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
Philadelphia, NY
Willow woes in Philadelphia, NY
I have a 2 yr old willow; it is August and it looks like the tree has gone dormant, is this normal?
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Carthage, NY
Care of non-native Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum
I have a white lily that is in a pot and has already bloomed four flowers. will it bloom again? Can I replant this outside right now or what should I do with it?
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Old Forge, NY
Sources of cold hardy, native wildflowers in upstate New York
We are looking for the best wildflower varieties with some challenging requirements. First, we need cold hardy varieties. We are in USDA area 5 in upstate NY. Second, our lot is by a lake bordered b...
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Port Ontario, NY
Erosion control after loss of large trees
Our steep 40' river bank (NY near eastern shore of Lake Ontario - zone 4) has recently lost two 50' oaks, leaving enormous holes in the bank itself where they tore out. What should we do immediately...
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Oswego, NY
Eliminating smartweed from pasture in Oswego NY
How do I get rid of smartweed in my pasture?
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Oswego, NY
Getting rid of non-native lesser celandine in Oswego NY
Help! We have lesser celandine on approx. an acre of our property right on Lake Ontario, it's in my gardens and in our yard, and in the woods, I have dug it out of my gardens, but I'm not able to g...
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Cleveland, NY
Proper time of year to plant evergreens in New York
Dear Smarty Plants,
Is it too late to plant evergreen Thuja, blue spruce and firs in Cleveland, New York?
Vicki
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Brewerton, NY
Should Solanum eleagnifolium, silverleaf nightshade, be removed from yard
I live in Upstate NY. I'm quite sure, after checking many sites/pictures, that I have a couple specimens of Silver Leaf Night Shade (Solanum elaeagnifolium) growing in the "wild" portion of my side...
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Oneida, NY
Wildflower preparation for winter
I live in Onieda New York and I would like to know what do I do with my wild flowers before winter so they look great next year?
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East Syracuse, NY
Plants for a steep slope in New York
We just installed a swimming pool in our back yard, which is at the top of a south facing slope. After the pool was installed the slope is now 3 ft higher and very steep (unmowable). I'd guess steepe...
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Saranac Lake, NY
What does the name montana mean in a species name?
What does the name montana mean in a species name?
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Syracuse, NY
Can Carolina jessamine be grown in Syracuse NY?
Hi--Can Carolina Jessamine be grown in Syracuse, New York?
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Syracuse, NY
Shrubs and small trees for a slope in NY
We are looking for a living wall made of shrubs / small trees - no more than 25' for the top of a steep creek bed. We are looking for the best erosion preventing types.
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Syracuse, NY
Care of Passiflora incarnata or Passiflora coccinea
Hi- I have two passionflowers, one red, one purple. I live in upstate NY. They grow very well up onto trellises, however, they have stopped producing flowers. Both are planted in pots (fairly large)...
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Syracuse, NY
Need water absorbing plants in Syracuse, NY
I'm Looking for water absorbing plants and shrubs -not so much trees. My rain barrels and downspouts are still creating too much run off. I want to line a walkway and keep rainwater run-off from drai...
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Syracuse, NY
Non-native tropicals for Syracuse, NY
I live in upstate New York but am a fanatic about tropical plants, palms and banana trees. They're obviously all in pots that I take indoors, and I lose them from time to time. (Had a coconut palm th...
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Syracuse, NY
Why will my blazing stars not bloom in Syracuse New York?
I have two purple blazing star plants on the west side of my house, about 4 feet apart. They have bloomed the past two summers. This year, one is ready to bloom, but the other has no stalks that wil...
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Syracuse, NY
Will chlorinated pool water affect the soil in a vegetable garden?
For the first time I'm going to plant a vegetable garden, and I have an area cleared. My swimming pool cover came off over the winter, and the pool water is a dark green to look at, but looks clear w...
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Heron, NY
Plants to prevent erosion in clay soil in Heron, NY
What plants could be used to plant on clay soil, Eastern exposure in full sun to stop erosion on a bay side hill with a steep grade?
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Red Creek, NY
Bark splitting in old tulip tree in Red Creek, NY.
Hello,
We have a tulip tree that has some bark splitting I guess I would call it. The tree is older and very tall. On the north side of it starting at the bottom of the trunk to about 8-9 feet up i...
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Manlius, NY
Problems with pin oak in Manlius, NY
I bought a pin oak when it was ~5 ft tall. It has lived in clay/rock for the last 6 years--healthy, but didn't grow much (no surprise). This spring we planted 3 small boxwoods a few feet from its t...
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