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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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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

Landrum, SC
Trees poisonous to horses from Landrum SC
Please tell me if the following trees are poisonous to horses: hickory, beech, poplar, and redbud. Thank you very much.
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Inman, SC
Problems with non-native weeping willow in Inman SC
I planted a weeping willow tree last summer and it thrived wonderfully. This year the buds have came out but it has yet to produce leaves where all the others in this area has. I am wondering maybe if...
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Inman, SC
Evergreen native plants for slope in South Carolina
We would like to plant an evergreen garden in our backyard, which is on a slope. It receives the sun from approx 9-4. We have an above ground pool, and patio area. Would also like a recommendation of ...
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East Flat Rock, NC
Eliminating English Ivy in East Flat Rock NC
In the woods behind our house our neighbor has an invasion of English Ivy. It creeps over and through the fence into our yard, and we want to fight back! I have read the other articles about cutting...
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Blue Ridge, NC
Wildflower Seed Collection Along Public Road in Blue Ridge, North Carolina
I live in North Carolina and would like to plant native wildflowers on a steep bank in my yard. I live on a rural dirt road and most of the plants I want grow wild on the side of the road. Can I leg...
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HENDERSONVILLE, NC
Plant identification
There is a sweet pea like vine that grows along the road in NC. IT is pink and looks much like a sweet pea. What is it?
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Hendersonville, NC
How many Bamboo species are native to North Carolina? one
I would like to know how many bamboo plants are native to North Carolina?
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Hendersonville, NC
Retention pond from Hendersonville NC
We have a retention pond that has recently been cleaned and we would like to plant perennial native plant and grass seeds that will enhance the appearance and contribute to the natural process of filt...
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Hendersonville, NC
Need to stabilize a south facing slope in Henderson, NC
Hi, I have a south facing slope that is heavy clay with rock under it. It gets a lot of sun. I have planted a few bushes and some ground cover, but with all the snow and rain we had this past winter, ...
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Spartanburg , SC
Removing and replacing juniper bushes
Hi! I'm pulling up juniper bushes. (just don't like it) I'm getting down to the roots now on one side and I'm having a hard time getting them up. Any recommendations. They are near my drive...
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Spartanburg, SC
Native Groundcovers for Spartanburg, SC
I need suggestions for native groundcovers for Spartanburg, SC. The area to be covered is a fairly steep slope, with a lot of afternoon sun. In the morning, some areas remain shaded until noon whil...
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Spartanburg, SC
Aggressive vine with purple flowers in South Carolina
Found an aggressive climbing vine with purple flowers in out vegetable garden. This garden was cleaned and new dirt, mulch and manure was put in in the spring. It was raked out after the infusion of d...
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Spartanburg, SC
Replacing non-natives and kudzu in Spartanburg SC
I would dearly love to cut down the red tips and leland cypress, as well as the 2 Savannah hollies and 15 ft cleyera which the kudzu has overrun along my property line, get rid of a chunk of lawn and ...
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Etowah, NC
Identification of flower that looks like Callirhoe in NC
Have a flower similar to callirhoe, but the blossum is fuchia, not purple and the foliage is light sage in color and fuzzy. It is very invasive. What is it? If you have an email address, I can send...
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Greenville, SC
Retention ponds for states in southeast, from Greenville SC
We provide maintenance for Stormwater detention ponds and are looking for native grasses to plant in the bottom and sides of typically dry detention basins. Prefer low growing grasses that spread to...
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Greenville, SC
Native plants for a garden in Greenville SC
Beebalm, Threadleaf Coreopsis, a Yaupon Holly, a Southern Magnolia, and a Highbush Blueberry. And as a ground cover in some areas, we have Cinquefoil (which helped me choke out Indian strawberry!) But...
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Greenville, SC
Planting grass seed in Greenville SC
What type of grass seed is best to use in a sunny/ shady area where some grass is already growing? And how is the best way to prep the area for seed and fertilizer or what should I do before and after...
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Greenville, SC
Attracting birds in Greenville, SC
Hi, I live in Northeastern South Carolina near the mountains and I am making a shade garden in my back yard. I also want to attract birds to my yard. There are 100 ft tall and even some 125 ft tal...
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Greenville, SC
Will Mexican Buckeye Survive in SC?
I have grown a Mexican Buckeye indoors from seed in Greenville, SC. Will it survive the colder climates here if transplanted out of doors? Thanks for your advice!
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Greenville, SC
Problems with Eastern hemlock in Greenville SC
Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a beautiful, young, 5 and a half foot tall Eastern Hemlock. I purchased and planted it two years ago in the fall. It has been doing very well all this spring. And ne...
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Greenville, SC
Indiangrass by seed or plugs in Greenville SC
Mr Smarty Plants, is it better to establish Indiangrass by plugs or seed? Seems you would get much quicker coverage by seed, tending to choke out "strangers". I'm establishing a small native mea...
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