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
Boynton Beach, FL
Watering for Scarlett Milkweed in Florida
I have a Scarlett Milkweed and it was doing very well until this last week. It now has yellow leaves that are falling off and no flowers. It says on the tag that the water is low once it is establishe...
view the full question and answer
Boynton Beach, FL
Hedge border for Boynton Beach FL
Seek recommendations for planting in zip code 33437:
2-2.5' high, dense formal hedge border: minimal care, full sun, sandy, 1-2x/wk irrigation. Is Ficus Green Island Microcarpa suitable? Other rec...
view the full question and answer
Boynton Beach , FL
Source of seeds for non-native euphorbia peplus from Boynton Beach FL
Where can I buy Euphorbia peplus? (milkweed) seeds, sap used in treating skin cancer?
view the full question and answer
Delray Beach, FL
Can hazelnut trees grow in South Florida?
Can Hazelnut trees grow in South Florida?
view the full question and answer
Delray beach, FL
Problems with hibiscus in Florida
Have a hibiscus in Florida. It has always done beautifully planted in the ground. This year, it has developed something where the branches are sort of white, and the buds (and ends of branches) look ...
view the full question and answer
Delray Beach, FL
Smarty Plants on Gloxinias
How do I care for my newly acquired Gloxinias?
view the full question and answer
Atlantis, FL
Illegal to remove an orange blossom from ground in Florida from Atlantis FL
Is there any law that prevents someone from removing an orange blossom from the ground in Florida?
view the full question and answer
Lake Worth , FL
Nativity of Salvia coccinea (scarlet sage)
Is Salvia coccinea native to Florida? In wikipedia they say it is native to Mexico.
view the full question and answer
Lake Worth, FL
Fruit fly maggots attacking non-native Grumichama in Lake Worth FL
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants
How do I prevent fruit fly maggots from attacking my Grumichama fruit?
view the full question and answer
Lake Worth, FL
Is black olive (Bucida buchera) toxic to people or dogs?
We have what we think is a black olive tree growing in our front yard, which I keep trimmed to about 4 feet high. A bird dropped the seedling in my garden, so I'm not quite sure it's a black olive,...
view the full question and answer
Lake Worth, FL
Need erosion control in Granite Falls, NC
In Granite Falls, NC we have a sloping area at the end of the driveway that needs plants that will keep the ground from eroding. What do you suggest?
view the full question and answer
Boca Raton, FL
cultivating the invasive Passiflora incense
Hello! I have been collecting passiflora for a while now, recently I purchased a "P. Incarnata" from a local nursery where I have gotten a few other species to grow along my herb garden recently. No...
view the full question and answer
Boca Raton, FL
Are Wandering Jew plants poisonous from Boca Raton FL?
Are wandering jew plants poisonous? I'd like to put some in my pond which has goldfish in it.
Thanks
view the full question and answer
BOCA RATON, FL
Sticky sap (honeydew) on car
MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY COVERED WITH STICKY SAP. I LIVE IN AN AREA WITH MANY COCONUT PALMS AND OTHER TREES. COULD THE SAP BLOW AROUND EVEN THOUGH I KEEP CHANGING THE PARKING?
view the full question and answer
Boca Raton, FL
Sources for Ilex shrubs from Boca Raton FL
Where can I find Ilex plants in the Boca Raton, FL area?
I would like to use them for hedges.
view the full question and answer
Palm Beach, FL
Problems with non-native Ficus Pumila
I have successfully maintained Ficus Pumila trees indoors for many years. Over the last year my two indoor,5' (in container) ficus trees have developed large brown lesions that turn "papery" befor...
view the full question and answer
West Palm Beach, FL
Is non-native Ixora poisonous to horses?
My horse was eating an ixora bush at a park in south florida. Is the Ixora shrub poisonous to horses?
view the full question and answer
West palm beach, FL
Plant identification
When we moved in to this house, we planted many plants in the front landscaping. After they grew, it became too crowded. We had to move some plants to the backyard. The problem is, we have a plant tha...
view the full question and answer
West Palm Beach, FL
Source for book on Mimosa pudica from West Palm Beach FL
Where can I find the TickleMe Plant Book -the guide for growing the sensitive plant mimosa pudica seeds?This is the plant that plays dead when touched.
view the full question and answer
west palm beach, FL
Toxicity of non-native, invasive Wedelia trilobata
Could you tell me if Wedelia trilobata is toxic to animals? It grows so voraciously where I am that I am wanting to use the whole plant to feed to my large tortoises (who are also voracious for edibl...
view the full question and answer
Royal Palm Beach, FL
Containerized citrus foliage deformed
I have three 2-year old potted grapefruit trees that have recently developed problems with the emergence of new leaves. The new leaves are stunted, deformed, often with wavy edges. Although it did ...
view the full question and answer