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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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

Questions From Near You

Titusville, FL
Transplanting a non-native lucky bamboo plant
I have gotten a lucky bamboo plant which is kinda large and want to transplant but don't know how can you help me?
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Titusville, FL
Is the fruit of American Beautyberry (French Mulberry) edible?
I am trying to find out if the "American Beautyberry" or "French Mulberry" fruit is edible? Can you tell me? Your website's information about this plant has been the most informative informatio...
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Cocoa, FL
Plant identification in Florida
Hello, I have a plant that I bought at a local nursery (now closed). It only came with a label that read "Sun". The plant has many long willowy stems coming up from the ground, green saw-notched lea...
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Cocoa, FL
Plant ID from Cocoa FL
I am trying to identify a plant that looks like a rose bush. It has rose-like thorns. The leaves are green, slender, acute at the tip, slightly unequal at the base and the leaf stem grows closer to ...
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Rockledge, FL
Trimming of cordgrass plants
We have planted more than 150 cordgrass plants (spartina bakeri) along the edges of the small pond at our condominium complex to try to prevent any further soil erosion between the buildings and the p...
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Rockledge, FL
Prevention of algae scum on standing water
Because your answer to a previous question has resolved an "issue" referent to proper care of our cordgrass plants, I'm back to ask your advice. The pond behind our condominium complex is man-ma...
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Rockledge, FL
Dying cactus plants
Two large cactus plants on the grounds of our condominium complex have begun to turn yellow and appear to be dying. A "staple" of our landscaping, this is the first year that they have developed th...
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Merritt Island, FL
Bark splitting on non-native Royal Poinciana in tree in Merritt Island FL
Information on splitting bark along the branches like an overstuffed sausage: A royal Poinciana tree, about 5 years old. The upper branches are doing this, although I'm afraid little splits or tear...
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Merritt Island, FL
Bark of unidentified tree splitting in Merritt Island FL
The bark on this 5 yr. old tree is splitting along its branches, like a sausage link splitting along its sides. Almost as if it is/was over-stuffed. Other than that, there are plenty of leaflets, some...
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Merritt Island, FL
Non-native Coconut palms and Christmas palms in Merritt Island, FL
Last winter the coconut and Christmas Palms all suffered. I have coconuts to plant, but can't get them to put forth a sprout, and eventually grow into a tree. I have put some in the ground half-way....
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Oviedo, FL
Why won't my Jacaranda flower in Oviedo, FL?
I have a Jacaranda tree that is 12 years old and and nearly 30 feet tall. It is a beautiful healthy tree that has never produced flowers. How can I get my tree to bloom? Thank you
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Osteen, FL
Safe grazing for donkeys and goats from Osteen FL
I am having a very difficult time trying to find shrubs, hedges, plants, flowers, or trees etc. that are safe for donkeys and goats. We live in Zone 9 and have a small farm. I've had to pull every ...
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Winter Springs, FL
Care of lemon cypress from Winter Springs FL
Please send me information on care of lemon cypress plant. I have one in small container on my patio. Should I take it in the house? Send any helpful information on its care. Thank you.
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Winter Park, FL
Groundcover for Orange County, Florida
I live in Central FL (Winter Park)and I have a small, mostly sunny (no trees) backyard next to a large in-ground swimming pool which fills up with the leaves of my neighbor's oak trees. The backyard ...
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Winter Park, FL
Drought tolerant ground cover for Winter Park, FL
I'm looking to replace my lawn with a drought tolerant ground cover. I do not have a watering system.
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deltona, FL
Pruning of Bauhinia lunarioides
I have a Bauhinia variegata..when is the best time to prune it? it tends to grow horizontally..where do you clip off the limbs?
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Deltona, FL
Freeze damage to non-native Philodendron selloeum in Deltona FL
My philodendrons selloeum died this past winter in the freeze,came back slowly this spring and now are suffering with very small deformed leaves. Some do grow but are getting large brown dry areas on ...
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Deltona, FL
Trees to replace some non-native invasives in Deltona FL
I would like to replace 3 large ChinaBerry & 3 large Chinese Tallow trees in my good sized back yard with some local wildlife friendly trees native to the Deltona area(first area.) What do you recomme...
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Deltona, FL
Low temperature non-native Bauhinia variegata can withstand in Florida
I have a Bauhinia variegata,I reside in Florida. What is the temp it can withstand in winter? And if it is below freezing, what can be done to protect them from freezing?
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Maitland, FL
Wildflower programs on our highways
Do you have any statistics about the wildflower program on our highways? We are wanting information about economic savings by not mowing so much, or pollution reduction by not mowing. Any help would...
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Maitland, FL
Growing bluebonnets from seed in Maitland FL
Can I grow bluebonnets from seed in Maitland? The soil is quite sandy, and I do have sunny, dry places to grow them. Are there any special requirements necessary away from their native habitat?
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