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
Savannah, GA
Grasses for erosion control in sand on coastal Georgia
I've been tasked with identifying native grass varieties or mixes (Coastal Georgia) that can be used for erosion control on sandy slopes created from dredged river sediment and that receive lots of s...
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savannah, GA
Plant identification in Georgia.
Help I bought a bush at the flea market and I was told it would have white star flowers and it was a hydrangea. The leaves look like cannabis but not furry. The leaves grow from stalks Help what did...
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Savannah, GA
Pruning Wax Myrtle trees & bushes
When is the best time of year to prune Wax Myrtle trees & bushes.
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Savannah, GA
Absence of grass around a willow tree in Georgia
In the past three years my Willow tree has grown from a stick to a lovely tree. Unfortunately, the grass under and around the tree is gone. Nothing left but dirt. Is there a remedy?
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Savanna, GA
Native cherry trees for Georgia
Is it possible to grow any type of cherry in Georgia, USA?
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Bluffton, SC
Flowering, deer resistant plants for South Carolina
Can you tell me which flowering plants are deer resistant and will grow in South Carolina?
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Bluffton, SC
Is India Hawthorne a deer-resistant plant?
Is India Hawthorne a deer resistant plant in Beaufort County South Carolina?
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Ellabell, GA
Help identify a plant.
Could you help me to identify this plant?
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Guyton, GA
Smarty Plants on science projects
Hello, i am a 6th grade student at a middle school in GA. I am doing a science project and my question is, "Does music affect plant growth?"
Is there a plant that would work best for me to experiment...
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Guyton, GA
Identity of a plant in SE Georgia
Identity of a plant- This plant is growing wild in SE GA, but I have never seen it before until this year. The plant has a stolon "root" system it forms an upright stem and a cluster of flowers begi...
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Ridgeland, SC
Transplanting native azaleas in South Carolina
When is the best time to transplant azaleas in South Carolina Low Country?
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Beaufort, SC
Non-native bougainvillea in Beaufort SC
Bougainvillea-Can I grow these in Beaufort SC?
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Claxton, GA
Plant identification
Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have some plants I cannot identify. They were given to me after a funeral. I love them, i would like to know WHAT THEY ARE??? Here are descriptions. I can get photos. (PS I liv...
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jesup, GA
Fast-growing native trees that are safe for horses
What trees can I plant that are fast growing for shade and, most importantly, safe for horses?
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Jesup, GA
Caterpillars devouring Blue Wild Indigo in Jesup GA
I have a false blue indigo growing in my garden. Every spring it gets defoliated by Genista moth caterpillars. It usually doesn't put out new growth until the next spring. This summer, it has put ...
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Jesup, GA
Non-native eleagnus from Jesup GA
An elderly farmer has told me about a plant called Alley Agnes, but I can't find any plant by this name anywhere. He doesn't know another name for it, says it's what everyone has always called it i...
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Adams Run, SC
Foundation Plants for South Carolina
What native plants are suitable as foundation plantings? My soil is heavy clayey loam with red clay subsoil. I live in Charleston County.
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Smoaks, SC
Problems with yellow lantana in Smoaks SC
My yellow lantanas are about five years old - big and beautiful, but beginning last year, the blooms are small and part of the tiny petals are brown or black. Can you tell me what I can do about this ...
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Lyons, GA
Trailing milkvine, Matelea pubiflora, identified from seed pod
I have a vine that has a seed pod that looks like okra. Inside the pod is a small flat seed and a cotton-looking fiber. Please help identify, if possible.
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Waverly, GA
May I send a blueberry picture for ID?
May I send a digital photo of plant for confirmation that it is a wild blueberry?
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Charleston, SC
Short, Shady Plants for South Carolina
I have a shady part of my mother's garden that doesn't drain very well. Do you have any suggestions as to what type of flowers or plants (preferably native to S.C.) that aren't red that might grow ...
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