August, I discovered a baby Japanese Maple growing against the wall of my storage shed, a short distance from a neighbor's full grown Japanese Maple. I transplanted this 5...
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Ballston Spa, NY
Vegetable garden in Ballston Spa, NY
I never got my veg. garden in this year. Are there any late crops I can still plant at this late date in Ballston Spa, NY? Thanks.
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Guilderland, NY
Seeds for India from Guilderland NY
I have Green Cross “Non Profitable” trust in TamilNadu India.
We are looking for free seeds from Government and other NGO foundations. Moto: Global Vowing awareness program and our volunteers help ...
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Sand Lake, NY
Should Rock Harlequin stay green all winter?
I have a rock harlequin that came up in a area that had been disturbed. It came up last summer/fall and the foliage survived our tough winter. I can not find anything about this plant staying green al...
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Voorheesville, NY
Zexmenia in upstate NY
Will zexmenia survive in upstate New York (Albany)?
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Saratoga Springs, NY
Plants to replace hydrangeas in a wet area in New York
Dear Smarty,
Two years ago I planted 4 Endless Summer Hydrangas in front of the front porch of my summer cottage on Saratoga Lake. The first year they struggled the second they are limp. Can you give...
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Altamont, NY
Official definition of native plants
Does the Wildflower center have an official definition of "native" plants?
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Amsterdam, NY
Skunk cabbage from Amsterdam NY
Will skunk cabbage grow under a mobile home and cause odor?
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Valatie, NY
Round green seed pods are likely leaf galls
While walking on a tree-lined dirt road after a mid-May storm, I noticed several seed pods but could not locate the plant they fell off of. The pods were round, light green and looked like large round...
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Argyle, NY
Plants for full sun and clay soil in NY
We live in upstate new york( zone 5) with full sun and clay soil. What flowers/flowering shrubs would be successful in this environment?
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Greenville, NY
Problems with non-native weeping willow in Greenville NY
We live on the border of Zones 5b and 6a and have a weeping willow that grew so much in only 3 years and did quite well. However, there are aerial roots growing on its bark as well as part of the bark...
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