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
Beach Lake, PA
Plant identification of tall stalk with many thorns
Dear Mr. Smarty Pants:
After we raked all the leaves, I found three or four plants on my property that are thin tall stalks with many thorns. Leaves are just growing, so I cannot describe them. ...
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lackawaxen, PA
Erosion prevention on shady Pennsylvania stream
I'm looking for a few species to plant along a stream channel to help reduce erosion during heavy rains. The soil is moist and in full shade. Ferns and thorny bushes are the only current vegetation...
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Waymart, PA
Early blooming wildflowers for PA
What is the earliest wildflower to bloom other than the mountain laurel in Upper Northeastern PA? (near Honesdale, PA)
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Forest City, PA
Short wildflowers to interplant with grass in PA
I live in NE PA and would like to grow short wildflowers throughout my yard mixed in with my grass. Is this possible? If so, what would be a good match for my zone? I will be mowing the grass once a w...
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Milford, PA
Ferns that smell like cucumber
Are there ferns that smell like cucumber?
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Tobyhanna, PA
Annual flowers for rocky area near driveway in Pennsylvania
What type(s) of annual flowers can I plant along a driveway in northeast PA? The soil is very rocky and the area is mostly shady receiving only morning and some late afternoon sun.
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Tobyhanna, PA
Will deer eat bellflowers?
Are deer attracted to the bellflower? Will they eat it?
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Bushkill, PA
Plant identification
This should be an easy one.
I would like to identify a plant that grows along river banks, usually up to the edge of the water and within 50' of water course, and is very common. It is up to 8' in ...
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Dalton, PA
Height of plastic tree guards to protect against deer
How high do the plastic tree guards used to prevent deer rubbing need to be? I live in northeastern Pa.
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Mountaintop, PA
Identification of tree with fuschia berries in Pennsylvania
Northeastern Pennsylvania tree with fuschia berries in autumn. Found one in woods,never saw one before.
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Thompson, PA
Plants for a pond bank in NE Pennsylvania
I had a 3/4 acre pond built this fall in Northeastern Pennsylvania (Susquehanna county; zone 4). The pond banks are packed, hard rocky clay. What plants can I plant in the 3 foot bank between pond ...
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East Stroudsburg, PA
Need an attractive plant to help stabilize a wet area in East Stroudsburg PA.
We have a small run off from one pond to another. At the bottom of the slope, the area is always wet--and not from the run off. Is there a low growing plant that would provide a root system to help st...
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west pittston, PA
Perennial plants native to northeastern Pennsylvania
What perennial plants are native to northeastern Pennsylvania?
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Stroudsburg, PA
Moving non-native Iris Germanica in Pennsylvania
I am moving from Northeast Pennsylvania to North Carolina this fall or winter. I was told it was possible to save some of my bearded Iris plants by digging them after they bloom and allowing them to ...
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Blakeslee, PA
Groundcover for Poconos in Pennsylvania
Hi Mr. Smarty Plants,
I am having a problem growing grass. I live in the Pocono mtns of Pa. my soil is not typical for this area. I have very sandy soil, probably poor quality. grass will not grow. I...
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Sussex, NJ
Pruning Holly after Deer Browse
Deer have been eating my Holly Bushes. Can I prune now in January? I live in the North of New Jersey. Will they come back fuller? I just planted them in spring last year. How can I get them fuller
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Newton, NJ
Plant identification of a trillium in New Jersey
I have several Trillium grown from one seed source. The plant looks like Trillium cuneatum, but unlike that plant, the stems of these plants -- which seed freely in my Northwest New Jersey garden -- l...
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Newton, NJ
More information about Trillium in New Jersey
Hi, Nan. FYI.
The Trillium seeds in question came from the State of Alabama. If you have an interest in seeing photos of this Trillium and two others in my garden, which are different and which I be...
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Hope, NJ
Does deer repellant really work from Hope NJ
Does Deer Stopper by Messina Wildlife really work as an organic pest repellent?
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Ashley, PA
Norway Pine vs. Norway Spruce
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Is a Norway Pine the same species of tree as a Norway Spruce?
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highland lakes, NJ
About African Violets
I have an African Violet. i clipped a leaf off and rooted it and i have a baby pink-leafed African Violet now,
not pink flowers, pink leaves. It struck me as odd. i never saw one like this before. i...
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